Christian Ministry Articles & Teachings: Christian & Hebrew Day Of Pentecost

"Christian and Jewish (Hebrew)
Day Of Pentecost"
(Originally Written May 13, 1997)

Paul tells us, "For you have not come to the mountain that may be touched and that burned with fire, and to blackness and darkness and tempest, and the sound of a trumpet and the VOICE of {the} Word(s), so that those who heard it begged that the Word should not be spoken to them anymore.... But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem (the Bride), to an innumerable company of angels (Heavenly Host), to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven {in the book of life}, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel. (Heb 12:18-24)

The Warning....
With the following words, Paul goes on to warn us not to repeat Israel's mistake, "to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the BLOOD of sprinkling THAT SPEAKS better things than that of Abel" (‘s blood). "See that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if they did not escape who refused Him who spoke on earth, much more shall we not escape if we turn away from Him who speaks from heaven {through the Holy Spirit speaking within us}, whose voice then shook the earth; but now He has promised, saying, "YET ONCE MORE I SHAKE NOT ONLY THE EARTH, BUT ALSO HEAVEN. Now this, "Yet once more," indicates the removal of those things that are being shaken, as of things that are made, that the things which cannot be shaken {the Holy Spirit living within you} may remain. Therefore, since we are receiving a (V)kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and Godly fear. For our God is a consuming fire. (Heb 12:24-29; NKJ) [(V) Kingdom of God: "...For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you." (Luke 17:21; NKJ)]

What burning mountain is Paul referring to? "Who's voice is the "voice of words"; and who begged that the word should not be spoken? If we know the answer to these questions, we begin to increase our knowledge about the "Fire Baptism".

ISRAEL RECEIVED THE LORD'S "FIRE" ON PENTECOST, BEFORE THE APOSTLES DID -

The fact that Israel partially received the FIRE BAPTISM, may seem surprising to Christians; but Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 10:1-4, that, "Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea, all were BAPTIZED into Moses in the cloud (by day and FIRE by night) and in the sea, ALL ATE THE SAME SPIRITUAL FOOD, AND ALL DRANK THE SAME SPIRITUAL DRINK. FOR THEY DRANK OF THAT SPIRITUAL ROCK THAT FOLLOWED THEM, AND THAT ROCK WAS CHRIST." (NKJ)

Israel's Day Of Pentecost...
The Greek word "Pentecost" means "fifty"; and is only referred to in the New Testament. The Old Testament Hebrew word for "fifty" is "chamishshiym". Pentecost, or as the Israelites knew it "THE FEAST OF THE FIRSTFRUITS", was/is 50 days after Passover.

There were seven yearly feasts enacted at the time God gave His law to Israel, through Moses. Yearly, all Israelite males were required to attend three of the seven feasts. Two of the three feasts, as you may know, have manifested God's will in a most spectacular way. During Passover (Unleavened Bread) Israel was led out of Egypt by Jehovah; and Jesus Christ was crucified and resurrected from the dead. On the day of Pentecost (Feast of Firstfruits, or Weeks) all of Israel heard God SPEAK IN AN AUDIBLE VOICE; and they received the written commandments. On this same day, many years later, God manifested Himself in one hundred and twenty disciples (students of God) by SPEAKING THROUGH them the language of men and angels (in tongues).

The third feast which required all males to be present was/is "Tabernacles (Booths and Ingathering). For more information on this Feast see our article, "FEAST OF THE TABERNACLES and CHRIST'S INGATHERING". This Feast is the most likely time for the "taking up", or INGATHERING" of the Saints.

The Day Of PENTECOST:
Regarding Pentecost, Grant Jeffrey, in his book "ARMAGEDDON APPOINTMENT WITH DESTINY", states that "the theme of the first day of the month, Nisan was a time for ritual cleansing and new beginnings for Jews." He goes on to say, "Pentecost, or Shavuot to the Jews, celebrated the end of the grain harvest, the summer harvest. It is also known as the "Zeman Matan Tortenu", the giving of the Law" to Israel. The Feast of Pentecost is the second of the three great feasts that all male Jews were required to celebrate at the temple in Jerusalem every year."

We are told by Paul in Colossians 2:17, that these feasts were a "shadow of things to come". In other words, they foreshadowed the coming of Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit and Fire baptism. Jesus Christ is obviously the unleavened bread and the firstfruit. Because we are in Him, we are also the "firstfruit".

