Featured Articles

[Featured][twocolumns]

The Giving of Law, The Giving of Grace (Pentecost Study Part 1)



In studying the Feast of Pentecost, it is becoming increasingly clear to me that this celebration ties together many loose ends for the Church.  I hope to bring you along on this fascinating journey of discovery about Pentecost, perhaps our "highest watch date"!  Previously, I summarized what I had found to date in this post: Pentecost: The Feast That Ties Everything Together For the Church.  An overview of how Pentecost fits into the overall feasts can be found here: The Feasts of the LORD: God's Appointed Times.

Let's examine some further details about this special day!


Pentecost: An Overview 

Pentecost, otherwise known as Shavuot, or the Feast of Weeks, is one of God's appointed times.  Gary Stearman of Prophecy Watchers describes Pentecost in this way:

We have demonstrated numerous remarkable connections between Pentecost and the prophetic conclusion of the Church Age. It is the fourth and central feast among the seven Feasts of Israel: Passover, Unleavened Bread, Firstfruits, Pentecost, Rosh HaShanah, Yom Kippur and Tabernacles. The first three are spring festivals, representing the blood sacrifice and resurrection. The last three come in the fall, calling forth judgment and the establishment of the Kingdom. At the center – in the early summer – is Pentecost. In the Bible, it is represented by two loaves of leavened bread, held aloft by the High Priest. Today’s Jews celebrate it annually, in a ceremony called, “decorating the bride.” This reminds us of the Church, the “bride of Christ.” 

Shavuot is considered the day on which Judaism was born (the Age of Law).  Pentecost is also considered the day on which the Church was born (the Age of Grace).  While it's clear that much has occurred on Pentecost already, I challenge you to consider whether or not Pentecost has been completely fulfilled.  If it has, then we look to the Feast of Trumpets next.  If it hasn't, then what does that mean for us as the body of Christ?

Specifically, will a future Pentecost mark another dispensation change?  

Which dispensation change?  Well... I am thinking specifically of the end of the Church Age and the start of a seven-year mini "Age of Wrath".  What do you think?  It's certainly worth studying, so let's dive in!


Passages Describing the Feast of Pentecost 

When studying Biblical teaching, I believe it is always important to read the source for yourself.  Not just a verse or two, but the entire relevant passage.  This will sharpen your discernment skills, as you examine the scriptures for yourself to see if these things are so.  Because we are going to be discussing Pentecost in great detail over the next few posts, I encourage you to read through the following passages at least once:

5 On the third new moon after the people of Israel had gone out of the land of Egypt, on that day they came into the wilderness of Sinai. Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; 6 and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the people of Israel.” 7 So Moses came and called the elders of the people and set before them all these words that the Lord had commanded him. 8 All the people answered together and said, “All that the Lord has spoken we will do.”  The Lord said to Moses, “Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their garments 11 and be ready for the third day. For on the third day the Lord will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people. 12 And you shall set limits for the people all around, saying, ‘Take care not to go up into the mountain or touch the edge of it. Whoever touches the mountain shall be put to death. 13 No hand shall touch him, but he shall be stoned or shot; whether beast or man, he shall not live.’ When the trumpet sounds a long blast, they shall come up to the mountain.” 14 So Moses went down from the mountain to the people and consecrated the people; and they washed their garments. 15 And he said to the people, “Be ready for the third day; do not go near a woman.” 16 On the morning of the third day there were thunders and lightnings and a thick cloud on the mountain and a very loud trumpet blast, so that all the people in the camp trembled. 17 Then Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet God, and they took their stand at the foot of the mountain. 18 Now Mount Sinai was wrapped in smoke because the Lord had descended on it in fire. The smoke of it went up like the smoke of a kiln, and the whole mountain trembled greatly. 19 And as the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God answered him in thunder. 20 The Lord came down on Mount Sinai, to the top of the mountain. And the Lord called Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up.
[10 Commandments Given] 

18 Now when all the people saw the thunder and the flashes of lightning and the sound of the trumpet and the mountain smoking, the people were afraid and trembled, and they stood far off 19 and said to Moses, “You speak to us, and we will listen; but do not let God speak to us, lest we die.” 20 Moses said to the people, “Do not fear, for God has come to test you, that the fear of him may be before you, that you may not sin.” 21 The people stood far off, while Moses drew near to the thick darkness where God was.
[Additional commandments Given: the Law] 

