THE JERUSALEM SENTINEL

Why Do We Observe Pentecost On Sunday?

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There was a time when we, the church of God, observed Pentecost on Monday. The emphasis was placed on the preposition "from" and its meaning. We were told that the phrase "from the morrow (day) after the Sabbath" meant not Sunday but Monday. This controversy on Pentecost, Sunday-Monday which?, reached to the highest level of the church; the controversy over Pentecost and Divorce & Remarriage caused a division in the church that exists to this day.

The man who presented the truth about Pentecost waited for ten years for some kind of answer to his thesis; then was ostracized and kicked out. He was told that he was in a bad attitude. The Apostle (so-called) finally, after much pressure from within the ministry, had to admit his error and change from Monday to Sunday.

Then came the surprise, HE did not make the mistake! The translators made the error. My wife knew Pentecost was on Sunday fifteen years before it was changed, reading the same scriptures, (King James Version) that he said were mistranslated.

Is Sunday the 1st day of the week the correct day for Pentecost? The Jews of today observe Pentecost on Sivan 6 and most churches of God follow the Jewish tradition, which is flawed* of keeping Passover, the Days of Unleavened Bread, the Feast of Trumpets, Day of Atonement and the Feast of Tabernacles on the wrong day by the Jewish Calendar of Hillel II. *(God's Calendar vs Roman/Jewish Calendar) Send for free booklet.

However, most churches do not follow the Jews and the Hillel II calendar with regard to Pentecost. Why do they not follow the Jews on Pentecost? Their reasoning, and I believe rightly so, is that the scriptures make it quite plain that Pentecost comes on the first day of the week.

So why Sunday? I have asked this question to many people, "Why do you observe Pentecost on Sunday?" The usual answer I get is found in Leviticus 23:15-16, Deuteronomy 16:9-10, Colossians 2:16-17 and Hebrews 10:1.

Lev 23:15 "And you shall count for yourselves from the morrow (day) after the Sabbath, from the day that you brought the SHEAF OF THE WAVE OFFERING: seven Sabbaths shall be completed. Lev 23:16 "Count fifty days to the morrow (day) after the seventh Sabbath..."

Deu 16:9 "Seven weeks shall you number unto you; begin to count the seven weeks from such time as you first put the sickle to the standing grain.

Col 2:16 Therefore let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or new moon or Sabbaths, :17 which are a SHADOW of things to come, but the body (church) of Christ. Heb 10:1 "For the law, being a SHADOW of things to come, and not the very image of the things...

All good answers and I believe the ANSWERS ARE CORRECT. But, is that all there is? What does the WAVE SHEAF represent? Why did the Jews cut a sheaf (omer) of barley and a lamb without blemish, and WAVE THE SHEAF before the eternal? Why during the Days of Unleavened Bread? Because it is a SHADOW OF AN EVENT WITHIN THE DAYS OF UNLEAVENED BREAD FOLLOWING THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS, THE CHRIST.

Jesus Christ was the paschal lamb slain on the afternoon of the 14th of Nisan, as all lambs were slain in the afternoon of the original preparation day, before the children of Israel came out of Egypt on the 15th. Most churches teach that after the Days of Unleavened Bread we see the fulfillment of the Day of Pentecost when God's Holy Spirit was given, completely overlooking the SHADOW OF THE WAVE SHEAF and its FULFILLMENT. Why, if you are going to count to Pentecost, is it necessary to count from the correct day?

First of all the WAVE SHEAF had to be cut on a work day. The WAVE SHEAF had to be waved in the day portion at the time of the morning sacrifice. This SHADOW of FULFILLMENT has to be shown to start counting fifty days to Pentecost. The fulfillment has to be within the days of unleavened bread following the sacrifice of Jesus and His resurrection. No other time.

You would think, if Sivan 6 is Pentecost, that on the day after the High Sabbath the fulfillment of this would be evident in the scriptures (New Testament). There is none on this day.

We know from the scriptures that Jesus went to the Father on the 1st day of the week. Why did He go? Was He fulfilling Scripture? Jesus was the FIRSTFRUITS and is our high priest. The WAVE SHEAF represented the FIRSTFRUITS.

