| Leviticus Lesson 17... | ||||||||||||||||||
|
Details about Old Testament Book of Leviticus:
Translate this page into:
         
As you recall, we are in the
midst of a study of the 7 Annual Sacred Assemblies (Feasts) which the Jewish
people first began to celebrate and observe upon their Exodus from Egypt. And
now, almost 3500 years later, they still observe these Feasts annually.
We have already looked at the
first 3 of the 7 Feasts and we have discovered that these were not Feasts
with only a Historical significance, but that they are also
significant Prophetic pictures, shadows and types. And, guess what? We are
going to discover that this pattern continues as we now look at the 4th
Feast, the Feast of Weeks. So, get your Bible, pens, and pencils and let's
begin! And, as we begin, let's first
read what the Book of Leviticus tells us about the Feast of Weeks (Harvest).
So, your assignment now is to read Leviticus 23:15-22. And, as you read
these verses, printed here for you or in your Bible, do the following:
1. Underline
in RED the the number of weeks and days which intervene between the 3rd & 4th
Feasts.
Leviticus 23:15-22
.
First, let's look at several
of the places in the Old Testament and then we will be better able to
understand the Historical and Prophetical implications of this 4th Feast (Sacred
Assembly) when we later look at the New Testament references to this Feast. I
will include the O.T. references here for you. But, of course, you can also turn
to them in your Bible to read and mark. So, as you read these
passages, as you did before, circle, underline or highlight in
RED and GREEN the same things that you marked as you read the Leviticus 23
passage. (Hint: due to the brevity of some
of these passages, not all of the information you marked in the Leviticus
passage will be included, but mark anything that is applicable.) Also, for those
of you with color printers, I am printing the information relating to the 4th
Feast in GREEN. The "surrounding" verses are included so you can see this Feast
in context. Also, I am including the graphic of the 7 Feasts to help you to
easily see where this Feast, the Feast of Weeks (Harvest), falls on the "time
line" of the Annual Feasts. On this graphic, Put a
GREEN CIRCLE around the 4th Feast, the Feast of Weeks
(Harvest) so it will readily stand out as we do this lesson.
The 7
Annual Feasts (Sacred Assemblies)
.
Exodus
23:14-17
14. "Three times a year you are to celebrate a festival to Me
(God).
15. "Celebrate the Feast of Unleavened Bread
(in the 3 "Passover" Feasts);
for seven days eat bread made without yeast, as I commanded you. Do this at the
appointed time in the month of Abib, for in that month you came out of Egypt.
"No one is to appear before me empty-handed.
16.
"Celebrate the Feast of Harvest
(Weeks /the 4th Feast)
with the firstfruits of the crops you sow in your field.
"Celebrate the Feast of Ingathering
(in the 5, 6, & 7th Feasts)
at the end of the year, when you gather in your crops from the field. 17. "Three
times a year all the men are to appear before the Sovereign LORD.
Exodus
34:18 & 22-23
18. "Celebrate the Feast of Unleavened Bread
(in the 3 "Passover" Feasts).
For seven days eat bread made without yeast, as I commanded you. Do this at the
appointed time in the month of Abib, for in that month you came out of Egypt.
... ...
22."Celebrate the Feast of Weeks
(Harvest /the 4th Feast)
with the firstfruits of the wheat harvest,
and the Feast of Ingathering
(in the 5, 6, & 7th Feasts)
at the turn of the year. 23. Three times a year all your men are to appear
before the Sovereign LORD, the God of Israel.
Numbers
28:26-31& 29:1
.
Deuteronomy 16:1-16a
1. Observe the month of Abib and celebrate the Passover
(in the 3 "Passover" Feasts)
of the LORD your God, because in the month of Abib He brought you out of Egypt
by night. 2. Sacrifice as the Passover to the LORD your God an animal from your
flock or herd at the place the LORD will choose as a dwelling for his Name. 3.
Do not eat it with bread made with yeast, but for seven days eat unleavened
bread, the bread of affliction, because you left Egypt in haste--so that all the
days of your life you may remember the time of your departure from Egypt. 4.
Let no yeast be found in your possession in all your land for seven days. Do not
let any of the meat you sacrifice on the evening of the first day remain until
morning. 5. You must not sacrifice the Passover in any town the LORD your God
gives you 6. except in the place He will choose as a dwelling for His Name.
There you must sacrifice the Passover in the evening, when the sun goes down, on
the anniversary of your departure from Egypt. 7. Roast it and eat it at the
place the LORD your God will choose. Then in the morning return to your tents.
8. For six days eat unleavened bread and on the seventh day hold an assembly to
the LORD your God and do no work.
9.
Count off seven weeks from the time you begin to put the sickle to the standing
grain. 10. Then celebrate the Feast of Weeks
(Harvest /the 4th Feast)
to the LORD your God by giving a freewill offering in proportion to the
blessings the LORD your God has given you. 11. And rejoice before the LORD your
God at the place he will choose as a dwelling for his Name--you, your sons and
daughters, your menservants and maidservants, the Levites in your towns, and the
aliens, the fatherless and the widows living among you. 12. Remember that you
were slaves in Egypt, and follow carefully these decrees.