3 Moses came and told the people all the words of the Lord and all the rules. And all the people answered with one voice and said, “All the words that the Lord has spoken we will do.”  6 And Moses took half of the blood and put it in basins, and half of the blood he threw against the altar. 7 Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read it in the hearing of the people. And they said, “All that the Lord has spoken we will do, and we will be obedient.” 8 And Moses took the blood and threw it on the people and said, “Behold the blood of the covenant that the Lord has made with you in accordance with all these words.” 15 Then Moses went up on the mountain, and the cloud covered the mountain.16 The glory of the Lord dwelt on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it six days. And on the seventh day he called to Moses out of the midst of the cloud. 17 Now the appearance of the glory of the Lord was like a devouring fire on the top of the mountain in the sight of the people of Israel. 18 Moses entered the cloud and went up on the mountain. And Moses was on the mountain forty days and forty nights.
(Exodus 19:1, 5-8, 10-20; 20:18-21; 24:3, 6-8, 15-17)  

You shall count seven full weeks from the day after the Sabbath, from the day that you brought the sheaf of the wave offering.  You shall count fifty days to the day after the seventh Sabbath. Then you shall present a grain offering of new grain to the Lord.  You shall bring from your dwelling places two loaves of bread to be waved, made of two tenths of an ephah. They shall be of fine flour, and they shall be baked with leaven, as firstfruits to the Lord.  And you shall present with the bread seven lambs a year old without blemish, and one bull from the herd and two rams. They shall be a burnt offering to the Lord, with their grain offering and their drink offerings, a food offering with a pleasing aroma to the Lord.  And you shall offer one male goat for a sin offering, and two male lambs a year old as a sacrifice of peace offerings.  And the priest shall wave them with the bread of the firstfruits as a wave offering before the Lord, with the two lambs. They shall be holy to the Lord for the priest.  And you shall make a proclamation on the same day. You shall hold a holy convocation. You shall not do any ordinary work. It is a statute forever in all your dwelling places throughout your generations.  And when you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap your field right up to its edge, nor shall you gather the gleanings after your harvest. You shall leave them for the poor and for the sojourner: I am the Lord your God.
(Leviticus 23:15-22) 

26 On the day of the firstfruits, when you offer a grain offering of new grain to the Lord at your Feast of Weeks, you shall have a holy convocation. You shall not do any ordinary work, 27 but offer a burnt offering, with a pleasing aroma to the Lord: two bulls from the herd, one ram, seven male lambs a year old; 28 also their grain offering of fine flour mixed with oil, three tenths of an ephah for each bull, two tenths for one ram, 29 a tenth for each of the seven lambs; 30 with one male goat, to make atonement for you. 31 Besides the regular burnt offering and its grain offering, you shall offer them and their drink offering. See that they are without blemish.
(Numbers 28:26-31) 

9 You shall count seven weeks. Begin to count the seven weeks from the time the sickle is first put to the standing grain. 10 Then you shall keep the Feast of Weeks to the Lord your God with the tribute of a freewill offering from your hand, which you shall give as the Lord your God blesses you. 11 And you shall rejoice before the Lord your God, you and your son and your daughter, your male servant and your female servant, the Levite who is within your towns, the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow who are among you, at the place that the Lord your God will choose, to make his name dwell there. 12 You shall remember that you were a slave in Egypt; and you shall be careful to observe these statutes.
(Deuteronomy 16:9-12) 


The First Pentecost (Shavuot) in the Old Covenant 

Shavuot is the feast that marks the giving of the Law to Moses on Mount Sinai.  In this way, it can be considered the "birthday of Judaism".  The first Shavuot occurred exactly seven weeks after the Exodus on Sivan 6.  This feast became an agricultural celebration of God's provision for Israel.  It marked one of the three times per year that adult men would need to go to Jerusalem to make sacrifices (the others being Unleavened Bread/Passover in the early spring and Tabernacles in the fall).  The first Shavuot is described in great detail in the above passages.

During the festival of Shavuot, a sample of the first of the wheat harvest (note that believers in Christ are often referred to as wheat, as opposed to tares) was brought to the priests.  This wheat was baked into two loaves of leavened bread and waved before the altar.  Notably, this is the only feast that includes leaven in the offering.  The purpose for the inclusion of leaven isn't detailed, but I believe it possibly points to both Jew and Gentile being made into one body under the New Covenant.  A similar question might be: why are there TWO loaves, and not just one?  Could this be pointing to the same thing: Jew and Gentile made one under the New Covenant?