Point 1. The WAVE SHEAF is cut on the first work day. Jesus Christ was resurrected on the 1st day of the week (The Real 3 Days & 3 Nights). *Send for free booklet. Jesus Christ had to be resurrected on the first day portion as it began to dawn (Matt.28:1-2), while it was still dark (John 20:1) on the first day of the week. The SIGN of His resurrection was the GREAT EARTHQUAKE AND THE ANGEL.

OLD TESTAMENT WORK DAY DEFINED:

Deu 16:9, "Seven weeks shall you number unto you: begin to count the 7 weeks from such time as you first put the sickle to the standing grain (a work day).

Lev 23:3 "Six days shall work be done (work days), but the seventh day is a Sabbath of solemn rest, a holy convocation. You shall do no work on it."

Lev 23:7 "On the first day you shall have a holy convocation; you shall do no customary (occupational) work on it."

Lev 23:10-11 "...When you come into the land which I give you, and reap its harvest (work day), then you shall bring a SHEAF of the FIRSTFRUITS of your harvest to the priest. He shall WAVE THE SHEAF before the Lord, to be accepted on your behalf; on the day after the Sabbath the priest shall wave it."

The Jews, to this day, call the WAVE SHEAF "FIRSTFRUITS."

Point 2. The FULFILLMENT of the SHADOW is found in John 20:11-18.

John 20:17 Jesus said to her, "Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father, but go to my brethren and say to them, `I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God'"

John 20:15 Jesus said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?" She, supposing Him to be a gardener..."

Why did she think Him to be a gardener? COULD IT BE BECAUSE OF WHAT HE WAS CARRYING IN HIS ARMS a SHEAF (OMER) OF BARLEY? Could it be? In verse 17, Why did He have to go to the Father? Could it be to FULFILL THE SHADOW, in fact, to WAVE THE SHEAF OFFERING before the Eternal? The SHEAF/OMER of barley was waved before the Eternal on our behalf, those in the first resurrection.

JESUS CHRIST WAS THE FIRSTFRUITS

1 Cor. 15:20 "But now Christ is risen from the dead and has become the FIRSTFRUITS of them that have fallen asleep (died)."

1 Cor. 15:23 "But each one in his own order; Christ the FIRSTFRUITS; afterward they that are Christ's at His coming"

JESUS CHRIST'S RESURRECTION AND GOING TO THE FATHER ON THE FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK IS THE FULFILLMENT OF THE SHADOW OF THE WAVE SHEAF OFFERING!

A quick look at Leviticus 23 will show you that God commands us to observe almost all the holy days on a fixed calendar date. The exception to that rule is the Wave Sheaf and Pentecost. That's because these two days are ALWAYS ON SUNDAY! If Pentecost was on the fixed date of Sivan 6, God would simply tell us to observe it on the 6th day of the 3rd month! But He doesn't, He says we must COUNT. Why? because a fixed date can fall on any day of the week. Wave Sheaf and Pentecost fall on Sunday, therefore the only way to observe them on the correct day is to COUNT! Lev 23:15 "And you shall count for yourselves from the morrow (day) after the Sabbath, from the day that you brought the sheaf of the wave offering: seven Sabbaths shall be completed. :16 "Count fifty days to the morrow (day) after the seventh Sabbath..."

One final point: Acts 1:3 "...being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God." The counting of the forty days is towards the counting to Pentecost. The culmination of the 40 days has always been known as Ascension Thursday, just as the choosing of the LAMB has always been known as Palm Sunday in history.

In conclusion, Jesus Christ being the FIRSTFRUITS and His FULFILLMENT of the SHADOW, is why I observe Pentecost of the 1st day of the week. This is not meant to be a all inclusive article, it is meant to inspire you into further study in your Bible. That is the only place where true knowledge originates from.

Sources:

New King James version

King James version

New International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

Booklet: The Real 3 Days & 3 Nights

Arrangements have been made to hold the Feast of Tabernacles in beautiful Panama City Beach at the CHATEAU MOTEL, located at 12525 W. Highway 98-A. The meeting room looks out to the gulf; a beautiful setting in which to keep God's Feast of Tabernacles and Last Great Day.

The Chateau has its own private beach and pool, kitchenettes, suites, color cable TV, gift shop, room phones, and restaurant. It is AAA approved and takes VISA, Master Card & American Express.

Ideas for planned events are welcome. A speaking schedule will be announced later. If anyone has announcements or sermons they wish to give, please contact Charles Kimbrough A.S.A.P. (904) 382-0877.

