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FEAST OF WEEKS
Wave Sheaf/Feast of Firstfruits
There are 7 Feast Days. The Feast of Weeks is the 3rd of 7.
The Feast of Weeks is part of the Spring Holy Days.
All 7 of the Feast Days reveals the plan of Yahweh the Father, the sacrifice of His Son Yahshua Christ, and the children of Israel, the flesh and blood household of the covenants and promises, and these Feast Days are reminders of our family history.
The 7 Feast days are:
Passover Leviticus 23:5
Feast of Unleavened Bread Leviticus 23:6
Wave Sheaf/Feast of Firstfruits Leviticus 23:10
Pentecost Leviticus 23:15
Feast of Trumpets Leviticus 23:24
Day of Atonement Leviticus 23:27
Feast of Tabernacles followed by The Last Great Day Leviticus 23:34
Every Feast Day is a part of the Gospel message.
The Gospel is the message of the Good News. The news of our Saviour, and that He died for our sins. But it doesn't stop there. It's the Good News of regathering and reconciliation, education and teaching.
When The Gospel is preached, it's message is to the children of Israel, because every one of these Feast Days is part of the plan of reunification between scattered Israelites and Yahweh.
Matthew 10:6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
Passover is celebrated as a reminder that Yahshua died to pay the penalty of our sins during His First Advent. The angel of death passed over the Israelite's houses that were covered with the blood of the Passover Lamb.
Romans 4:7 Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.
The Gospel is celebrated in the Feast of Unleavened Bread, which reminds us that we must put the sin out of our lives.
John 5:14 Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.
It is a reminder that Yahweh took our ancestors out from bondage and idolatry in haste, gave them the law and Feast Days to keep us walking in The Way and in remembrance that He chose us. If we claim that we are covered by His blood, then we must sin no more. We must continue to obey the Gospel, which is part of the commandments, and connected to the Feast Days.
2Thessalonians 1:8 (Yahshua will be returning with His malakiym-angels...) In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Master Yahshua Christ:
1Peter 4:17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?
The Gospel is celebrated in the Feast of Weeks, also called Wave Sheaf and Feast of Firstfruits. It represents the Resurrection of Yahshua Christ from the dead. It is symbolic of the firstfruits of God's calling and begins the 50 day countdown to Pentecost, which means it's time to go out and witness to your kinsman of their Kinsman Redeemer. When one responds to this Good News then they are your presentation of firstfruits which can now receive the Holy Spirit, because The Gospel is celebrated in Pentecost. When you do that which is right in the sight of Yahweh, you receive the Holy Spirit, which is promised to those who obey Him.
Acts 5:32 And we are His witnesses of these things; and also the Holy Spirit, whom God hath given to them that obey Him.
The Gospel is celebrated in the Feast of Trumpets, because the Trumpet is a warning and call to preparation that Yahshua is coming. Time to repent for the reign of Yahshua is near.
Ezekiel 33:7 So you, O son of Adam, I have set you a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore you shall hear the word from My mouth, and warn them for Me.
The Gospel is celebrated in the Day of Atonement, which is a time to repent, and to fast, which means to humble yourselves and deny food, water, and worldly things for the day. When one hears the gospel, is not repentance required in order to give yourself over to Christ?
Matthew 4:17 From that time Yahshua began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
The Gospel is celebrated in the Feast of Tabernacles because when you have atoned and repented, you are now cleansed and can dwell in the safety of Christ. It is a reminder of when Yahweh dwelt among our Israelite ancestors in the wilderness in tents, a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. It is also symbolic that we will dwell in safety when He returns in flaming fire.
Exodus 29:45 And I will dwell among the children of Israel, and will be their God.
Psalm 61:4 I will abide in Your tabernacle for ever: I will trust in the covert of Your wings. Selah.
1John 2:28 And now, little children, abide in Him; that, when He shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before Him at His coming.
The Gospel is also a reminder of the Last Great Day of this Feast of Tabernacles which represents the Judgment Day and end of this evil age and the beginning of the Kingdom age.
Peter reminds us that true knowledge is the key. He states the importance of having scriptural knowledge and discerning it from corrupt worldly knowledge. Correct knowledge brings fruits of righteousness. Be a profitable servant with the knowledge Yahweh gives you.
2Peter 1:11 For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Master and Saviour Yahshua Christ.
James 2:5 Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which He hath promised to them that love Him?
John 14:15 If ye love Me, keep My commandments.
These Feast Days are all over the bible. They are the Gospel message within the heritage and appointed days of our people and reveals the plan of repentance, redemption, reconciliation, remembrance, obedience, and salvation. The Gospel is a call to repentance, to putting away the old sinner and putting on the new educated obedient Christian. And to live according to The Way, which includes all the commandments and appointed days given to our people. The Gospel is a return to our identity and heritage, to our Christian way of lifestyle and to our God.
Observing these Feast Days is no different than observing the 4th of July, and other holidays and events. They are memorials. Actually, the only difference is the Feast Days are Yahweh's!
It has been noted by many scholars down through the ages that Paul's first letter to the Corinthians was written at the time period of the year of the Passover/Feast of Unleavened Bread. It is evident by Paul's many allusions to the Festival. He goes on to write:
1Corinthians 5:6 Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? 7 Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us: 8 Therefore LET US KEEP THE FEAST, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
Note that Paul, in an address to his kinsmen, refers to keeping God's Feast days.
Paul's point is that they are already unleavened (physically--they removed leaven from their homes in compliance with God's festival), yet they needed to apply the concept to their spiritual house as well and clean spiritual leaven out from it.