13.
Celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles
(in the 5, 6, & 7th Feasts)
for seven days after you have gathered the produce of your threshing floor and
your winepress. 14 Be joyful at your Feast--you, your sons and daughters, your
menservants and maidservants, and the Levites, the aliens, the fatherless and
the widows who live in your towns. 15. For seven days celebrate the Feast to
the LORD your God at the place the LORD will choose. For the LORD your God will
bless you in all your harvest and in all the work of your hands, and your joy
will be complete. 16. Three times a year all your men must appear before the
LORD your God at the place He will choose: at the Feast of Unleavened Bread,
the
Feast of Weeks
and the Feast of Tabernacles.. ... ...
<>< <><
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
. ?
What is the Name of the
4th of the 7 Annual Feasts (Sacred Assemblies)? (Hint see Ex 23:17; Ex 34:22;
Num 28:26; Deut 16:10.) = The Feast of ____________________
? What Feast(s)
preceded the Feast of Weeks / Harvest? = The 3 Feasts of (see Deut 16:1)
______________ and specifically the "Feast of First ________ "
? How many WEEKS after
the Feast of Firstfruits did the Feast of Weeks (Harvest) occur?
(see Lev 23:15) __________ ?
How many DAYS after the
Sabbath that immediately preceded the Feast of Firstfruits did the Feast of
Weeks occur? (see Lev 23:16) _________ ?
On what DAY did the
Feast of Weeks occur? (Hint, see Lev 23:16 and what "day" on our calendar today
is the Jewish "Sabbath" and then what is the day after that?)
____________________ . ?
Was there a Grain offering offered at the Feast of Weeks (Harvest)? (Lev.
23:16)
_____________ ?
What was the Grain that
was offered at the Feast of Weeks? (Circle your answer from the choices below.
Hint: see Ex 34:22 plus you may also want to refer to the Jewish Calendar which
you studied in Lesson 15)
Barley
Flax
Wheat
. Hmmmmm. Now that is very
interesting, because we have learned in previous lessons that yeast (leaven)
represents _______ as a picture or a type. So why are 22 loaves containing
yeast (leaven), a picture of sin, being offered to the Lord? Hold that
thought, don't answer yet, but think about it, for you are going to find that
this is a very important and significant picture (shadow, type). But, continuing on. Also presented with the wave
offering of wheat (the new grain offered at this Feast of Weeks /
Harvest), were (Lev.23:18) ______ male lambs, _______ young bull and _______
rams and they were offered as a _________ offering together with their grain
offerings (of wheat) and ________ offerings. Also offered as a (Lev. 23:19)
________ offering was _____ male goat. And, as a (Lev 23:19)
________________ offering, _____ lambs were offered as a wave offering along
with the bread (loaves) of (made from) the firstfruits (of the wheat harvest of
the Feast of Weeks). All of this detail may just seem
like a lot of meaningless things to do. But, as you are soon going to discover,
these things (offerings and even the "when" of the offerings) are actually
important as pictures, shadows, and types! The Lord God was definitely
picturing for His people some very significant Prophecies in this Feast.
In Fact,
speaking of details, I assume you are wondering what the "correct" answers were
to those fill in the blank questions. And I am sure you got them correctly, but
just so you can know for sure, they are: Weeks / harvest; Passover,
(first)fruits; 7; 50; 1st day of week (Sunday); yes; wheat; 2; yeast (leaven):
sin; 7, 1, 2, burnt, drink; sin, 1; fellowship, 2.
OK, Let's continue in our study
of the Feast of Weeks (Harvest). But, before we look at the New Testament
passages which will explain the meaning of these things, let's find out a little
more about this 4th Feast as it was observed by the Jews for the 1500 years
after it was instituted until the prophetic pictures, shadows and types were
fulfilled in a very important event which is recorded for us in the New
Testament. Then 7 weeks after
the Feast of Firstfruits, (which had occurred on the 1st day of the week, a
Sunday), the Feast of Weeks (Harvest) occurred. Therefore, this means that the
feast of Weeks (Harvest) occurred 50 days after the sabbath which
immediately preceded the Feast of Firstfruits and that it also occured on the
1st day of the week, a Sunday. Now hold that thought for that is VERY
significant. And, by the way, you will surely
be very interested to know that the Greek word for 50 is Pentecost!
According to
Strong's Concordance Numbers:
4002 = pente=
five
So,
another name for the Feast of Weeks (Harvest) is Pentecost because this
Feast occurred 50 days after the Sabbath preceeding the Feast of
Firstfruits,the 3rd of the 3 Feasts in the Feasts of Passover week. Now, I am sure that you recall
from Lesson 16 that a VERY important feast and a VERY important prophetic
fulfillment event occurred on the day after the sabbath that preceded the Feast
of Firstfruits.. Since the Feast of Firstfruits occurred on the day after the
Jewish Sabbath, it occurred on the First Day of the Week (Sunday). And
the Prophetic event that it pictured was fulfilled about 1500 years later on
that same first day of the week. The prophetic event, which was fulfilled on
the Feast of Firstfruits, was the RESURRECTION of the Lord God Jesus Christ!