For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace,  and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility.  (Ephesians 2:14-16)

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.  (Galatians 3:28) 

Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.  (Colossians 3:11)



Awesome.  Let's keep going.  Hebrew4Christians states in their article on Shavuot: "Moses ascended the mountain, and there God commanded him to tell the leaders that if they would obey the LORD and keep His covenant, then they would be the LORD's "kingdom of priests and "holy nation"."  (Exodus 19:6)  Hmmmm, does that phrase sound familiar?  In the Church Age fulfillment of Shavuot, we are also called a royal priesthood and holy nation:

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.  (1 Peter 2:9) 

Ok, carrying on!  The people respond that they will follow the LORD's commandments and enter into covenant with Him.  [This, of course, is the covenant of the Law, which at the fulfillment of Passover gets superseded by the New and Better Covenant in Jesus' blood.]  God tells them to "Be ready for the third day; for on the third day the LORD will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people".  In the meantime, they were to sanctify themselves via specific purification rites, which they carried out as directed.  In parallel, in the the New Covenant, we are washed and purified by the blood of Jesus.

Incidentally, this "third day" was not repeated at Pentecost in 32AD (or whichever year Jesus died), nor is it prophesied to be repeated in the future—despite what some Catholic mysticism sites erroneously claim.

Hebrew4Christians continues: "Rabbinic tradition says that the Torah was actually given on the sixth of Sivan, the Shabbat following the new moon of Sivan that year.  On Shabbat morning of the sixth of Sivan, exactly seven weeks after the Exodus, all the children of Israel gathered at the foot of Mount Sinai, where the LORD descended amidst thunder, lightning, billowing smoke, fire, and the voluminous blast of the shofar.  The LORD then declared the foundation of moral conduct required of the people, the Ten Commandments.  The sound of a shofar grew louder and louder until terror gripped the heart of the people.  As the LORD began speaking the second commandment, however, the people began falling back in fear..."

Thunder, lightning, billowing smoke, fire, and the voluminous blast of the shofar sending terror into the heart of the people.  NOTE THIS!!! 




Moses then takes the blood of the sacrifices and throws half upon the altar and half upon the people, ratifying the covenant with blood (the New Covenant is ratified in the blood of Christ).  Moses, Aaron, Aaron's sons, and the 70 elders of Israel then ascended Mount Sinai to eat a "covenant affirmation meal" with the LORD.  Yes, these all dine with the LORD Himself (Exodus 24:9-11).  Hmmm, there's an upcoming wedding feast where we will dine with the LORD Himself.  I wonder if it will occur in conjunction with a future Shavuot?

Greek translators later called Shavuot "Pentecost", as it occurs 50 (penta) days after the Sabbath after Passover.  So that is what we will call it from now on.


The First Pentecost in the New Covenant 

On to the New Testament and the New Covenant!  On the celebration of this feast day after Jesus' resurrection, the Holy Spirit was given to the body of Christ in power and as a seal.  Thus, Pentecost is associated with the "birthday of the Church".

When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place.  And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting.  And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them.  And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.  (Acts 2:1-4)



The coming of the Holy Spirit upon all believers is unique to the Church Age.  In the Old Covenant (Age of Law), the Holy Spirit came upon specific individuals such as the kings, prophets, and judges.  In the New Covenant (Age of Grace), the Holy Spirit comes upon all believers at the moment of salvation to seal them for the Day of Redemption.

In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.  (Ephesians 1:13-14)

And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed  for the day of redemption. (Ephesians 4:30) 

This sealing ministry of the Holy Spirit I believe is a special key to understanding the seals of Revelation 6.  The transference of His sealing from the Church to the 144,000 perhaps marks the opening of the Seals of Revelation.  Jeff discusses this "passing of the torch" in this article: Passing the Torch: Ministry Transfer from the Church to the Two Witnesses.

Hebrew4Christians describes the festival of Shavuot as "the culmination of the redemption, sometimes called Atzeret Pesach, or 'The Gathering of Passover'."  Culmination of redemption, and the gathering, hey?  Brings to mind these verses:

Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him... (2 Thessalonians 2:1)

For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now.  And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.  (Romans 8:22-23) 

It's looking like Pentecost just may be the feast that marks the culmination of our redemption.


Did Jesus Fulfill Shavuot / Pentecost Completely? 