The assembly was observing God's Feast days.
Paul again alludes to this time period (Passover/Feast of Unleavens) in chapter 15 when he wrote of the resurrection of Christ. In verses 20 and 23, he refers to Jesus as "the firstfruits" of them that sleep (those that are dead). This is allusion to the first day of the week during the Feast of Unleavens in which day that the first of the firstfruits were offered up to God (Lev 23:10-14). This day and its offering typifies Christ's resurrection and ascension, as Paul noted, and The Feast of Firstfruits (Pentecost--mentioned as soon approaching in I Cor 16:8) typifies the resurrection of the rest of the firstfruits (the obedient assembly).
"The first Christians continued to observe the festivals [i.e. Yahweh's Festivals], though in a new spirit, as commemorations of events which those festivals had foreshadowed" ~ (Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th ed., vol. 8, p. 828).
This caused a problem for the Catholic Church. First, it shows that until at least the late fourth century, that some who professed Christ still kept all the Holy Days. But secondly, and more importantly, since the Catholic Church claims that it still keeps a version of Passover (though under the name Easter in English) and Pentecost, then their saint, John Chrysostom, should never have condemned all of the festivals that God gave the Israelites. Yet he did.
The Feast of Weeks is connected to the Feast of Unleavened Bread, which is connected to Passover. All three Spring Holy days follow each other starting with Passover on the 14th day of Abib, FUB on the 15th and the FOW on the 16th, which begins the countdown to Pentecost.
Why do the 'churches' keep only Passover?
The Passover is a reminder that Christ died for us to pay the penalty of our sins.
Feast of Unleavened Bread is a reminder that we must put sin out of our lives and to honor what Yahweh did for our ancestors when He led them out of Egypt.
Feast of Weeks/Wave Sheaf/Firstfruits is a reminder that Christ rose from the dead.
They all have symbolic meaning, and they all are memorials of our family heritage.
They are reminders of WHY Yahweh sent His Son and each feast is a reminder and teaching lesson for us to keep, follow, guard, participate in, and observe every year. It's part of this test called mortal life and is part of our good works in which we show Yahweh that we love Him by keeping His commandments and set-apart appointed days.
We all know that keeping the weekly Shabbath is a commandment, because it is a set-apart Holy day, above all other days. These feasts of Yahweh are no different. They are set-apart Holy days, sacred appointments, High Shabbaths and are solemn assemblies for the 'called' to gather and celebrate.
The following section is the counting of the Omer.
Exodus 16:4 Then said Yahweh unto Moses, Behold, I will rain bread from heaven (the sky) for you; and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate (portion) every day, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in My law, or no.
16:5 And it shall come to pass, that on the sixth day they shall prepare that which they bring in; and it shall be twice as much as they gather daily.
16:11 And Yahweh spake unto Moses, saying,
16:12 I have heard the murmurings (grumblings) of the children of Israel: speak unto them, saying, At even (sunset) you shall eat flesh, and in the morning you shall be filled with bread; and you shall know that I am Yahweh your God.
16:13 And it came to pass, that at even the quails came up, and covered the camp: and in the morning the dew lay round about the host (camp).
16:14 And when the dew that lay was gone up, behold, upon the face of the wilderness there lay a small round thing, as small as the hoar frost on the ground.
16:15 And when the children of Israel saw it, they said one to another, It is manna: for they wist not what it was. And Moses said unto them, This is the bread which Yahweh hath given you to eat.
16:16 This is the thing which Yahweh hath commanded, Gather of it every man according to his eating, an omer (H6016) for every man, according to the number of your persons; take you every man for them which are in his tents.
16:17 And the children of Israel did so, and gathered, some more, some less.
16:18 And when they did mete (measure) it with an omer (H6016), he that gathered much had nothing over, and he that gathered little had no lack; they gathered every man according to his eating.
16:19 And Moses said, Let no man leave of it till the morning.
16:20 Notwithstanding they hearkened not unto Moses; but some of them left of it until the morning, and it bred worms, and stank: and Moses was wroth with them.
16:21 And they gathered it every morning, every man according to his eating: and when the sun waxed hot, it melted.
16:22 And it came to pass, that on the sixth day they gathered twice as much bread, two omers (H6016) for one man: and all the rulers of the congregation came and told Moses.
16:22 And it came to pass, that on the sixth day they gathered twice as much bread, two omers for one man: and all the rulers of the congregation came and told Moses.
16:23 And he said unto them, This is that which Yahweh hath said, To morrow is the rest of the holy sabbath unto Yahweh: bake that which you will bake to day, and seethe that you will seethe; and that which remaineth over lay up for you to be kept until the morning.
16:24 And they laid it up till the morning, as Moses bade: and it did not stink, neither was there any worm therein.
16:25 And Moses said, Eat that to day; for to day is a sabbath unto Yahweh: to day you shall not find it in the field.
16:26 Six days you shall gather it; but on the seventh day, which is the sabbath, in it there shall be none.
16:27 And it came to pass, that there went out some of the people on the seventh day for to gather, and they found none.
16:28 And Yahweh said unto Moses, How long refuse you to keep My commandments and My laws (torah)?
Psalm 78:10 They kept not the covenant of God, and refused to walk in His law;
78:22 Because they believed not in God, and trusted not in His salvation:
16:29 See, for that Yahweh hath given you the sabbath, therefore He giveth you on the sixth day the bread of two days; abide you every man in his place, let no man go out of his place on the seventh day.
16:30 So the people rested on the seventh day.
16:31 And the house of Israel called the name thereof Manna: and it was like coriander seed, white; and the taste of it was like wafers made with honey.