Yes, it was on the day of the
Feast of Firstfruits, during Passover week, that Jesus Christ was was
RESURRECTED from the grave to live again! Jesus was the Unleavened (without
sin) Bread who had died (on the Feast of Unleavened bread) and then was
resurrected (raised to life) on the very day of the Feast of Firstfruits. He
was, therefore, the first of all who will be similarly raised to life after they
die IF they have believed and trusted in Him (Jesus) for their salvation from
the death penalty of sin. So, now, 7 Weeks after the Feast
of Firstfruits (and 50 Days after the Jewish Sabbath proceeding the Feast of
Firstfruits), we find another Feast being observed on the First Day of the week,
the Feast of Weeks (Harvest, Pentecost). Yes, the Feast of Weeks
(Harvest) was also observed on the First Day of the week (our Sunday) and on
that day and at that feast, 2 loaves of Bread containing yeast / leaven (a
picture of sin) are waved. Hmmmmmmm. Very Interesting and very prophetic. We
will discover of the meaning of this soon. So let's keep studying. We will
discover what this pictured and fulfilled when we get to the New Testament
Passages. In the meantime store away in
your heart the fact that the Feast of Firstfruits AND the Feast of Weeks
(Harvest, Pentecost) BOTH occurred on the same day of the week, the First day of
the week, our Sunday. WOW! And you will really say WOW when you discover what
happened on The Feast of Weeks (Harvest, Pentecost) almost 1500 years later!
So, keep your pencils sharp and your eyeglasses clean and read on. But, before we get to the
fulfillment of this 4th Feast, let's continue discovering more about the 4th
Feast itself. For it has still ANOTHER name. It is also sometimes referred
to as the Feast of Shavuot. What was Shavuot, you ask? Well,
fasten your seatbelt for this. Shavuot was the day that
Moses received the Law, the Old Covenant of the Old Testament!
Yes, according to Jewish tradition, amazingly this is the day that the LORD gave
the Law to Moses to give to His people. This event is recorded for us in
Exodus. I am including the Scriptures here for you. As you read them,
1. Put a
GREEN CIRCLE around every reference to the TIME words: third month
and third day.
Exodus
19 & 20 1.
In the third month after the Israelites left Egypt--on the very day--they came
to the Desert of Sinai. 2. After they set out from Rephidim, they entered the
Desert of Sinai, and Israel camped there in the desert in front of the mountain.
3. Then Moses went up to God, and the LORD called to him from the mountain and
said, "This is what you are to say to the house of Jacob and what you are to
tell the people of Israel: 4.`You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and
how I carried you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself. 5. Now if you obey
Me fully and keep My covenant
(this is the
OLD covenant),
then out of all nations you will be My treasured possession. Although the whole
earth is Mine, 6. you will be for Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.'
These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites." 7. So Moses went back
and summoned the elders of the people and set before them all the words the LORD
had commanded him to speak. 8. The people all responded together, "We will do
everything the LORD has said." So Moses brought their answer back to the LORD.
9. The LORD said to Moses, "I am going to come to you in a dense cloud, so that
the people will hear me speaking with you and will always put their trust in
you." Then Moses told the LORD what the people had said. 10. And the LORD said
to Moses, "Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow. Have them
wash their clothes 11. and be ready by the third day, because on that day the
LORD will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people. 12. Put
limits for the people around the mountain and tell them, `Be careful that you do
not go up the mountain or touch the foot of it. Whoever touches the mountain
shall surely be put to death. 13. He shall surely be stoned or shot with arrows;
not a hand is to be laid on him. Whether man or animal, he shall not be
permitted to live.' Only when the ram's horn sounds a long blast may they go up
to the mountain." 14. After Moses had gone down the mountain to the people, he
consecrated them, and they washed their clothes. 15.Then he said to the people,
"Prepare yourselves for the third day. Abstain from sexual relations." 16. On
the morning of the third day there was thunder and lightning, with a thick cloud
over the mountain, and a very loud trumpet blast. Everyone in the camp trembled.
17. Then Moses led the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood
at the foot of the mountain. 18. Mount Sinai was covered with smoke, because the
LORD descended on it in fire. The smoke billowed up from it like smoke from a
furnace, the whole mountain trembled violently,19. and the sound of the trumpet
grew louder and louder. Then Moses spoke and the voice of God answered him.
20.The LORD descended to the top of Mount Sinai and called Moses to the top of
the mountain. So Moses went up 21. and the LORD said to him, "Go down and warn
the people so they do not force their way through to see the LORD and many of
them perish. 22. Even the priests, who approach the LORD, must consecrate
themselves, or the LORD will break out against them." 23. Moses said to the
LORD, "The people cannot come up Mount Sinai, because You Yourself warned us,
`Put limits around the mountain and set it apart as holy.'" 24. The LORD
replied, "Go down and bring Aaron up with you. But the priests and the people
must not force their way through to come up to the LORD, or he will break out
against them." 25. So Moses went down to the people and told them.