Please bring any musical instruments you might play for song services and the talent show. If your children are planning to participate in the children's services (Sabbath School), please contact Mary Carr at P.O. Box 30616, Knoxville, TN 37930 A.S.A.P. so supplies can be ordered.

The Feast of Tabernacles is a time to seek the Lord! God's people in Bible times probably spent more than a month every year traveling and attending the Feast. The purpose for these Holy Days are to separate us from our business cares and burdens, and to spend a few days exclusively worshipping God.

Those who gather at the Feast experience a spiritual closeness, a growth of knowledge, and a strengthened relationship with God. Attending the Feast requires both spiritual and financial planning. If you've been remiss with the financial planning, it is not too late! There is still time if you put some money in savings each week, but start today!

Remember this is a Holy Convocation, (a summons from God) for you to appear before Him in celebration and worship. Please join us in this festive celebration.

PANAMA CITY BEACH ACCOMMODATIONS

CHATEAU MOTEL 12525 Highway Alternate 98, Panama City Beach, FL 32407 Phone 1-800-874-8826 Has basic rooms with 2 double beds for $35. a night, GROUP RATE so be sure to mention you are with the United Biblical Churches of God to get this price! They also have efficiency rooms, mini suites, and executive suites which sleep up to 6 people, call for rates and reservations.

HORIZON SOUTH II Condominiums 17462 Front Beach Road, Panama City Beach, FL 32413 Phone 1-800-334-4010 Has 1, 2, or 3 Bedroom condos ranging in price from $240 - $360 a week. All come equipped with ovens, washers and dryers, refrigerators with ice makers, ceiling fans in each bedroom and living area, electric ranges, garbage disposals, and electric heat pumps. Most come equipped with microwave ovens. It has 2 king size pools, 1 baby pool and a hot tub spa. Tennis court, shuffle board court, miniature golf, recroom, pool tables, table tennis, sauna and an exercise room.

PIER 99 WATERFRONT 9900 S. Thomas Dr. Panama City Beach, FL 32408 Phone 1-800-874-6657 Has Double Rooms with 2 beds, or with kitchens, Single rooms with 1 queen size bed, or hot tub, or with kitchen, all these rooms are $34 per night. They also have 2 bedroom Villa's for $59-$69 a night.

SUN GLO 5401 Thomas Drive Panama City Beach, FL 32408 Phone (904) 234-2748 Has sleeping rooms (Double bed and bath)$20- $24, Regular 2 room (Double bed, hideabed, kitchen and bath) $25-$28, Large 2 room (3 Double beds, hideabed, kitchen & 2 Baths) $35-$38, or Suites (3 Double beds, hideabed, kitchen & bath) $40-$45

BEACHCOMBER BY THE SEA 17101 West Alt. Highway 98, Phone 1-800-648-6681 Has singles, doubles, kitchenettes, cabanas,1 & 2 bedroom apartments, and 2 & 3 bedroom executive apartments for $22-$27 per night.

There are many more to choose from depending on your budget and individual preferences. For more information contact the Chamber of Commerce and the Plaza or the Georgian.

THINGS TO SEE AND DO

OCEAN OPRY SHOW 8400 W. Hwy 98A (Front Beach Road), Panama City Beach, FL 32407 Phone (904) 234-5464 The Ocean Opry music and stage show opened in 1978, providing wholesome entertainment for the whole family at Panama City Beach. Three generations of the now famous Rader family brings you not only a country music show but also old time rock n roll, heart warming gospel, moving patriotic music and mountain type bluegrass. All of this mixed with side splittin' comedy for all ages provides an evening of southern style entertainment your family will never forget. Tickets are: Adults- $9.95 + tax Under 12 half price, children 4 and under free. Group rates available.

EMERALD FALLS 8602 Thomas Drive, Panama City Beach, FL 32407 Phone (904) 234-1049 Emerald Falls is an exciting attraction with a wide variety of activities for the entire family. Choose from the ever popular Formula K race track to the slippery slick track to the wet and wild bumper boats, they also have miniature golf, and an arcade room filled with all sorts of games to challenge young and old alike. Group rates available.

Plus there are many boat tours available offering dolphin feeding, sightseeing, crab trap operation, bird feeding, and deep sea fishing.