16:32 And Moses said, This is the thing which Yahweh commandeth, Fill an omer (H6016) of it to be kept for your generations; that they may see the bread wherewith I have fed you in the wilderness, when I brought you forth from the land of Egypt.
A container of Manna was placed in the Ark of the Covenant.
16:33 And Moses said unto Aaron, Take a pot, and put an omer (H6016) full of manna therein, and lay it up before Yahweh, to be kept (to charge, guard, function, obligation, service) for your generations (posterity-Geneva).
Hebrews 9:3 And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all;
9:4 Which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron's rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant;
16:34 As Yahweh commanded Moses, so Aaron laid it up before the Testimony, to be kept.
16:35 And the children of Israel did eat manna forty years, until they came to a land inhabited; they did eat manna, until they came unto the borders of the land of Canaan.
16:36 Now an omer (H6016) is the tenth part of an ephah (a measure for a grain).
Hebrews chapter 7 explains the stages of the priesthood.
Hebrews chapter 8 is about The Mediator of a Better Covenant. The old priesthood, it's rituals and sacrifices ended because Christ fulfilled the last sacrifice and became our High and only Priest and Mediator for us to Yahweh. Chapter 8 explains that the old priesthood of men offered the gifts and sacrifices for sin to atone for that year. The Levitical priesthood were only men and the atonements were made yearly. This set the pattern of what would follow after the priesthood expired when Christ died.
Hebrews 8:5 Who (the high priest) serve unto the example (sign, admonishing) and shadow (representation) of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith He, that you make all things according to the pattern shewed to you in the mount. (Exo 25:40)
The Levitical priesthood had to maintain a strict observance of every detail of their service and follow it until the sacrifice of Christ.
These Feast Days were kept and the people brought their offerings and atonement for sins to the priests and the priests performed the rituals. This is what was 'done away with', because the priesthood and the grain and sin offerings expired because Christ fulfilled them.
So now we don't have to bring anything? No. We must make spiritual sacrifices now, which is done through obedience, participation, and with knowledge and understanding.
Hebrews chapter 8 goes on to state that in this better (renewed) covenant, the law was written on our hearts and on our minds. If you don't observe these feasts with mindfulness and participation, then how do you follow the pattern of obedience?
Chapter 9 of Hebrews goes on to describe the earthly and the heavenly sanctuaries. The original covenant had ordinances (deeds) of divine service and a sanctuary made with hands (earthly, the Temple). Behind the second veil was the Holy of Holies, where only the high priest could go in once a year, with blood to offer for himself and for the errors of the people. Paul is describing the way the priesthood operated, and now that Christ died, all that expired because of the transition from the ritual laws and the earthly tabernacles, into the Holy Spirit inhabiting the new tabernacle, our bodies.
Paul explains that even when the priesthood sacrificed for the people, it still did not make one perfect. Only Christ is able to cover over our sins forever, if we repent and continue in The Way.
The priesthood and rituals were done away with, because once you brought your sacrifice to the priest, you were off the hook for a year and your conscience was cleared. Now there's no more priests and offerings to bring. So now what? Well, that's why these feasts are still to be kept. They are reminders, to keep in your conscience. If we didn't keep them, wouldn't they become 'out of sight out of mind'? Aren't they out of sight and out of mind among the 'churches' and Gentiles?
Christ's Sacrifice Takes Away Sin
Hebrews 9:23 It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these (the blood rituals); but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.
All the Temple rituals were patterns, models, and examples for the coming crucifixion. Notice sacrifices is in the plural? They would include the best sacrifice, Yahshua, and the sacrifices which we now make, which are spiritual sacrifices. Mindfulness, obedience, witnessing to others, keeping the Feast Days.
Hebrews 10 backs up the fact that the sacrifices never perfected anyone, if they did, they would not have ceased, because the blood of animals would have been able to take sins away every year and what would we have needed Christ for?
The priesthood was to teach obedience, and that Yahweh wanted obedience more than sacrificing animals. The renewed covenant was establised without the need for a priesthood and sacrificial rituals. Christ replaced the priesthood.
When you accept the blood of Yahshua Christ, you are returning to The Way, your heritage, and being a true believer you would understand that you must walk as He walked to enter into a real relationship with Him.
Hebrews 10:20 By a new and living way, which He hath consecrated (instituted) for us, through the veil, that is to say, His flesh;
10:24 And let us consider one another to provoke (stimulate) unto love and to good works: (Mat 16:27)
Is 'just believing' good works and living according to The Way? Or is understanding, knowing, and observing these Feast Days and following His commands and walking in The Way proving your good works? By doing so you are witnessing to your idle kinsmen and provoking them to good works.
So what is the 'omer' all about?
The period of “the omer” begins the second night of Passover and continues until Shavuot (Pentecost). Literally translated, omer means “a sheaf.” It refers to the measure of grain that was once offered at the Temple in Jerusalem.
While there is no longer a Temple or an omer offering, we should still count the days between Passover and Shavuot (Pentecost).
The commandment for us to count comes directly from Torah!
The counting of the days to Shavuot (Pentecost) is intended to remind us of the link between Passover, which commemorates the Exodus and the Resurrection; and Shavu'ot (Pentecost), which commemorates the formal giving of the Torah at Mt. Sinai and the giving of the Ruach Kodesh (Holy Spirit).
The omer period was a preparation for receiving the Torah on Mount Sinai. Each day we must take one more step away from the impurities of Egypt that have remained within us.
Counting of the Omer is called Sefirat Ha’omer in Hebrew.