Exodus 20 (This section
includes the 10 commandments / the Law / the Old Covenant -- in verses 20:2-17)
1. And God spoke all these words: 2. "I am the LORD your God, Who brought you
out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.
3. "You shall have no other gods before Me. 4. "You shall not make for
yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath
or in the waters below. 5. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for
I,the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the
fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate Me, 6. but showing
love to a thousand [ generations] of those who love Me and keep My commandments.
7. "You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not
hold anyone guiltless who misuses His name. 8. "Remember the Sabbath day by
keeping it holy. 9. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10. but the
seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work,
neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor
your animals, nor the alien within your gates. 11. For in six days the LORD made
the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on
the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.
12. "Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land
the LORD your God is giving you. 13. "You shall not murder. 14. "You shall not
commit adultery. 15. "You shall not steal. 16. "You shall not give false
testimony against your neighbor. 17. "You shall not covet your neighbor's house.
You shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his manservant or maidservant, his
ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor." 18. When the people
saw the thunder and lightning and heard the trumpet and saw the mountain in
smoke, they trembled with fear. They stayed at a distance 19. and said to Moses,
"Speak to us yourself and we will listen. But do not have God speak to us or we
will die." 20. Moses said to the people, "Do not be afraid. God has come to test
you, so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning." 21. The
people remained at a distance, while Moses approached the thick darkness where
God was. 22. Then the LORD said to Moses, "Tell the Israelites this: `You have
seen for yourselves that I have spoken to you from heaven:
But, we also discover that even
though God gave the Law to Moses on this day, (the day that was later known as
Pentecost because it occurred 50 days after the Feast of Firstfruits), that when
Moses went up on the Mountain to actually receive the Law, he was on the
mountain for 40 days. When Moses returned from the Mountain with the Tablets of
the Law, that the people had already forgotten their promises to obey God and
were sinning by making the Golden Calf and worshipping it instead of God.
Because of this, God caused ________________ to be killed. Read the Following
passage to find out how many people were killed at this time because of this
sin. When you find the number who were killed, CIRCLE it with a BLACK circle.
And then remember this number, for you will find it very interesting as we
continue this study.
Exodus
32
15.
Moses turned and went down the mountain with the two tablets of the Testimony in
his hands. They were inscribed on both sides, front and back. 16. The tablets
were the work of God; the writing was the writing of God, engraved on the
tablets. 17. When Joshua heard the noise of the people shouting, he said to
Moses, "There is the sound of war in the camp." 18. Moses replied: "It is not
the sound of victory, it is not the sound of defeat; it is the sound of singing
that I hear." 19. When Moses approached the camp and saw the calf and the
dancing, his anger burned and he threw the tablets out of his hands, breaking
them to pieces at the foot of the mountain. 20. And he took the calf they had
made and burned it in the fire; then he ground it to powder, scattered it on the
water and made the Israelites drink it. 21. He said to Aaron, "What did these
people do to you, that you led them into such great sin?" 22. "Do not be angry,
my lord," Aaron answered. "You know how prone these people are to evil. 23. They
said to me, `Make us gods who will go before us. As for this fellow Moses who
brought us up out of Egypt, we don't know what has happened to him.' 24. So I
told them, `Whoever has any gold jewelry, take it off.' Then they gave me the
gold, and I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf!" 25. Moses saw that
the people were running wild and that Aaron had let them get out of control and
so become a laughingstock to their enemies. 26. So he stood at the entrance to
the camp and said, "Whoever is for the LORD, come to me." And all the Levites
rallied to him. 27. Then he said to them, "This is what the LORD, the God of
Israel, says: `Each man strap a sword to his side. Go back and forth through the
camp from one end to the other, each killing his brother and friend and
neighbor.'" 28. The Levites did as Moses commanded, and that day about three
thousand of the people died. 29. Then Moses said, "You have been set apart to
the LORD today, for you were against your own sons and brothers, and he has
blessed you this day." 30. The next day Moses said to the people, "You have
committed a great sin. But now I will go up to the LORD; perhaps I can make
atonement for your sin." 31. So Moses went back to the LORD and said, "Oh, what
a great sin these people have committed! They have made themselves gods of gold.
32. But now, please forgive their sin--but if not, then blot me out of the book
You have written." 33. The LORD replied to Moses, "Whoever has sinned against Me
I will blot out of my book. 34. Now go, lead the people to the place I spoke of,
and my angel will go before you. However, when the time comes for me to punish,
I will punish them for their sin." 35. And the LORD struck the people with a
plague because of what they did with the calf Aaron had made.
Ok, let's summarize what we have
learned so far about the Feast of Weeks (Harvest, Pentecost, Shavuot).
In what MONTH does the Feast of
Weeks occur on the Jewish Calendar?( Hint: refer to the calendar in Lesson 16) =
___________ In what Month was the Law (the
Old Covenant) given at Mount Sinai? (see Ex 19:1) = ___________ The Feast of Weeks occurs on the
(what day of the week) ____st day of the week, (which is also known as Sunday.)