On May 11, 1991, Mr. Charles Kimbrough, Pastor of the United Biblical Churches of God of Crystal River, Florida and Mr. Mark Carr, Pastor of the Church of God of Knoxville, Tennessee, ordained Mr. Thad L. Miller, Jr. an Elder over the Community Church of God, located in Morganton, N.C. Mr. Miller in turn ordained two local Deacons, Mr. Samuel Carroll of Icard and Mr. Steve Shockley of Lenoir, to assist in the local ministry.

The congregation meets at the Rainbow Inn, Exit #106 on I-40 near Morganton. Services are at 1:30 P.M., on Saturday. Pastor Miller and the congregation cordially invite you to attend services. The Community Church of God is an independent organization serving the needs of local communities. Their address is: Community Church of God, P.O. Box 993, Lenoir, NC 28645.

Some of you know that there is a jail ministry in Knoxville, TN. We have had a request from an inmate there who is studying about God and His truth for pen pals. He has a special message to teenagers who are in trouble with the law and/or on drugs. He would also like to contact those who do not have these problems to help insure they don't ever get involved with them. I think he can talk with them as an equal with a believable message. For anyone who is interested contact: James R. Bishop, Knox County Jail, 400 Main Street #7, Knoxville, TN 37902.

If I were to give this a title it would be "What Would Jesus Do." We go to church with all the of the right motives, to worship God. We bow our heads in prayer, asking God's blessings on the services. We thank Him for the opportunity to learn more of how He would have us to serve Him. We join in the song service. We sing hymns like "I am Thine O Lord", We sing consecrate me now to Thy service Lord, and "Wherever He leads I'll go." We even get a feeling within us that yes, this is what I really want to do, to serve Him with my whole being. I want to put Him first in my life. We truly mean it, we are not hypocrites. This is how we truly feel, we mean it with our whole heart and being.

But wait a minute, what happens when church services are over? What do we do when we see the old man and his dog, setting along the side of the road with all of his belongings in an old worn out blanket. Or you may see him sleeping under the Interstate overpass. Some times he will have a sign on a piece of cardboard, "I'll work for food, or my dog is hungry. Do we ask "What would Jesus do?" or do we do what Jesus would do and stop and help him ourselves? He's not asking you to take him and his dog home with you and make a place for them in your home. He may like his way of life out of doors. But they may very well be hungry. Do we remember what Christ said, "I was hungry and you gave me no food. I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was cold and you did not clothe me. I say, in as much as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me."

Just what do you call following Jesus. Is it not the same things as He taught? There is an awful lot of trouble in this world that somehow wouldn't exist, if every one who sings these hymns would live by what they profess in church. Let's take it a little farther. What about our businesses, would Jesus conduct His business the way you do? How many times do we take advantage of another person. There are those who would rather lose money on a job, because they know that the customer does not have much but, he knows that the work needs to be done. Then there are those that say "I did the work, if they couldn't afford it they shouldn't have asked me to do it." It really doesn't matter to them that it was a true need, even if it took every last cent the man has. It could very well be that those few dollars was the grocery money and the customer has a family to provide for. It just doesn't matter, just so you get paid for the work you did. What would Jesus have done? We must ask ourselves this question in every phase of our life.

Whether it be the language we use, the stories we tell, how we conduct ourselves at home with our families, at work, not just while we are at church. But the way we conduct ourselves twenty four hours a day, seven days a week, three hundred and sixty five days a year. Even when no one is looking and no one will never find out what we have done. We may be able to cover up the real us before others, but we can not cover it from God.

What do you do when you don't want to change your doctrine? You procrastinate and build up a paper tiger and hammer away at it mercilessly so that you don't have to address the real issue. You pick something like "we don't want to change because it might cause division". After all who could argue with such noble intentions? This is what has happened for years with the New Moon calendar.

Up until recently that has worked, but since the publishing of our booklet God's Calendar vs Roman-Jewish Calendar, (write for a free copy) it has become impossible for many church leaders to ignore the questions it has raised. At least one large Church of God organization has been forced to address this issue. They have just published an article written by one of their top men that makes several admissions, but also contains many inaccuracies. (Oh well at least its a step in the right direction.)

In the article he admits when the crescent is visible (over Jerusalem) that determines a new month. He admits the month in which Passover falls (Abib) means "green ears". There were no green ears this year on Hillel's calendar for Passover in March because the Jewish calendar was off by one full month! The barley harvest was not ready until 1 month later in April.