The Israelites were freed from their lives of slavery in Egypt on Passover; and 50 days later on Pentecost they accepted YHWH's Torah which made them a nation committed to serving YHWH.
The counting of the days of the Omer is a Biblical commandment incumbent upon each Israelite to perform. Traditionally, the period of the Omer count is to be a time of spiritual introspection as the counters prepare themselves for Pentecost. Because it begins during Passover and concludes at Pentecost, it is a remembrance of the journey from Egypt to Mount Sinai.
The Messianic implications of the Omer and the subsequent count down are great. In the gospel's account of Yahshua, the appointed day for harvesting the barley omer coincides with the resurrection of Messiah: the day after the Sabbath. In a remarkable display of God's sovereign planning, the resurrection day was set aside as a day of first fruits 1400 years before its occurrence. Which shows that our ancestors kept it and observed it before it occurred, and we today are to continue to keep it and observe it because the meaning and tradition is the same, minus the bringing of crops to the priesthood and Temple.
The symbolism is strong. Just as the first omer of barley was brought as a first fruits of the whole harvest, so too Messiah's resurrection was a first fruits of the resurrection of the dead.
Counting is followed by recitation of Psalm 67. Psalm 67 is recited because it is composed of exactly 49 Hebrew words which correspond to the 49 days of the Omer count.
Psalm 67:1 To the chief Musician on Neginoth (stringed instrument), A Psalm or Song. God be merciful (show favor) unto us, and bless us; and cause His face (countenance) to shine upon us; Selah.
67:2 That Your way (of life) may be known upon earth (land), Your saving health (deliverance) among all nations.
67:3 Let the people praise You, O God; let all the people praise You.
67:4 O let the nations be glad and sing for joy: for You shalt judge the people righteously, and govern the nations upon earth (land). Selah.
67:5 Let the people praise You, O God; let all the people praise You.
67:6 Then shall the earth (land) yield her increase; and God, even our own God, shall bless us.
67:7 God shall bless us; and all the ends of the earth (land) shall fear (revere) Him.
The Counting of the Omer is a count down to Shavuot (Pentecost), the time of the giving of the Torah and the time of the giving of the Holy Spirit. As such, it is a spiritual journey of preparation. It is a journey which is begun with Passover, the symbol of our Salvation in Yahshua, and completed at Pentecost, the symbol of our receiving the Holy Spirit. The distance of days between the two events should be a time of spiritual reflection, growth, purification and preparation.
On the first day of the Omer, He appeared to Miriam and to two others while they traveled to Emmaus. On the second day of the Omer He appeared among the Twelve. On the ninth day of the Omer, He appeared to them again and to Thomas the doubter. During the counting, He also appeared to 500 witnesses and then to James, and to seven others while they fished on the sea. On the 40th day of the Omer, He ascended to heaven.
Today, since we don't bring offerings of grain to the priests and the Temple, the omer, which represents a dry measure of grain, actually represents ourselves as we are the wheat (grain) people. Our duty is to sow the seeds of Yahweh's Word in our kinsmen and witness to them of The Gospel. If they respond and grow in the Word, then your efforts are producing fruit, which, if they continue in The Word they will receive the Holy Spirit. This is the pattern of the Feast of Weeks post expiration of the priesthood and temple offerings. We, personally, are now offering Yahweh the firstfruits of those who've accepted the Word. If they continue in the Word they would join in fellowhip with the other Feast Days and by observing the Feast of Tabernacles in the fall, they would be part of the ingathering of the harvest. The harvest being those who join the remnant, who have heard the Trumpet warning and prepared themselves, made Atonement, came up out of this satanic society and Tabernacle in safety with Yahshua, and are ready for the Last Great Day. This is what The Gospel is all about.
Exodus 23:14 Three times you shalt keep a feast (H2287- celebrate) unto Me in the year.
23:15 You shalt keep the feast of unleavened bread: (you shalt eat unleavened bread seven days, as I commanded you, in the time appointed (H4150) of the month Abib; for in it you camest out from Egypt: and none shall appear before Me empty:) (Lev 23:6-8 Num 28:17-25)
23:16 And the feast of harvest, the firstfruits (H1061) of your labours, which you hast sown in the field: and the feast of ingathering, which is in the end of the year, when you hast gathered in your labours out of the field. (Lev 23:15-21, 39-43 Num 28:26-31)
23:17 Three times in the year all your males shall appear before Yahweh GOD.
Feast of Unleavened Bread, Wave Sheaf/Firstfruits/Feast of Weeks, and Feast of Ingathering/Feast of Tabernacles.
23:18 You shalt not offer the blood of My sacrifice with leavened bread; neither shall the fat of My sacrifice remain until the morning.
23:19 The first of the firstfruits (H1061) of your land you shalt bring into the house of Yahweh your God. You shalt not seethe (boil) a kid in his mother's milk.
23:20 Behold, I send an Angel (Messenger) before you, to keep you in the way, and to bring you into the place which I have prepared.
23:21 Beware of him, and obey his voice, provoke him not; for he will not pardon your transgressions: for My name is in him.
Deuteronomy 18:19 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto My words which he shall speak in My name, I will require it of him.
23:22 But if you shalt indeed obey his voice, and do all that I speak; then I will be an enemy unto your enemies, and an adversary unto your adversaries.
Exodus 34:22 And you shalt observe the feast (H2282- celebration) of weeks (H7620), of the firstfruits (H1061) of wheat harvest, and the feast (H2282- celebration) of ingathering at the year's end. (Lev 23:15-21, 39-43 Num 28:26-31)
34:23 Thrice in the year shall all your men children appear before Yahweh GOD, the God of Israel.
