The Ceremonial Harvest

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Prayer Thought:

The whole system of types and symbols was a compacted prophecy of the gospel, a presentation in which were bound up the promises of redemption. {AA 14.1}

INTRODUCTION:

This study reveals that the ancient harvest rites/ceremonies pointed forward to the work of the gospel, including the last great harvest of our time. Our study will concentrate on three harvest feasts/ceremonies. They are called the feasts of :

1. The wave sheaves

2. The wave loaves

3. The feast of tabernacles

LEVITICUS 23: 1 - 4.

God introduces the subject of the feasts by reiterating the Sabbath. Note that the seventh day Sabbath is designated as THE Sabbath, while the other rest days are designated A Sabbath.

LEVITICUS 23: 5 - 8

1. The first feast mentioned is the Passover. The Passover was kept on the 14th day of the first month (what we today would refer to as late March to April).

2. The next feast is the ceremony of unleavened bread. This feast was kept for seven days beginning the 15th day of the first month, immediately following the Passover.

LEVITICUS 23: 9 - 11 (THE WAVE SHEAVES IN TYPE)

1. Each year during the Passover/ feast of Unleavened bread, farmers would take to the priests a handful of grain (sheaf) to be waved for them as a thank offering.

2. The sheaf was waved as a thank offering pointing FORWARD to the ingathering of the FIRST FRUIT harvest--FRUITS TO BE HARVESTED. They could not reap until the sheaf was offered.

3. The sheaf was ALWAYS WAVED ON A SUNDAY--”on the morrow after the Sabbath.” The sheaf therefore was presented every year on the Sunday of the Passover/feast of Unleavened bread.

LEVITICUS 23:15 - 17 (THE WAVE LOAVES IN TYPE)

1. Farmers were to count seven Sabbaths (49 days).

2. Then on the 50th day they were required to present two wave loaves.

3. During the 50 days the farmers reaped, sifted, ground their grain, and then baked it into bread.

4. The 50th day was a Sunday--the day after the 7th Sabbath. (Verse 16).

5. The WAVE LOAVES being a finished product, signified fruits PREVIOUSLY gathered. As a thank offering it pointed back to the ingathering of the crops.

6. The WAVE LOAVES ARE A SYMBOL THE FIRST FRUITS. They were dedicated at the completion of the harvest. Lev. 23:17.

WHO ARE THE WAVE SHEAF IN ANTITYPE?

Christ and those who were resurrected with Him.

1. Christ was resurrected on the very day the wave sheaf was offered. DA 785, 786.. Note: Christ was crucified on the Sunday during the Passover/Feast of Unleavened Bread.

When the voice of the mighty angel was heard at Christ's tomb, saying, Thy Father calls Thee, the Saviour came forth from the grave by the life that was in Himself. Now was proved the truth of His words, "I lay down My life, that I might take it again. . . . I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again." Now was fulfilled the prophecy He had spoken to the priests and rulers, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up." John 10:17, 18; 2:19.{DA 785.2}

Over the rent sepulcher of Joseph, Christ had proclaimed in triumph, "I am the resurrection, and the life." These words could be spoken only by the Deity. All created beings live by the will and power of God. They are dependent recipients of the life of God. From the highest seraph to the humblest animate being, all are replenished from the Source of life. Only He who is one with God could say, I have power to lay down My life, and I have power to take it again. In His divinity, Christ possessed the power to break the bonds of death. {DA 785.3}

Christ arose from the dead as the first fruits of those that slept. He was the antitype of the wave sheaf, and His resurrection took place on the very day when the wave sheaf was to be presented before the Lord. For more than a thousand years this symbolic ceremony had been performed. From the harvest fields the first heads of ripened grain were gathered, and when the people went up to Jerusalem to the Passover, the sheaf of first fruits was waved as a thank offering before the Lord. Not until this was presented could the sickle be put to the grain, and it be gathered into sheaves. The sheaf dedicated to God represented the harvest. So Christ the first fruits represented the great spiritual harvest to be gathered for the kingdom of God. His resurrection is the type and pledge of the resurrection of all the righteous dead. "For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him." 1 Thess. 4:14.{DA 785.4}

2. A multitude of saints were resurrected with Christ. Matt. 27:51-53; DA 786;

EW 184. The resurrected ones were faithful persons from Adam to Christ’s time.