The Feast of Weeks occurs
_________ weeks after the Feast of Firstfruits. The Feast of Weeks occurs
________ days after the day (Sabbath) before the Feast of Firstfruits.
An event which occurred on the
same day as the Feast of Weeks was that this was the day that the LORD gave the
_______ to Moses. The Law, which was given
to Moses on this day, is also often referred to today as the ________ Covenant.
Other names for the Feast of
Weeks include (circle all that are true):
Harvest
Pentecost
Shavuot
sabbath
Passover
Yom
Kippur
. And, in case
you are wondering, the answers to that last series of questions were: 3rd
month; 3rd month; 1st; 7; 50; Law; Old; Harvest, Pentecost, Shauvot.
Now, let's continue, for I know
you are beginning to get some thoughts about the fulfillments of the various
Prophetic types, pictures, and symbols of the Feast of Weeks (Harvest, Shavuot,
Pentecost). So, let's look at some of these New Testament verses and see
what they tell us by way of interpretation of the fulfillment of this Feast and
what it prophesied and Pictured. But, before we read these verses
from the Book of Acts in the New Testament, let me give you the background.
It has been about 1500 years since the observance of the 7 Annual Feasts was
first instituted and at the time recorded in the Book of Acts, the Jews are
still observing these Feasts annually. Indeed, it is now the First
century and Jesus, Who as had been prophesied and pictured in the 3 Feasts of
Passover, has finally been born as the One and Only Son of God, has lived a
SINLESS life, has died to pay the required death penalty for the SIN of all
mankind, and just 7 weeks prior to the events recorded in Acts 2, has been
Resurrected to life! The Miracle of Christ's
Resurrection had occurred on the Feast of Firstfruits, 7 Weeks before the Feast
of Weeks (Harvest, Pentecost, Shavuot). His death was the fulfillment of the
Prophecy pictured in the Feast of Unleavened Bread and His resurrection was the
fulfillment of the Feast of Firstfruits. In the 40 days after His
resurrection, He had been seen by, talked to, visited with, etc. ALL of His
Apostles and many other people. Therefore, this was not a secret event
but His resurrection to life was a well known and incontestable event, an event
which has also been recorded in "secular" historical records as well as in the
Bible. Then, at the end of the 40 days
of appearances and 10 days before Pentecost (The Feast of Weeks, Harvest,
Shavuot), Jesus told his disciples and apostles to wait in Jerusalem until they
received the gift of the Holy Spirit. And then, after telling them this, He
ascended into heaven where He now is, seated on the throne at the Right hand of
God. These events, which I have just
summarized for you are recorded in Acts Chapter 1. Let me give you a few of
those verses which will confirm these things and will place you into "context"
for what we will read in Acts Chapter 2 concerning the events which occurred on
the day of the Feast of Weeks (Harvest, Pentecost, Shavuot).
As you read
these verses in Acts 1
1. Put a BLUE
CROSS
(or color and
symbol of your choice) on every occurrence of the word, Jesus (or
words used as synonyms to mean the same thing -- words such as He, Him, His,
Who etc).
Acts
1:3-5,8-14
3.
After His
(Christ's)
suffering
(and death),
He showed Himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that He was
alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the
kingdom of God. 4. On one occasion, while He was eating with them, He gave them
this command: "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift My Father promised,
which you have heard Me speak about. 5. For John baptized with water, but in a
few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit." ... ... 8. But you will
receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be My witnesses in
Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." 9.
After He said this, He was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid Him
from their sight. 10. They were looking intently up into the sky as He was
going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. 11. "Men of
Galilee," they said, "why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same
Jesus, Who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way
you have seen Him go into heaven." 12. Then they returned to Jerusalem from the
hill called the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day's walk from the city. 13. When
they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying. Those
present were Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and
Matthew; James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. 14.
They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the
mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.
As you read
of the events in Acts 2,
1. When you
see anything which explains or interprets the fulfillment of the prophecies
pictured in the Feast of Weeks, underline or highlight it in GREEN.
Acts 2
1. When
the day of Pentecost
(Feast of Weeks
/Harvest / Shauvot)
came, they were all together in one place. 2. Suddenly a sound like the blowing
of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were
sitting. 3. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came
to rest on each of them. 4. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and
began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. 5. Now there were
staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. 6. When
they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one
heard them speaking in his own language. 7. Utterly amazed, they asked: "Are not
all these men who are speaking Galileans? 8. Then how is it that each of us
hears them in his own native language? 9. Parthians, Medes and Elamites;
residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10. Phrygia and
Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome 11.
(both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs--we hear them declaring
the wonders of God in our own tongues!" 12. Amazed and perplexed, they asked one
another, "What does this mean?" 13. Some, however, made fun of them and said,
"They have had too much wine." 14. Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised
his voice and addressed the crowd: "Fellow Jews and all of you who live in
Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. 15.