34:24 For I will cast out the nations before you, and enlarge your borders: neither shall any man desire your land, when you shalt go up to appear before Yahweh your God thrice in the year.
Keep these memorials and we will not have enemies and nothing to fear. Yahweh will guard you.
34:25 You shalt not offer the blood of My sacrifice with leaven; neither shall the sacrifice of the feast of the passover be left unto the morning.
34:26 The first of the firstfruits (H1061) of your land you shalt bring unto the house of Yahweh your God. You shalt not seethe a kid in his mother's milk. (Deut 14:21, 26:2)
34:27 And Yahweh said unto Moses, Write you these words: for after the tenor of these words I have made a covenant with you and with Israel.
Exclusive. The children of Jacob.
Jasher 82:27 And Yahweh commanded him respecting the children of Israel that they should make a sanctuary for Yahweh, that His name might rest therein, and Yahweh showed him the likeness of the sanctuary and the likeness of all its vessels.
The sanctuary and the vessels before Christ came were the temple and it's utensils. This was a foreshadow of what we became after Christ died. We became His dwelling place and vessel. If we don't keep in memory and observe these Feast Days, how will we continue our covenant with Him if we don't respect and honor the memorials, meanings, and observances of the covenant and Feast Days?
The law of meat (grain) offerings
Leviticus 2:12 As for the oblation (offering) of the firstfruits (H1061), you shall offer them unto Yahweh: but they shall not be burnt (that which ascends, to smoke) on the altar for a sweet savour.
2:13 And every oblation (offering) of your meat (grain) offering shalt you season with salt; neither shalt you suffer the salt of the covenant of your God to be lacking (to cease) from your meat (grain) offering: with all your offerings you shalt offer salt. (Num 18:19)
Mark 9:49 For every one shall be salted with fire, and every sacrifice shall be salted with salt.
Colossians 4:6 Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.
2:14 And if you offer a meat (grain) offering of your firstfruits (H1061) unto Yahweh, you shalt offer for the meat (grain) offering of your firstfruits (H1061) green ears of corn (grain) dried by the fire, even corn (grain) beaten out of full ears (ripe kernels).
2:15 And you shalt put oil upon it, and lay frankincense thereon: it is a meat (grain) offering.
2:16 And the priest shall burn (as an incense) the memorial of it, part of the beaten corn (grain) thereof, and part of the oil thereof, with all the frankincense thereof: it is an offering made by fire unto Yahweh.
Our offerings are not made with grain, fire, and blood sacrifice anymore. They are of spiritual offerings through witnessing to others and a daily lifestyle living in The Way of Yahweh and rejecting the way of the world.
The offerings of the firstfruits (new converts) must be seasoned with salt, meaning truth and sincerity. Salt is a cleansing agent. Salt is symbolic of faithfulness and integrity.
Salt is a preserver. The law preserves. By following Yahweh's laws and statutes, and speaking and acting with salt, those receiving the Word (salt) will be preserved. How can one be preserved and follow the law if they are not seasoned with salt?
Feasts of Yahweh
Leviticus 23:10 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When you be come into the land which I give unto you, and shall reap the harvest thereof, then you shall bring a sheaf (H6016) of the firstfruits (H7225) of your harvest unto the priest:
23:11 And he shall wave (H5130) the sheaf (H6016) before Yahweh, to be accepted for you: on the morrow after the sabbath the priest shall wave (H5130) it.
The Wave Sheaf Offering represents the resurrection.
Wave is H5130 nuph (noof), and means to offer, to lift up.
John 12:32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto Me.
23:12 And you shall offer that day when you wave (H5130) the sheaf (H6016) an he lamb without blemish of the first year for a burnt offering unto Yahweh.
23:13 And the meat (grain) offering thereof shall be two tenth deals of fine flour mingled with oil, an offering made by fire unto Yahweh for a sweet savour: and the drink offering thereof shall be of wine, the fourth part of an hin.
23:14 And you shall eat neither bread, nor parched corn (grain), nor green ears, until the selfsame day that you have brought an offering unto your God: it shall be a statute for ever (a very long time) throughout your generations in all your dwellings.
We don't have the physical temple anymore and do not offer sacrifices of burnt offerings anymore. It is spiritual sacrifice we are to offer. Obedience, loyalty, set-apartness (holiness).
23:15 And you shall count unto you from the morrow after the sabbath, from the day that you brought the sheaf (H6016) of the wave offering (H8573); seven sabbaths shall be complete:
Exodus 34:22 And thou shalt observe the feast of weeks, of the firstfruits of wheat harvest, and the feast of ingathering at the year's end.
Countdown to Pentecost.
23:16 Even unto the morrow after the seventh sabbath shall you number fifty days; and you shall offer a new meat (grain) offering unto Yahweh.
23:17 You shall bring out of your habitations two wave loaves of two tenth deals: they shall be of fine flour; they shall be baken with leaven; they are the firstfruits (H1061) unto Yahweh.
23:18 And you shall offer with the bread seven lambs without blemish of the first year, and one young bullock, and two rams: they shall be for a burnt offering unto Yahweh, with their meat (grain) offering, and their drink offerings, even an offering made by fire, of sweet savour unto Yahweh.
23:19 Then you shall sacrifice one kid of the goats for a sin offering, and two lambs of the first year for a sacrifice of peace offerings.
23:20 And the priest shall wave them with the bread of the firstfruits (H1061) for a wave offering (H8573) before Yahweh, with the two lambs: they shall be holy to Yahweh for the priest.