Unlike Lazarus, these persons were never to die again.

As Christ arose, He brought from the grave a multitude of captives. The earthquake at His death had rent open their graves, and when He arose, they came forth with Him. They were those who had been co-laborers with God, and who at the cost of their lives had borne testimony to the truth. Now they were to be witnesses for Him who had raised them from the dead. {DA 786.1}

During His ministry, Jesus had raised the dead to life. He had raised the son of the widow of Nain, and the ruler's daughter and Lazarus. But these were not clothed with immortality. After they were raised, they were still subject to death. But those who came forth from the grave at Christ's resurrection were raised to everlasting life. They ascended with Him as trophies of His victory over death and the grave. These, said Christ, are no longer the captives of Satan; I have redeemed them. I have brought them from the grave as the first fruits of My power, to be with Me where I am, nevermore to see death or experience sorrow. {DA 786.2}

These went into the city, and appeared unto many, declaring, Christ has risen from the dead, and we be risen with Him. Thus was immortalized the sacred truth of the resurrection. The risen saints bore witness to the truth of the words, "Thy dead men shall live, together with My dead body shall they arise." Their resurrection was an illustration of the fulfillment of the prophecy, "Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead." Isa. 26:19. {DA 786.3}

Those who came forth after the resurrection of Jesus appeared to many, telling them that the sacrifice for man was completed, that Jesus, whom the Jews crucified, had risen from the dead; and in proof of their words they declared, "We be risen with Him." They bore testimony that it was by His mighty power that they had been called forth from their graves.

Notwithstanding the lying reports circulated, the resurrection of Christ could not be concealed by Satan, his angels, or the chief priests; for this holy company, brought forth from their graves, spread the wonderful, joyful news; also Jesus showed Himself to His sorrowing, heartbroken disciples, dispelling their fears and causing them joy and gladness. {EW 184.3}

3. These saints were taken to heaven and presented before the Father as THE ANTITYPICAL WAVE SHEAF. DA 834. It pointed forward to the ingathering of a harvest.

SUMMARY: The wave sheaf was a symbol of Christ and those who resurrected and ascended with Him to heaven. They were presented before the Father as a thank offering--a token of saints to be gathered.

But He waves them back. Not yet; He cannot now receive the coronet of glory and the royal robe. He enters into the presence of His Father. He points to His wounded head, the pierced side, the marred feet; He lifts His hands, bearing the print of nails. He points to the tokens of His triumph; He presents to God the wave sheaf, those raised with Him as representatives of that great multitude who shall come forth from the grave at His second coming. He approaches the Father, with whom there is joy over one sinner that repents; who rejoices over one with singing. Before the foundations of the earth were laid, the Father and the Son had united in a covenant to redeem man if he should be overcome by Satan. They had clasped Their hands in a solemn pledge that Christ should become the surety for the human race. This pledge Christ has fulfilled. When upon the cross He cried out, "It is finished," He addressed the Father. The compact had been fully carried out. Now He declares: Father, it is finished. I have done Thy will, O My God. I have completed the work of redemption. If Thy justice is satisfied, "I will that they also, whom Thou hast given Me, be with Me where I am." John 19:30; 17:24.{DA 834.2}

WHO ARE THE WAVE LOAVES IN ANTITYPE?

The 120 disciples

1. After His resurrection, Jesus remained on earth for 40 days teaching and preparing the disciples for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Acts 1: 2-5. So while the farmers were harvesting, sifting, grounding, and baking their grain, Jesus was teaching--preparing His disciples.

2. After Jesus’ ascension, the disciples tarried in the upper room UNTIL THE DAY OF PENTECOST.

3. On the DAY OF PENTECOST (50th day from the offering of the wave sheaf), the disciples received the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:1 - 4.So while the

farmers were bringing their wave loaves to the temple, the true wave loaves were receiving the power of the Spirit.

SUMMARY: Thus the 120 disciples were the antitypical wave loaves--THE GOSPEL’S FIRST FRUITS.

A SECOND GATHERING

In ANCIENT ISRAEL, after the harvesting of the grain (the first fruits--Lev 23:17) farmers would have a second period of reaping--a vintage or fruit harvest. This second gathering period ended around the fall--September to October.

The same was true of the disciples. After the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost, the empowered 120 saints (the gospel’s first fruits) went out and gathered another group-- a great multitude of people--second fruits. Acts 2: 40 -47.