There is no question that Jesus fulfilled the first three Spring feasts in entirety through His death (Passover), burial (Unleavened Bread), and resurrection (Firstfruits).  When the Holy Spirit came down at Pentecost, was that the complete fulfillment of the late spring feast?

We noted above that the shadow (dress rehearsal) always points to the substance (fulfillment) – which is all found in Jesus Christ.  Jesus sent His Spirit to the Church for this age, and that has typically been considered as the definitive fulfillment.  Recently, however, Greg at A Little Strength has noted that the Holy Spirit isn’t actually Christ Himself, nor did Jesus send Him.  It was the Father who sent the Holy Spirit to believers:

Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing.   Acts 2:33 

But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.  John 14:26 

This may seem a little nitpicky, to argue over the Father versus the Son sending the Holy Spirit.  Bear with me.  Jesus literally fulfilled the first three Spring Feasts Himself in the same year.  He will literally fulfill the three Fall Feasts Himself in the same year, at the Second Coming.  Is this a clue that Jesus Himself will fulfill Pentecost—not the Father?

Could it be that BOTH the giving of the Law and the giving of the Holy Spirit were only partial (shadow) fulfillments of Pentecost?

Could it be that Jesus—Himself, literally—snatching His Church on a future day of Pentecost will be the ultimate consummation of this feast?  We know He will literally and personally call us up to be with Him someday, right?  Isn't it logical that it would be possibly timed to fulfill a Feast of the Lord?  I cannot say I have a prophetic answer for this, but this interpretation is worth considering, don't you think?

Post A Comment

70 comments:

  1. I'm thinking while I'm reading this that the feast of weeks/pentecost is both a beginning and an end. It Mark's the end of slavery in Egypt and the birth of the Law. It marks the end of the Law and the birth of grace. Both times at the end of a 7 weeks period. Egypt lead out then 7 weeks later the Law...Jesus' death, 7 weeks later Holy Spirit..Wouldn't it be appropriate then that it would happen again a 3rd time. This time ending the period of grace and then after 7 weeks (of years) birthing the millennium period? Also mirroring the "birth" of the baby(church)on pentacost? I dont know but if the pentecost/feast of weeks represents birth and death then we have the right feast for a rapture event. What do y'all think?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Also...out of earth into heaven for believers and out of grace into wrath for nonbelievers

      Delete
  2. Last Day of Passover - The Crossing Over - This is an interesting Youtube -

    ReplyDelete
  3. And the world population clock at worldometers.info will hit 7777777777 (seven tens) Tuesday between 2:30pm and 6:30pm (depending on where you live in the US)

    www.itwasaplan.com - it was a plan dot com (not a coincidence that it came on Passover)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Question: Now, what time will it be in Israel if for a hit on the counter between 2:30 pm and 6:30 pm (Eastern) in North America?

      Hmmm, let's see, Israel is +7-hours from the Eastern US. That equals likely hitting 10-sevens between 9:30 pm and 1:30 am in Jerusalem. What time is sunset tomorrow night in Israel? Sunset is at 7:07 pm on Tuesday (4/14); Civil Twilight is 7:32 pm, Nautical Twilight is 8:02 pm and Astronomical Twilight is 8:32 pm.

      Remember, sunset tomorrow night (4/14) ushers in the next day Wednesday, April 15 in Israel. Wednesday is 21 Nisan or M1D21 by the Spiritual calendar. THIS IS THE SEVENTH DAY OF THE FEAST OF UNLEAVENED BREAD!!

      I too estimate that the population clock will click past 10-sevens at this time.

      Jewish tradition holds that this is the night of the Red Sea Crossing. Other sources make the point that this was three days after Israel's crossing of the sea. Forgive me if I am mistaken but Scripture doesn't give us an exact date of the crossing. If this interpretation is true then M1D21 was when,

      27 Then they came to Elim,
      where there were twelve
      springs of water and seventy
      palm trees, and they encamped
      there by the water.

      (Exodus 15:27 ESV)


      Either way you look at it -- it appears HIGHLY likely that the counter will hit 7,777,777,777 souls on planet earth on the 7th day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread (Passover Day 7) otherwise pointing to the night to be remembered! (Exodus 12:42 ESV)

      How's that for popping-open a cold one TLisV4E?!!

      ; )

      Delete
    2. This comment has been removed by the author.

      Delete
    3. That is Beautiful Pastor Rich - At first I thought it was Gary's comment - I am too excited to pay attention to the details.

