© 2000 "Yes Lord" Ministries
Hi and welcome back to another exciting time of studying God's Word.
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.
2. Underline or highlight in GREEN what happens or what they were to do in the observance of the 4th Feast...
Leviticus 23:15-22
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15. "`From the day after the Sabbath, the day you brought the sheaf of the wave offering (of the Feast of Firstfruits), count off seven full weeks. 16. Count off fifty days up to the day after the seventh Sabbath, and then present an offering of new grain (of the Feast of Weeks /Harvest) to the LORD. 17. From wherever you live, bring two loaves made of two-tenths of an ephah of fine flour, baked with yeast, as a wave offering of firstfruits to the LORD. 18. Present with this bread seven male lambs, each a year old and without defect, one young bull and two rams. They will be a burnt offering to the LORD, together with their grain offerings and drink offerings--an offering made by fire, an aroma pleasing to the LORD. 19. Then sacrifice one male goat for a sin offering and two lambs, each a year old, for a fellowship offering. 20. The priest is to wave the two lambs before the LORD as a wave offering, together with the bread of the firstfruits. They are a sacred offering to the LORD for the priest. 21. On that same day you are to proclaim a sacred assembly and do no regular work. This is to be a lasting ordinance for the generations to come, wherever you live. 22. "`When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Leave them for the poor and the alien. I am the LORD your God.'"
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Great! I see that you have finished. But this is not the only place where this 4th Feast, the Feast of Weeks /Harvest is mentioned. There are a few other places in both the Old and New Testaments where this Feast is mentioned.
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.
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The 7 Annual Feasts (Sacred Assemblies)
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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.
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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.
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Numbers 28:26-31& 29:1
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... 28:26. "`On the day of firstfruits, when you present to the LORD an offering of new grain during the Feast of Weeks (Harvest /the 4th Feast), hold a sacred assembly and do no regular work. 27. Present a burnt offering of two young bulls, one ram and seven male lambs a year old as an aroma pleasing to the LORD. 28. With each bull there is to be a grain offering of three-tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil; with the ram, two-tenths; 29. and with each of the seven lambs, one-tenth. 30. Include one male goat to make atonement for you. 31. Prepare these together with their drink offerings, in addition to the regular burnt offering and its grain offering. Be sure the animals are without defect. 29:1."`On the first day of the seventh month hold a sacred assembly (in the 5, 6, & 7th Feasts) and do no regular work. It is a day for you to sound the trumpets.
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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.. ... ...
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Great! I see you have finished again. Now, based on what you have read and marked, answer the following questions:
? 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)
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? What else was offered as a wave offering at the Feast of Weeks /Harvest (see Lev. 23:17) ______ loaves (of bread) baked with _____________ .
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 2 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.
The Feast of Weeks (Harvest) was the 4th of the 7 Annual feasts and it was immediately preceded by the 3 Feasts of Passover (Passover, Unleavened bread, and Firstfruits) and specifically by the Feast of Firstfruits. Those 3 Feasts were observed over an 8 day interval beginning with Passover.
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!
(See below for Strong's numbers and more information concerning this).
According to Strong's Concordance Numbers:
4002 = pente= five
4003 = pentekaidekatos = five and tenth (fifteenth)
4004 = pentekonta = multiple of 4002; fifty; 50
4005 = pentekoste = ... ; fem of the ord of 4004; fiftieth (2250 being implied) from Passover, ie. the festival of "Pentecost"; Pentecost.
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.
2. Also Underline or Highlight in RED, every occurrence of the word, fire, and any words used as synonyms (words used in place of or to mean the same thing as) fire.
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:
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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.
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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.
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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):
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At the time that the Law, the Old Covenant, was given to the Nation of Israel, God was establishing a new Nation of People, His people. Indeed, God was establishing a covenant, like a marriage covenant between Himself and His people. Hold that thought! Why? Because, you will find this very significant when we read the New Testament Scriptures.
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).
2. Underline in RED the key points which happened as I outlined them for you.
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.
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Ok, you now have the "background" for the events which are about to occur and which will explain and interpret for us the pictures, types, and shadows which are prophesied in the 4th Feast (the Feast of Weeks / Harvest / Pentecost / Shavuot). It is now 10 days after Jesus has ascended into heaven. The Apostles and others, in obedience to the command of Jesus, returned to and remained in Jerusalem where they appointed another Apostle (Matthias) to replace Judas and have spent the intervening 10 days (since Jesus' ascension to heaven) together in prayer, fellowship, and in worshipping God. And now, believing that The Lord Jesus Christ is their God and Savior, but also being Jews, they are faithfully observing the Annual Feasts (Sacred Assemblies). It is the First Day of the week, the day of the Feast of Weeks has arrived. They are gathered together on this day to observe that Feast as they worship their God with a NEW understanding of Who God is......... and.... let's read in Acts Chapter 2 what happened.