THE WAVE SHEAVES AND WAVE LOAVES MUST HAVE A DOUBLE ANTITYPE.

The wave sheaf and the wave loaves must also have applications to the last great harvest.

1. The 144,000 are also called the first fruits.

2. The 120 disciples are all now dead.

3. There are two outpourings of the Holy Spirit.

4. The judgment is in two phases -- the dead and living.

THE WAVE SHEAF OF THE LIVING

As those who arose with Christ ascended with Him as trophies of His victory over death and the grave, they thereby became a living type of the wave sheaf of the living. They therefore, must be the only ones offered in the heavenly sanctuary; and that as ones raised from the dead, they are the first fruits of the dead, whereas as ones EVER LIVING BEFORE THE FATHER, they are the living wave sheaf of the first fruits of the living,- the 144,000.

Thus, the wave sheaf ALSO points to the ingathering of the 144,000.

THE WAVE LOAVES OF THE LIVING.

The 144,000 are also called the first fruits of the living--the finished product. The wave loaves are also called the first fruits (Lev. 23:17). The 144,000 like the 120 disciples will receive the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. We are therefore living in the time when Christ is preparing His disciples for the 2nd Pentecost. This preparation has been going on since 1844--the time when Ellen White had her first vision of the 144,000 (EW 14,15), signalizing that Jesus is about to reap another first-fruit harvest.

The living saints, 144,000 in number, knew and understood the voice, while the wicked thought it was thunder and an earthquake. When God spoke the time, He poured upon us the Holy Ghost, and our faces began to light up and shine with the glory of God, as Moses' did when he came down from Mount Sinai. {EW 14.1}

The 144,000 were all sealed and perfectly united. On their foreheads was written, God, New Jerusalem, and a glorious star containing Jesus' new name. At our happy, holy state the wicked were enraged, and would rush violently up to lay hands on us to thrust us into prison, when we would stretch forth the hand in the name of the Lord, and they would fall helpless to the ground. Then it was that the synagogue of Satan knew that God had loved us who could wash one another's feet and salute the brethren with a holy kiss, and they worshiped at our feet. {EW 15.1}

A SECOND GATHERING [OF THE LIVING]

Just as the 120 disciples brought in a great multitude after the outpouring of the Spirit in their day, so in like manner the 144,000 will receive the power of the Holy Spirit and go out to gather the GM from all nations. (Rev. 7:9; Isa. 66:15 - 20)--the second fruits of the living.

THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES IN TYPE

LEVITICUS 23: 33 - 43

1. The feast of Tabernacles was celebrated on the 15th day of the 7th month.

2. The children of Israel had to dwell in booths made of tree branches.

3. They could only celebrate the feast AFTER THEY HAVE BROUGHT IN THE FRUIT OF THEIR LAND--finished the year’s harvesting.

4. Their dwelling in booths reminded them of their wilderness sojourn. (Verse 43).

THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES IN ANTITYPE

PP 541 The feast of Tabernacles was not only commemorative of Israel’s wandering in the wilderness, but typical of the great day of final ingathering when the gospel is completed and all the righteous are gathered into the barn (kingdom)--when the “fruits” have been “gathered in.”

The Feast of Tabernacles was not only commemorative but typical. It not only pointed back to the wilderness sojourn, but, as the feast of harvest, it celebrated the ingathering of the fruits of the earth, and pointed forward to the great day of final ingathering, when the Lord of the harvest shall send forth His reapers to gather the tares together in bundles for the fire, and to gather the wheat into His garner. At that time the wicked will all be destroyed. They will become "as though they had not been." Obadiah 16. And every voice in the whole universe will unite in joyful praise to God. Says the revelator, "Every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honor, and glory, and power, be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb forever and ever." Revelation 5:13. {PP 541.2}

SUMMARY: This reveals that the righteous (the 144,000 & GM) will celebrate their being delivered from sin (their wilderness wandering) and having completed the gospel work--”gathered in the fruit of the land” Lev. 23:39. This celebration will be in the kingdom near the close of probation.

CONCLUSION:

This study revealed that the ceremonies of the harvest point to the opening and closing events of the gospel and as it relates to Christ work in the heavenly sanctuary.

FURTHER STUDY

3 TR 75 - 88

3 SC 5, 6:13