These men are not drunk, as you suppose. It's only nine in the morning! 16. No,
this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: 17. "`In the last days, God says,
I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. 18. Even on my
servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they
will prophesy. 19. I will show wonders in the heaven above and signs on the
earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke. 20. The sun will be turned to
darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day
of the Lord. 21. And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.'
22. "Men of Israel, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by
God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through Him,
as you yourselves know. 23. This man was handed over to you by God's set purpose
and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put Him to death by
nailing Him to the cross. 24. But God raised Him from the dead, freeing Him
from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on
Him. 25. David said about Him: "`I saw the Lord always before me. Because He is
at my right hand, I will not be shaken. 26. Therefore my heart is glad and my
tongue rejoices; my body also will live in hope, 27. because You will not
abandon me to the grave, nor will You let Your Holy One see decay. 28. You have
made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in Your presence.'
29. "Brothers, I can tell you confidently that the patriarch David died and was
buried, and his tomb is here to this day. 30. But he was a prophet and knew that
God had promised him on oath that he would place one of his descendants on his
throne. 31. Seeing what was ahead, he spoke of the resurrection of the Christ,
that He was not abandoned to the grave, nor did His body see decay. 32. God has
raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact. 33. Exalted to
the right hand of God, He has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit
and has poured out what you now see and hear. 34. For David did not ascend to
heaven, and yet he said, "`The Lord said to my Lord: "Sit at My right hand 35.
until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet."' 36. "Therefore let all
Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, Whom you crucified, both
Lord and Christ." 37. When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and
said to Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?" 38. Peter
replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ
for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy
Spirit. 39. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far
off--for all whom the Lord our God will call." 40. With many other words he
warned them; and he pleaded with them, "Save yourselves from this corrupt
generation." 41. Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three
thousand were added to their number
(the church)
that day. 42. They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the
fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43. Everyone was filled with
awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. 44. All
the believers were together and had everything in common. 45. Selling their
possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. 46. Every day they
continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes
and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47. praising God and enjoying the
favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were
being saved.
WOW! Did you see that? Did you see
what happened? -- Did you see what was fulfilled on the day of the Feast of
Weeks (Pentecost / Harvest / Shauvot) ? WOW. Let's think about this. And, to
do that, answer the following questions: When was the Feast of Weeks? =
_________ weeks after the Feast of ___________ and _______ days after the
Sabbath which immediately preceded the Feast of Firstfruits. Why was the Feast of Weeks
sometimes referred to as Shauvot? = Because it occurred What happened on the Feast of
Firstfruits (the 3rd Feast) to fulfill a prophecy about Jesus Christ, the
Unleavened (sinless) Bread and God? = Jesus was ________________ from the dead
to live eternally as God, Lord, and Savior after having paid the death penalty
for sin in the place of anyone who will accept His free gift of salvation by
trusting in His death as payment for their sin. The Feast of Pentecost, (the
4th Feast / the Feast of Weeks / Harvest /Shauvot)
pictures the establishment of the NEW Covenant with the birth of the ___________
which is composed of those who have believed in and trusted in Jesus for their
salvation. Shavuot
was the day that the
Law (The OLD Covenant) was given and the Nation of
Israel was Born.
On the Feast of Weeks (Harvest / Pentecost / Shauvot) approximately 1500
years later, the NEW Covenant was given and the Church was Born. WOW!
How many believed in Christ
(for their salvation from sin and disobedience) and were added to the
Church on the Day of the Feast of Pentecost, the day the Church
was born? (Hint: see Acts 2:41) _________ How many were killed
(because of their
sin of unbelief and disobedience) at the time the Law (the OLD Covenant) was
given and the Nation of Israel was born?
(Hint: see Exodus 32:28) _____________________ How many were also added to
the church (because they
believed and trusted in Christ for their salvation from sin) on the following
days after the initial 3000 had been added on the Day of Pentecost ? (Hint: see
Acts 2:47) _________________ How many also died of a
plague (because of their
sin of unbelief and disobedience) on the days following the time of the giving
of the Law? (Hint: see Exodus 32:35) _____________________ At the time of the giving of the
OLD Covenant, what "sign" or manifestation of God was given? (Hint: see Exodus
19:18) = _________ and specifically, The Lord descended on Mt. Sinai with
__________ . And at the time of the giving of
the NEW Covenant at Pentecost, what "sign" or manifestation of God was given?
(Hint: see Acts 2:3 = tongues of ____________ Wow! Interesting! Isn't it
amazing how the Lord pictures things as types and shadows and prophecies!
And, FYI,
the answers to those questions were: 7, firstfruits, 50; it occurred on the
same day that the Law was given, the sinless body of Christ; raised; church;
3000; 3000; an unknown number; an unknown number; fire, fire; fire.
The Old Covenant is the Law
written on Stone Tablets and given to the Jewish Nation
and the New Covenant is the Law
written on the Hearts of those who believe in and trust God Jesus for their
salvation-- ie all who are in God's Church, both Jew and Gentile.