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.
2. When you see any reference to FIRE (or synonyms of FIRE), underline or highlight it in RED as you did when you marked the verses in Exodus concerning the giving of the Law at Mt. Sinai on this same day over 1500 years previously.
3. 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, Lord, man, Christ, etc).
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.
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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
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What did "Unleavened Bread" (the 2nd Feast) represent as a picture or a shadow? = ________________
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.)
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Yes, you are correct if you said something to the effect that the 2 Loaves baked with yeast / leaven (sin) picture that the Church, is made up of sinners, both Jews and Gentiles, who have been forgiven and who are under the NEW Covenant. The 2 loaves (of Jews and of Gentiles) are no longer separate nations or groups, but, as believers (Christians) are one people, one body, and worship and serve One God. The waving of the sheath of wheat and of the loaves of bread made from this wheat at the Feast of Weeks (Harvest / Pentecost / Shavout) pictured prophetically that the Church would be (and is) composed of the harvest of those (Jews and Gentiles) who believe that Christ is God and are trusting in Christ's substitute sacrifice as the payment for the sin death penalty that they individually and personally owe. For approximately 1500 years the Jewish people had been given this prophetic picture of the mystery of the Church and of the harvest of believers (Jews and Gentiles) who would be in the Church. Now, after 1500 years of seeing this prophecy being annually pictured in the Feast of Weeks (Harvest ...), at Pentecost, 7 weeks after the resurrection of Christ (the sinless Unleavened Bread and the Firstfruits of the harvest of the redeemed, the Church), the prophecy of the Feast of Weeks (Harvest) was finally fulfilled as tongues of Fire of the Holy Spirit of Christ descended upon the believers. And the Church was born! And the New Covenant was established!
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.
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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.
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Great! Did you find the description of the Church? Yes, I am sure you found it in Galatians 3:25-29. So, now that you have found it, write it here.
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But, I can hear you asking -- What, then was the purpose of the LAW, the OLD Covenant? Wasn't it able to "save"? And what is the New Covenant and how is it different from the Old? Good questions.
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.
2. When you find the purpose of the NEW Covenant, underline or highlight it in RED.
3. 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, Christ, High Priest, etc).
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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,
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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."
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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?
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What is the PURPOSE of the Law (Old Covenant)?
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Can a person be "saved" by keeping (obeying) the Law (Old Covenant)? (Hint: see Romans 3:20, 28) ___________
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
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Romans 3:28
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Since a person can not be saved by "keeping" (obeying) the Law (Old Covenant) and since a person can not be saved by doing good works, based on what you have read, HOW IS a person "saved" (declared righteous)? (Write your answer in the space provided. Use scriptures from this lesson to "support" your answer.)
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What is the NEW Covenant and to whom is it given?
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Why was there a need for a New Covenant to replace the Old Covenant?
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Does the New Covenant have Laws and if so, where are they "written"? (Hint: see Hebrews 8:10)?
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Yes, as you have so correctly answered, there are "laws" in the New Covenant, which is given to the Church -- to those who believe in and trust the Lord Jesus for their salvation. The Old Covenant was unable to provide salvation. Rather, its purpose was to show each and every individual that they ARE a sinner and that they are in desperate need of salvation! Then, Jesus, knowing that we needed salvation and knowing that there was NO other way for us to be saved, gave His life as a substitute sacrifice to pay the required death penalty. The laws of the New Covenant are written by the Holy Spirit on the hearts and in the minds of all (Jew and Gentile) who choose to accept The Lord God Jesus Christ's gift of salvation and redemption from sin.
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?
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As we bring this lesson to a close, I know you are thinking of other topics and subjects which you have seen as you read these many passages from God's Word. And, indeed, there is much more that could be discussed (tongues, baptism, etc). BUT, those will have to wait until another time and another study. Do NOT get diverted or sidetracked into a "rabbit chase" on those topics now. They are not the main focus of a study of the Feasts. Instead, let's keep our focus on what was prophesied and has been or will be fulfilled in these Feasts as we continue this series of lessons of the 7 Sacred Assemblies (Feasts) of God.
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:
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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!
Well, folks, that is "it" for this lesson. See 'ya in Lesson 18 when we find out about the Fall Feasts! You will not want to miss it. In the meantime, ponder what you have learned so far and Thank the Lord for His great mercies!
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Scriptures, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the
NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright C 1973,1978,1984 International Bible Society.
Used by permission of Zondervan Publishers.
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but you may copy and freely distribute it,
as long as NO fee for profit is charged and it is NOT changed in any way.
This is for the Glory of God and NOT for the financial profit of man.
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