Mr. Jeffrey says it this way, "The mystical union of God and Israel that occurred on the Feast of Pentecost at the foot of Mount Sinai is exactly mirrored in the union of God's Holy Spirit with Christ's Bride, the Church, on Pentecost fifty days after Christ rose from the dead".

Regarding the day of Pentecost, Mr. Jeffrey goes on to say, "Although God had chosen Israel by His grace through Abraham, He now confirmed this covenant, four hundred and thirty years later, by the presentation of His Law on the Feast of Pentecost, the sixth of Sivan..... It began a new period of spiritual stewardship to this further revelation of the will of God. The Jewish rabbinical teachings confirm that it was on the sixth day of Sivan that Moses received the Ten Commandments. Also, the Jewish Almanac records that ‘historically', it (the sixth day of Sivan - Pentecost) commemorates the revelation on Mount Sinai when God gave the Torah to the children of Israel."

Reverend Dake's Annotate Reference Bible says "The Septuagint....and others read: ‘On the first day of the third month'. This would make the day of the giving of the law the 50th (or Pentecost) after Israel left Egypt on the 15th day of the 1st month. The day of Pentecost was after seven Sabbaths (49 days) were completed, or the 50th day after the Sabbath after the Passover (Lev 23:11, 15-16). Thus beginning with the 6th day of the 1st month and counting 50 days would mean the law was given on Pentecost."

REVELATION KNOWLEDGE.....
[The LORD revealed this to me, as I studied the FIRE BAPTISM]

The thing not pointed out by Mr. Jeffrey or Dake's Bible, is the very point we will expound on in the following paragraphs. That is, that the LORD delivered part of the Law (the first Ten Commandments) in His OWN VOICE, TO ALL the people of Israel. It is the first time a CONGREGATION of believers (on earth) heard the LORD speak to them out loud. Unfortunately, they refused His voice, out of fear. This article is dedicated to eliminating the misconception and fear the modern day Christian may have concerning the hearing of God's voice.

On the day that would later be called Pentecost, ALL of Israel was brought together as one Body; and received the FIRE of the LORD [Jehovah, the Eternal Self-Existent]. Later, the people asked the LORD (through Moses) not to speak to them any more; but rather through Moses, or others like him. Jehovah then gave them prophets; thus (by their own will), the Israelites removed themselves from God's personal presence.

(Exod 19:11-20:22) The LORD said to Moses, "And let them be ready for the third day. For on the third day the LORD will come down upon Mount Sinai in the sight of ALL the people....... (16) Then it came to pass on the third day, in the morning, that there were thunderings and lightenings, and a thick cloud on the mountain; and the sound of the trumpet was very loud, so that ALL the people who were in the camp trembled. And Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. Now Mount Sinai was completely in smoke, because the LORD descended upon it in fire. Its smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked greatly. And when the blast of the trumpet sounded long and became louder and louder, Moses spoke, and GOD ANSWERED HIM BY VOICE. (EX 20:1) AND GOD SPOKE ALL THESE WORDS, SAYING: I AM THE LORD YOUR GOD, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. "You shall have no other gods before Me. Now all the people witnessed the thunderings, the lightning flashes, the sound of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking; and when the people saw it, they trembled and stood afar off. Then they said to Moses, "YOU SPEAK WITH US, AND WE WILL HEAR; BUT LET NOT GOD SPEAK WITH US, lest we die. And Moses said to the people, "DO NOT FEAR; FOR GOD HAS COME TO TEST YOU, AND THAT HIS FEAR MAY BE BEFORE YOU, SO THAT YOU MAY NOT SIN. So the people stood afar off, but Moses drew near the thick darkness where God was. Then the LORD said to Moses, "Thus you shall say to the children of Israel: 'YOU HAVE SEEN THAT I HAVE TALKED WITH YOU FROM HEAVEN. You shall not make anything to be with Me-- gods of silver or gods of gold you shall not make for yourselves..... (NKJ).

Notice, Moses said to the people (congregation), "Do not fear; for God has come to test you, and that His fear may be before you, so that you may not sin. How did God test the people? The people first said to Moses, "YOU SPEAK WITH US, AND WE WILL HEAR; BUT LET NOT GOD SPEAK WITH US". Then Moses said, "Do not fear [be afraid]; for God has come to test you, and that His fear [that causes reverence] may be before you, so that you may not sin. God spoke directly to the people, in order to cause "fear", which is REVERENCE and RESPECT; and this was done in order to keep God's "chosen" people from sinning.