23:21 And you shall proclaim on the selfsame day, that it may be an holy convocation (High Sabbath) unto you: you shall do no servile work therein: it shall be a statute for ever in all your dwellings throughout your generations.
23:22 And when you reap the harvest of your land, you shalt not make clean riddance of the corners of your field when you reapest, neither shalt you gather any gleaning of your harvest: you shalt leave them unto the poor, and to the stranger (of kin): I am Yahweh your God.
When the High Priest waved the sheaf of new grain before the people, it prefigured the raising of Christ from the dead before the “wheat people,” Israel. We are to celebrate this day in the remembrance that He was the first to conquer death and that we are to anticipate our own victory over death, when it is our time at the last harvest. This is really the holiest day of the Spring Feasts, as it symbolizes Christ’s triumph over death.
Numbers 28:26 Also in the day of the firstfruits (H1061), when you bring a new meat (grain) offering unto Yahweh, after your weeks (H7620) be out, you shall have an holy convocation (High Sabbath); you shall do no servile work:
The holy convocation would eventually be Pentecost.
Deuteronomy 16:8 Six days you shalt eat unleavened bread: and on the seventh day shall be a solemn assembly (High Sabbath) to Yahweh your God: you shalt do no work therein.
16:9 Seven weeks (H7620) shalt you number unto you: begin to number the seven weeks (H7620) from such time as you beginnest to put the sickle to the corn (standing grain).
16:10 And you shalt keep the feast of weeks (H7620) unto Yahweh your God with a tribute of a freewill offering of your hand, which you shalt give unto Yahweh your God, according as Yahweh your God hath blessed you:
16:11 And you shalt rejoice before Yahweh your God, you, and your son, and your daughter, and your manservant, and your maidservant, and the Levite that is within your gates, and the stranger (kinsman sojourner), and the fatherless, and the widow, that are among you, in the place which Yahweh your God hath chosen to place His name there.
16:12 And you shalt remember that you wast a bondman in Egypt: and you shalt observe and do these statutes.
16:13 You shalt observe the feast of tabernacles seven days, after that you hast gathered in your corn (grain) and your wine: (Exo 23:16; Lev 23:34)
16:14 And you shalt rejoice in your feast, you, and your son, and your daughter, and your manservant, and your maidservant, and the Levite, the stranger (kinsman sojourner), and the fatherless, and the widow, that are within your gates.
16:15 Seven days shalt you keep a solemn feast unto Yahweh your God in the place which Yahweh shall choose: because Yahweh your God shall bless you in all your increase, and in all the works of your hands, therefore you shalt surely rejoice.
Keep the feasts, receive increase, rejoice.
16:16 Three times in a year shall all your males appear before Yahweh your God in the place which He shall choose; in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks (H7620), and in the feast of tabernacles: and they shall not appear before Yahweh empty:
16:17 Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of Yahweh your God which He hath given you.
We don't have to appear before Yahweh in a temple, or even a 'church', because He doesn't dwell in those buildings. We appear before Yahweh when we do what He says. If you are not doing what He says, then you are appearing before Him empty. Not participating or at least being mindful of these Feast Days is appearing before Him empty.
Deuteronomy 24:19 When you cuttest down your harvest in your field, and hast forgot a sheaf (H6016) in the field, you shalt not go again to fetch it: it shall be for the stranger (of kin), for the fatherless, and for the widow: that Yahweh your God may bless you in all the work of your hands.
Leviticus 19:9 And when you reap the harvest of your land, you shalt not wholly reap the corners of your field, neither shalt you gather the gleanings of your harvest.
Psalm 41:1 Blessed is he that considereth the poor: Yahweh will deliver him in time of trouble.
24:20 When you beatest your olive tree, you shalt not go over the boughs again: it shall be for the stranger (of kin), for the fatherless, and for the widow.
The phrase beatest your olive tree is a reference to 'knock down the olives'. Don't beat it twice, leave some for the poor.
When we consider the poor, we are doing that which is right in the sight of Yahweh.
When we bring The Gospel to the poor in spirit we are sowing seeds in them, which if they respond to The Word watered by you and Yahweh gives the increase, then you are bringing in your first fruits.
2Chronicles 8:12-13; 31:4-5; Nehemiah 10:35-38; 12:44; 13:29 are about the offerings of the first fruits and the feast of weeks. The people brought them to the priests as a tithe.
The priesthood, the offerings and the sacrifices all expired when Christ died and became our High Priest. So today, we bring spiritual offerings, which are obedience to His laws, walking in The Way, and bringing The Gospel message to our kinsmen. Without obedience and knowledge, how can one receive the Holy Spirit?
Proverbs 3:1 My son, forget not my law; but let your heart keep my commandments:
3:2 For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to you.
Psalm 119:165 Great peace have they which love Your law: and nothing shall offend them.
3:3 Let not mercy (loving-commitment) and truth forsake you: bind them about your neck; write them upon the table of your heart:
3:4 So shalt you find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man (Adam).
3:5 Trust in Yahweh with all your heart; and lean not unto your own understanding.
3:6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.
Jeremiah 10:23 O Yahweh, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.
3:7 Be not wise in your own eyes: fear (revere) Yahweh, and depart from evil.
Romans 12:16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.
3:8 It shall be health to your navel, and marrow to your bones.
3:9 Honour Yahweh with your substance, and with the firstfruits (H7225) of all your increase:
3:10 So shall your barns be filled with plenty, and your presses shall burst out with new wine.