Since the Church consists of
both Jew and Gentile, does this give you an insight as to what the two Loaves of
Bread which had been baked with yeast / leaven (sin) represent? Yes, of course.
What? (Write your thoughts in the space below.) WOW! The fact that the Church would
be comprised of BOTH Jews and Gentiles was pictured by the waving of two loaves.
And, the fact that the ingredients of the bread can not be separated into its
individual parts after having been made into bread demonstrates that the two
loaves, though waved separately to picture the two groups, are actually loaves
of one thing, bread. So, the picture prophesied in
the Feast of Weeks is that there would one day be a new group of worshippers of
God, and these would be under a New Covenant. God was picturing, as a type or
shadow, the future Church, and that it would be comprised of
a Loaf representing Jews who believe in Jesus and had and
have sin in their lives so need salvation from and by Jesus and a Loaf
representing Gentiles (all non Jews) who believe in Jesus and had
and have sin in their lives so also need salvation from and by Jesus.
But, in the Church, these are
not separate loaves.
Indeed, these loaves are a mixture of "ingredients" including Jews and Gentiles
whether slaves, free, children, adults, male or female. Everyone in the Church
is the same in God's eyes. There is no distinction. There are no favorites.
Everyone who trusts God for salvation is a part of the Church. And, since there
are only two "categories" of people (Jews and non Jews ie. Gentiles), then this
is pictured by the two loaves of the Feast of Weeks, the Feast which
pictured the birth of the Church! Astounding! Indeed, Paul
explains this in Galatians 3:23-29. As you read the following passage,
underline the verses which describes the Church.
Galatians 3:23-29
23.
Before this faith came, we were held prisoners by the law
(the Old
Covenant),
locked up until faith
(and the NEW
Covenant)
should be revealed. 24. So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that
we might be justified by faith
(in Christ
for salvation).
25. Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law.
26. You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, 27. for all of you
who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28. There is
neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in
Christ Jesus. 29. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and
heirs according to the promise.
And, the answers are given to us
in that passage you just read (Galatians 3:23-29) and in several other places
including Romans, 2 Corinthians, and Hebrews, all of which tell us about sin,
sinners, the seriousness of sin, the results (consequences) of sin, the purpose
of the LAW concerning sin, and How to be declared righteous (saved / redeemed
from the death penalty of sin). Read again the Galatians passage
(above) and then Read the verses (below) in Romans, 2 Corinthians, and Hebrews.
As you read these verses,
1. When you
find the purpose of the Law (the OLD Covenant), underline it or highlight
it in BROWN or BLACK.
.
Romans
3:9-29
9. What
shall we conclude then? Are we any better? Not at all! We have already made the
charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under sin. 10. As it is written:
"There is no one righteous, not even one; 11. there is no one who understands,
no one who seeks God. 12. All have turned away, they have together become
worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one." 13. "Their throats are
open graves; their tongues practice deceit." "The poison of vipers is on their
lips." 14. "Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness." 15. "Their feet
are swift to shed blood; 16. ruin and misery mark their ways, 17. and the way of
peace they do not know." 18. "There is no fear of God before their eyes." 19.
Now we know that whatever the law
(the OLD
Covenant)
says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be
silenced and the whole world held accountable to God. 20. Therefore no one will
be declared righteous in His sight by observing the law; rather, through the law
we become conscious of sin. 21. But now a righteousness from God, apart from
law, has been made known
(i.e. revealed
in the NEW Covenant),
to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22. This righteousness from God comes
through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, 23.
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24. and are justified
freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. 25. God
presented Him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in His blood. He did
this to demonstrate His justice, because in His forbearance He had left the sins
committed beforehand unpunished-- 26. He did it to demonstrate His justice at
the present time, so as to be just and the One Who justifies those who have
faith in Jesus. 27. Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. On what principle?
On that of observing the law? No, but on that of faith. 28. For we maintain that
a man is justified by faith apart from observing the law. 29. Is God the God of
Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles too,
2
Corinthians 3:6-18
6. He
(God)
has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant--not of the letter
(the Old
Covenant)
but of the Spirit
(the New Covenant);
for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. 7. Now if the ministry
(the Old
Covenant)
that brought death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with glory, so
that the Israelites could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of its
glory, fading though it was, 8. will not the ministry of the Spirit
(the
New Covenant)
be even more glorious? 9. If the ministry that condemns men is glorious, how
much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness! 10. For what was
glorious has no glory now in comparison with the surpassing glory. 11. And if
what was fading away came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that
which lasts! 12. Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold. 13. We
are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to keep the Israelites
from gazing at it while the radiance was fading away. 14. But their minds were
made dull, for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read.
It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away. 15. Even to
this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. 16. But whenever anyone
turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and
where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18. And we, who with unveiled
faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with
ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
Hebrews
8
1. The
point of what we are saying is this: We do have such a high priest
(Jesus),
Who
sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, 2. and Who
serves in the sanctuary, the true tabernacle set up by the Lord, not by man. 3.
Every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices, and so it was
necessary for this one also to have something to offer. 4. If He were on earth,
He would not be a priest, for there are already men who offer the gifts
prescribed by the law
(Old Covenant).