Most of the time Hillel's calendar is only off by a couple of days, but every few years it is off by a full month like this year. According to it the Jew's and a lot of church's will celebrate the fall Holy day's this year starting with Trumpets on September 9th. This is before the fall, still in the summer when the crops are yet in the field! How can you have a fall harvest festival in the summer before the harvest?

Unfortunately they're still blowing a lot of smoke and confusion on the issue of God's Calendar. To cut through that smoke screen the reason for their refusal to abandon the pagan calendar they now follow is they claim the priesthood changed the calendar so that they would have a break between a Holy day and a Sabbath because of the numerous sacrifices performed on those two days, never allowing two Sabbaths to fall in a row.

The problem with this is that the sacrifices stopped in 70 A.D. when the temple was destroyed and the Calendar wasn't changed until 358 A.D. ALMOST 300 YEARS after the last sacrifice was performed!

The other interesting statement made is that they now define the "Oracles of God" as not only the preservation of the scriptures (Bible) but also to include the Talmud. Does this mean we all have to rush out and buy a copy so we can properly learn the customs of hand washing's, purifications, etc.? MATT 15:1-20 shows the Talmud can conflict with the Bible, this proves it is not infallible.

According to the Talmud during the time period when Jesus was on earth the High Priest would hold court in the Temple to determine when the New Moon was. It was based on the testimony of three credible witnesses who had seen the crescent of the New Moon. Once a New Moon had been declared fires would be lit on the Mount of Olives to notify those who were not in the Holy City. According to the Mishna six witnesses were dispatched with a hand-delivered message that the New Moon was over Jerusalem.

The reason this was done is because since God designed a calendar for them to follow it was their duty to follow and observe it properly. The High Priest had no authority to hear testimony that the crescent of the New Moon was sighted and then declare the month would begin two or three days later! That would have been a sin. That is in essence to what happens today however with the Hebrew calendar and that is why once we realize this it can NEVER be followed.

The article also says Jesus taught that the Scribes and Pharisees sit in Moses seat. If this means they control the Holy days with their rule making system then we must stop driving our cars like they do in Jerusalem, keep Pentecost on Sivan 6, worship in the synagogue not in the church, observe the Holy Days with the Jews and SEND ALL TITHES TO JERUSALEM!!! (Lets see how long they continue this tune.)

You see they are still talking out of both sides of their mouths but there is hope. Their "leader" has not yet addressed the issue in print. He can (and someday will) step in and correct the others just like his father used to do.

As far as the claim that it was Hillel's idea to change the calendar that's just not true. The Romans forced him to change it. In 351-52 A.D. the Jew's revolted against the Roman emperor Gallus & his commander Ursicinus and lost. After this the Romans limited the power of the NASI and forced him to give up the authority to proclaim the New Moon and the fixing of the festivals. Hillel II agreed to this perverted calendar system so he could save his neck. A calculated calendar was then instituted and published with it's rules in 358 A.D. (Encyclopedia Judaica, Hillel II).

I'm not advocating division, but when it comes to turning your back on truth and compromising your beliefs disobeying God just to keep harmony in the church, there is no choice to be made! We must follow God and Him alone. On the judgement day we will answer for our actions and our lack of action. We can't pass the buck to someone else because God's Government is not one of pray and pay! Any tree (person) that has not bore fruit, God will uproot.

When you have thousands of people someone will always object to change. You will never get everyone to agree on every point. And unless you pad your ministerial committee with paid employees, and your board of directors with family, you won't get them to agree on everything. To say you will not change doctrine until there is total harmony is to doom a church to slow death.

Jos 24:15...choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, ...But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD." (NKJ)

We hope that all of you are preparing for the upcoming Feast this year. For those of you who were with us last year you know how spiritually uplifting it was.

I hope this issue of the Jerusalem Sentinel brings you lot's of enjoyment and spiritual learning. The articles don't begin to cover all the points on the subjects they relate to. They are intended to inspire further study on your part.

This is the summer issue and we need and want your suggestions and articles for the fall issue. As I make the final changes to this, work has already begun on the fall issue.

One article it will contain that should be of interest to everyone is on Church Government. It is not like anything that is being taught in the larger organizations. This will be from a Biblical and not a corporate standpoint.

Like I said please submit your articles as we desperately need your help in this area. We can't promise to use them all but each one will be seriously considered.

Until the next issue,

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