Deuteronomy 28:8 Yahweh shall command the blessing upon thee in thy storehouses, and in all that thou settest thine hand unto; and He shall bless thee in the land which Yahweh thy God giveth thee.
Sounds a lot like your weeks of hard work witnessing pay off.
Jeremiah 2:3 Israel was holiness unto Yahweh, and the firstfruits (H7225) of His increase: all who ate of him became guilty; evil came upon them, saith (declares) Yahweh.
2:4 Hear you the word of Yahweh, O house of Jacob, and all the families of the house of Israel:
2:5 Thus saith Yahweh, What iniquity have your fathers found in Me, that they are gone far from Me, and have walked after vanity, and are become vain?
The children of Israel got fat and lazy and forgot about Yahweh, His laws, and set-apart sacred days.
They went from being a nation set apart in righteousness with much fruit to an apostate nation with rotten and genetically modified fruit. One of the big sins was that of race-mixing, which destroys the Holy seed.
Jeremiah 5:21 Hear now this, O foolish people, and without understanding; which have eyes, and see not; which have ears, and hear not:
5:22 Fear you not Me? saith Yahweh: will you not tremble at My presence, which have placed the sand for the bound of the sea by a perpetual decree, that it cannot pass it: and though the waves thereof toss themselves, yet can they not prevail; though they roar, yet can they not pass over it?
5:23 But this people hath a revolting and a rebellious heart; they are revolted and gone.
5:24 Neither say they in their heart, Let us now fear (revere) Yahweh our God, that giveth rain, both the former (fall) and the latter (spring), in his season: He reserveth unto us the appointed weeks (H7620) of the harvest.
5:25 Your iniquities have turned away these things, and your sins have withholden good things from you.
The people had become idolatrous race-mixers and pagan. They lacked reverence of His laws and appointed weeks of the harvest. Their sins have kept them from being blessed because they had no good fruit to show.
Ezekiel 20:39 As for you, O house of Israel, thus saith Yahweh GOD; Go you, serve you every one his idols, and hereafter also, if you will not hearken unto Me: but pollute you My holy name no more with your gifts, and with your idols.
Go to your idols (TV, sports, materialism, Jewish Jesus) if you will not listen to Yahweh. But stop performing empty rituals in His name (putting in your hour at church, honoring with your lips and not your hearts). Without true knowledge and understanding of your heritage and duty, you are polluting His holy name.
Judges 10:14 Go and cry unto the gods which you have chosen; let them deliver you in the time of your tribulation.
Psalm 81:12 So I gave them up unto their own hearts' lust: and they walked in their own counsels.
Yahweh doesn't want any offerings and gifts in the name of Jewish Jesus, or from someone who ignorantly identifies as a transGentile and trusts in 'church' doctrine.
20:40 For in Mine holy mountain, in the mountain of the height of Israel, saith Yahweh GOD, there shall all the house of Israel, all of them in the land, serve Me: there will I accept them, and there will I require your offerings (offerings set aside for holy use exclusively), and the firstfruits (H7225) of your oblations, with all your holy things (chief offerings, the best of).
20:41 I will accept you with your sweet savour (odor), when I bring you out from the people, and gather you out of the countries wherein you have been scattered; and I will be sanctified in you before the heathen (nations).
We see the message of The Gospel in the Feast Days. When Yahweh divorced Israel for their iniquities, He scattered them among the nations and as a result, they forgot who they were and Whose they were. But The Gospel is the message to these 'lost' and scattered Israelites whom He draws out from among the people. The ones that take hold of the The Gospel and live it are sanctified and receive the Holy Spirit and the works they do are acceptable firstfruits.
Ezekiel 44:30 And the first of all the firstfruits (H1061) of all things, and every oblation of all, of every sort of your oblations, shall be the priest's: you shall also give unto the priest the first of your dough, that he may cause the blessing to rest in your house.
Today, there is no more priesthood to bring the firstfruits of your crops to. The priesthood was the mediator to Yahweh God. Now Yahshua Christ is the only mediator, so He is the one receiving the firstfruits of your witnessing.
Tobit 2:1 Now when I was come home again, and my wife Anna was restored unto me, with my son Tobias, in the feast of Pentecost, which is the holy feast of the seven weeks, there was a good dinner prepared me, in the which I sat down to eat.
The Feast Days are also found all over the Apocryphal literature.
This section of Romans chapter 8 is about Future Glory.
Paul states that our mortal test called life has us subjected to vanity, which Yahweh subjected in order that through obedience and allegiance to Him and His Ways we shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption.
Romans 8:22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.
8:23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits (G536) of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. (2Cor 5:2-4)
Paul is saying that 'they', who are the dispersed (10 northern) tribes of Israel, and 'ourselves' who are the Judaeans (2 southern tribes of Judah), wait for the placement of sons.
The English word adoption comes from the Latin word - adoptia - no relationship to Greek word uiothesia, which never implies taking someone else's child and making it your own.
The meaning of uiothesia is "placement of sonship" . It's literal meaning is "to become an heir," a status Israel lost because of disobedience. This meaning makes it clear that it is an exclusive reference to Israel only (Adamkind), for no other people were "lost" (put away in punishment).
Uiothesia - is when an adolescent becomes an adult, the coming of age, and grows into perfected adulthood.
Both houses of Israel and Judah that received The Gospel on the first Pentecost after Christ ascended were the firstfruits of the Spirit.
When we today, who receive The Gospel message of our forgotten heritage and identity, and gain true understanding of The Word and continue in The Way, we also will receive the Holy Spirit and will be placed into position of sons/daughters.