The "testing" of today is for the same reason - "TO KEEP US FROM SIN". We are to LISTEN and HEAR God speak to us, in order that we DO NOT SIN! (1 Cor 11:32) But when we are judged, we are chastened [literally, to train up a child; educate] by the Lord, that we may not be condemned [sentenced] with the world. (NKJ)

Our new understanding sheds light on the verse, "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; a good understanding have all those who do His commandments [that which He has said] His praise endures forever. (Ps 111:10; (NKJ)"

In Deuteronomy 4:7-20, the verses in Exodus are confirmed, "And what great nation is there that has such statutes and righteous judgments as are in all this law which I set before you this day?.....(12) And the LORD spoke to you out of the midst of the fire. YOU HEARD THE SOUND OF THE WORDS, BUT SAW NO FORM; YOU ONLY HEARD A VOICE. So he declared to you his covenant which he commanded you to perform, that is, the ten commandments; and He wrote them on two tablets of stone. And the LORD commanded me at that time to teach you statutes and judgments, that you might observe them in the land which you cross over to possess. Take careful heed to yourselves, for you saw no form when the LORD spoke to you at Horeb out of the midst of the fire, lest you act corruptly and make for yourselves a carved image in the form of any figure: the likeness of male or female......(20) But the LORD has taken you and brought you out of the iron furnace, out of Egypt, to be His people, an inheritance, as you are this day." (NKJ)

AND

(Deut 5:2) "The LORD our God made a covenant with us in Horeb. The LORD made not this covenant with our fathers, but with us, even us, who are all of us here alive this day. THE LORD TALKED WITH YOU FACE TO FACE IN THE MOUNT OUT OF THE MIDST OF THE FIRE, (I stood between the LORD and you at that time, to shew you the word of the LORD: for ye were afraid by reason of the fire, and went not up into the mount;)...". (KJV)

Did the LORD speak to the people? YES! Later, Moses repeats the incident saying, "Also in Horeb you provoked the LORD to wrath, so that the LORD was angry with you to have destroyed you. When I was gone up into the mount to receive the tables of stone, even the tables of the covenant which the LORD made with you, then I abode in the mount forty days and forty nights, I neither did eat bread nor drink water: And the LORD delivered unto me two tables of stone written with the finger of God; and on them was written according to all the words, WHICH THE LORD SPAKE WITH YOU in the mount OUT OF THE MIDST OF THE FIRE IN THE DAY OF THE ASSEMBLY." (Deut 9:8-10; KJV).

In the following scriptures, God tells us that we will be in "distress" in the "latter days", and many things will come upon us; but if we will OBEY HIS VOICE, HE WILL NOT FORSAKE US OR DESTROY US:

"When you are in distress, and all these things come upon you in the latter days, WHEN YOU TURN TO THE LORD YOUR GOD AND OBEY HIS VOICE (for the LORD your God is a merciful God), He will not forsake you nor destroy you...." (Deut 4:30- 36).

If we do not hear His voice, we can not obey His voice. Hearing God's voice (for God) is not subject to your personal choice. He is offering Himself to you. He desires to be your HUSBAND, instructor, lover; and all things to you.

Remember Paul's warning, at the beginning of this article? You have come "to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the BLOOD of sprinkling THAT SPEAKS better things than that of Abel(‘s blood). See that you do not refuse Him who speaks".

To Israel He said, and says:
(Jer 31:33) "This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time," declares the LORD. "I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people" (NIV). Paul quotes Jeremiah in Hebrews 8:10-13, "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. 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. For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more. By calling this covenant 'new', He has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and aging will soon disappear" (NIV) .

To the Christians and Israel He said, and says:
(Eph 2:11-16) Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles {Sinners, Heathens, Pagans} by birth and called 'uncircumcised' by those who call themselves 'the circumcision' (that done in the body by the hands of men)-- remember that at that time you 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. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood {that speaks} of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility" (NIV) .

Therefore, both Israel and Christians have been promised "I will put my laws {My Word} in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people [congregation]. 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."

This is what God has promised us. This is what He is preparing us to receive; and even now is beginning to pour out on His Beloveds. If you are not giving Him time to speak to you daily - BEGIN TODAY!

If you would like to print this and share it with your brothers and sisters in Christ, or the world, please feel free to do so. However, I ask that you always leave my name on the messages God writes through me; and never sell them. Thank you so much for your love.

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