5. They serve at a sanctuary that is a copy and shadow of what is in heaven.
This is why Moses was warned when he was about to build the tabernacle: "See to
it that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain."
6. But the ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs as the
(New)
covenant of which he is mediator is superior to the old one, and it is founded
on better promises. 7. For if there had been nothing wrong with that first
covenant, no place would have been sought for another. 8. But God found fault
with the people and said : "The time is coming, declares the Lord, when I will
make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah. 9. It
will not be like the
(old)
covenant I made with their forefathers when I took them by the hand to lead them
out of Egypt, because they did not remain faithful to my covenant, and I turned
away from them, declares the Lord. 10. This is the covenant I will make with the
house of Israel after that time, declares the Lord. I will put my laws in their
minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my
people. 11. No longer will a man teach his neighbor, or a man his brother,
saying, `Know the Lord,' because they will all know me, from the least of them
to the greatest. 12. For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their
sins no more." 13. By calling this covenant "new," he has made the first one
obsolete; and what is obsolete and aging will soon disappear.
Hebrews
9
11.
When Christ came as high priest of the good things that are already here, He
went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not man-made, that
is to say, not a part of this creation. 12. He did not enter by means of the
blood of goats and calves; but He entered the Most Holy Place once for all by
His own blood, having obtained eternal redemption. 13. The blood of goats and
bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean
sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. 14. How much more, then, will
the blood of Christ, Who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself unblemished
to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may
serve the living God! 15. For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new
covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal
inheritance--now that He has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins
committed under the first covenant.
Hebrews
12
18. You
have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire;
to darkness, gloom and storm; 19. to a trumpet blast or to such a voice speaking
words that those who heard it begged that no further word be spoken to them, 20.
because they could not bear what was commanded: "If even an animal touches the
mountain, it must be stoned." 21. The sight was so terrifying that Moses said,
"I am trembling with fear." 22. But you have come to Mount Zion, to the heavenly
Jerusalem, the city of the living God. You have come to thousands upon thousands
of angels in joyful assembly, 23. to the church of the firstborn, whose names
are written in heaven. You have come to God, the judge of all men, to the
spirits of righteous men made perfect, 24. to Jesus the mediator of a new
covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of
Abel. 25. See to it that you do not refuse Him Who speaks. If they did not
escape when they refused Him Who warned them on earth, how much less will we, if
we turn away from Him Who warns us from heaven? 26. At that time His voice shook
the earth, but now He has promised, "Once more I will shake not only the earth
but also the heavens." 27. The words "once more" indicate the removing of what
can be shaken--that is, created things--so that what cannot be shaken may
remain. 28. Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken,
let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, 29.
for our "God is a consuming fire."
Now, based on what you have just
read and marked, answer the following questions: What is the Old Covenant and to
whom was it given? Can a person be "saved" by doing
good works? (Hint: see Romans 3:20,28) __________ This fact that you can NOT be
saved by works or by the keeping of the Law is so important, that, to reinforce
this on our hearts and minds, underline those verses (Romans 3:20 and 28) both
here in your lesson and also in your Bible. Then, write those verses here in the
space provided: Romans 3:20 Have you accepted that gift?
Are you a member of God's Church? Are God's laws written in your heart and on
your mind? In this lesson we learned a lot
about the prophecies and the fulfillments of the 4th Feast, the Feast of
Weeks (Harvest, Passover, Shavuot). We have learned that it pictured the Birth
of the Church and the Giving of the New Covenant! In our next lesson, Lord
willing, we will continue with the study of the 3 Fall Feasts. But, in closing, there is one
more Scripture that sums up what we have been learning about the Church. Paul
penned these words, in the First Century, to the young Church at Ephesus in a
letter which he wrote to them to explain these things. So, in closing, let's
read what Paul wrote -- words that are still very applicable and appropriate
today:
Ephesians 2:11-22
11.
Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called
"uncircumcised" by those
(Jews)
who call themselves "the circumcision" (that done in the body by the hands of
men)-- 12. remember that at that time you
(Gentiles and
unbelievers in God)
were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to
the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. 13. But
now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through
the blood of Christ. 14. For He himself is our peace, Who has made the two
(Jews and Gentiles)
one and
has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15. by abolishing in
His flesh the law
(Old Covenant)
with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in Himself one
new man
(the Church)
out of the two
(Jews and
Gentiles),
thus making peace, 16. and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God
through the cross, by which He put to death their hostility. 17. He came and
preached peace to you
(Gentiles)
who were far away and peace to those
(Jews)
who were near. 18. For through Him we both have access to the Father by one
Spirit. 19. Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow
citizens with God's people and members of God's household, 20. built on the
foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the chief
cornerstone. 21. In Him the whole building is joined together and rises to
become a holy temple in the Lord. 22. And in Him you too are being built
together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.
Wow! Praise
the Lord! Thank you Jesus for what you have done! We hope you will join us in this study. And we'll see you again in lesson 18.>>Leviticus Lesson 18
|