This is what the Feast of Firstfruits is all about. Witnessing and proclaiming the Good News to our 'lost' brothers and sisters so they too may receive the Holy Spirit.
Firstfruits is G536 aparche (ap-ar-khay'). It means to offer firstlings or firstfruits. The firstfruits of the productions of the earth which was offered to God. The first portion of the dough, from which sacred loaves were to be prepared in the BC days of the covenant. In the AD days of the covenant, the term is used of Israelites consecrated to God.
The tithe of the firstfruits is no longer brought to temples and priests, because Christ fulfilled those ordinances. The firstfruits we now bring are from our works, which are results of our witnessing, proclaiming, and bringing The Gospel, these Feast Days and heritage to our ignorant, unlearned, disobedient, and 'lost' kinsmen who are trapped in these Judeo 'churches' worshiping Himey Jesus and believing repeated lies.
The next section of Romans chapter 11 is about the Salvation of the 'Lost' Nations of Israel.
The Israelites in Judaea were learning that their Israelite brothers and sisters who were scattered among the nations are under the same promises and covenants as themselves. The 'lost' sheep needed to hear the message as well, because they were of the same tree.
Romans 11:16 For if the firstfruit (G536) be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches.
The firstfruits were of the house of Judah. They observed the law and knew their heritage. The lump were those of the house of Israel. They were walking in darkness and forgot their heritage and laws.
Both houses were of the set-apart holy anointed people of Israel. The Good News was the message to the ignorant of our people. When they are educated in the Truth and continue in it, they too can receive the Holy Spirit.
Romans 16:5 Likewise greet the church (assembly) that is in their house. Salute my wellbeloved Epaenetus (ep-a'hee-net-os), who is the firstfruits (G536) of Achaia (Greece) unto Christ.
Many of the Greeks were of the house of Judah. Chapter 16 lists many names of Israelite kinsmen who were disciples of The Belief, and Paul was warning them to beware of false gospels and false teachers. It was a time when the True Gospel was being received by the True Israelites and True Word was becoming less of a mystery, because the Truth was smashing the Jews' fables.
1Corinthians 15:20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits (G536) of them that slept.
15:21 For since by man (Adam) came death, by man (Christ in Adamic flesh) came also the resurrection of the dead.
15:22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
15:23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits (G536); afterward they that are Christ's at His coming.
The Greek: 23 But each in his own order: the first fruit (G536), Christ; then those of the Anointed (the group) at His arrival.
Firstfruits is G536 aparche (ap-ar-khay'), which represents the people consecrated to Yahweh.
1Corinthians 16:15 I beseech you, brethren, (you know the house of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits (G536) of Achaia, and that they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints,)
Hebrews 6:10 For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which you have shewed toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister.
The whole meaning of the Feast of Weeks. A time to sow seeds of Truth among the 'lost' sheep, that by the will of the Father who draws them, they may receive the Holy Spirit. If and when they do, they become aparche, meaning consecrated to God.
James 1:17 Every good gift (act of giving) and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. (Mal 3:6)
John 3:27 John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven.
1:18 Of His own will begat He us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits (G536) of His creatures (creations).
James goes on to state that we must be doers of the Word and not 'just believers' only. That when we receive the Word we can receive the Holy Spirit and ultimately our salvation. Doers of the Word are those who know and obey The Word and sow The Word. When the Word grows, the Kingdom gets built.
Revelation 14:4 These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever He goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits (G536) unto God and to the Lamb.
'Defiled with women', meaning defiled by False religion.
2Corinthians 11:2 For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.
If you worship a Jewish Jesus, and accept any of the 33,000 denominations of so-called Christianity, then you are not a chaste virgin, will not receive the Holy Spirit, and can only be the firstfruits of the Devil and for his son Himey.
It matters Who and what we believe.
In the female gestation cycle...
Day 16 The Zygote connects with uterus.
First Fruits (Wave Sheaf/FOW) represents when the Zygote Becomes an Embryo.
(Also known as Wave Sheaf Day) it represents the point where the Zygote's outer membrane opens up and physically connects with the mother's uterus, beginning the process of developing the umbilical cord. The umbilical cord provides the necessary exchange of bodily fluids, for the zygote to develop into an embryo.)
How do you celebrate the Feast of Weeks?
You must find which days it falls on Gregorian calendar. It begins 2 days after Passover and the day after the Feast of Unleavened Bread.
You can view the Hebrew Solar Calendar for the date here: https://www.thinkoutsidethebeast.com/calendar/
They are available every year for a $20 donation.
Since we are not all farmers growing grain, and the Temple, priesthood and it's ordinances expired, we simply just need to be mindful of what the FOW means, what it represents, and to bring the truth of The Gospel to our people so they may return to Yahweh, their heritage and identity, and receive the Holy Spirit.
Now you are ready to go out and witness to others and prepare them for Pentecost which is connected to Passover, Feast of Unleavened Bread, and the Feast of Weeks.
This Feast of Weeks study is also part of the FEAST-DAYS study series.
Sabbath https://www.thinkoutsidethebeast.com/sabbath/
Feast of Unleavened Bread https://www.thinkoutsidethebeast.com/feast-of-unleavened-bread/
FOW/WS/FF https://www.thinkoutsidethebeast.com/feast-of-weeks-w…heaf-firstfruits/
Pentecost https://www.thinkoutsidethebeast.com/pentecost-2/
Trumpets https://www.thinkoutsidethebeast.com/feast-of-trumpets/
DOA https://www.thinkoutsidethebeast.com/day-of-atonement/
FOT https://www.thinkoutsidethebeast.com/feast-of-tabernacles/