      Delete
    4. KINNERET & WORLDOMETER UPDATE:

      Current World Population (as of 10:46 PM Eastern) was 7,777,622,777

      Do you think they'll open the spillway on (4/15) that the waters of the Sea of Galilee break? Check-out the water levels of Lake Kinneret/Lake Tiberias.

      PR

      Delete
    5. Good Question...it is coming close...here are my thoughts...

      We've waited for this day
      We're gathered in your name
      Calling out to you
      Your glory like a fire
      Awakening desire
      Will burn our hearts with truth
      You're the reason we're here
      You're the reason we're singing
      Open up the heavens
      We want to see you
      Open up the floodgates
      A mighty river
      Flowing from your heart
      Filling every part of our praise

      Delete
    6. A brilliant song I love so much!

      Delete
  4. The Eastern Orthodox Church also applies the formula so that Easter always falls after Passover, since the Crucifixion and Resurrection of Christ took place after he entered Jerusalem to celebrate Passover. In the Western Church, Easter sometimes precedes Passover by weeks.

    Maybe it is also a good thing to consider the orthodox Resurrection day as a watch day. They have maintained their Resurrection celebration with a connection to Passover (must be the Sunday after Passover)- and the Eastern Orthodox Resurrection day is April 19th - Hallelujah! Keep Watching. If that day passes, I will look with Stephanie to Pentacost as the Jewish tradition is that Enoch was raptured on Pentacost. God is good ! Jesus is Coming Soon - and it does not have to be on a feast day, but it is a good point that these were called "God's appointed times" - Love you all - See you in the air soon -

    ReplyDelete
  5. the 7 weeks after First fruits is interesting as well when you consider that Noah had a 7 day warning from God that the rain was going to begin. God always warns before He judges. Thank you Stephanie for sharing your study of Pentecost. I've been wondering about the significance of this Feast for a long time but could not connect it all like you did! I am so grateful, it gives me peace of spirit in these very troubling times!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. And Rhonda, in the previous article, you made a comment to Pastor Rich that came out at 4/10/2020 at 10:10

      That is where I got seven tens - from the time of your response to Pastor Rich about ten sevens

      TEN SEVENS AND SEVEN TENS

      ..if we count the 20 as two tens..4/10/2020 at 10:10 - that makes seven tens. just a funny observation. And 4 is the door - God is good! Keep Watching - Jesus is Coming Soon ! Hallelujah !!! CHRIST IS RISEN !!!!!!!

      Delete
    2. Nothing is coincidence! Thank you for reminding me! God knows I’ve been very upset about this lockdown and how the globalists seem to be winning by lying to us. God had to remind me that I wasn’t supposed to be easily moved. I’ve even been crying! Where is my faith??? That’s why I thanked Stephanie for her research. Jesus knows I just want to be with Him and her article gave me peace. Pentecost makes sense for the Rapture. Even if we must wait longer, we’re all in this together, right! Can’t wait to meet you all in the air and on the clouds.

      Delete
  6. And here is 12 links to some amazing rapture songs: https://prayat316.com/rapture-songs

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. https://prayat316.com/rapture-songs - 25 Rapture Songs -

      Delete
  7. If we want to know what’s in store for the church from the Messiah, we have to look to the meaning of the feasts that have been fulfilled by the Messiah at His first coming, because those promises of the feasts were fulfilled by Jesus for the Jews as a sign of His coming.
    They were also cast as shadows into the future of the Church, so the Church can expect to cross their path someday, and when they do, they will find Jesus casting that shadow, and it will speak for itself for what it is saying.
    Because the Jews rejected Jesus as the Messiah, God reveals the Mystery of the Church to Paul, and he teaches that the feast of the Jews are but shadows of things to come for the Church, and the substance that is casting those shadows is Jesus.

    ReplyDelete
  8. First is the weekly Sabbath, which the Jews were to keep holy. It was a day that meant rest for the Jews, and as with all the feasts, it had it’s beginning and ending at sundown.
    The Feasts were the times that God set, on their calendar, for them to interact with Him, and He with them. Their Feasts, or set times began in the spring with Passover and finished in the fall with Tabernacles.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Finally, occurring fifty days after the first day of First Fruits, the second day of the feast is called Pentecost, and was a time for a new offerings of a loaf of bread, the completed product of the harvest.
    And finally on Pentecost, we have nothing to claim, as we are already in heaven. God is now making a NEW OFFERING of Jesus as the Messiah, as He was first offered as the Messiah to the Jews on that Pentecost of Acts 2.
    But having come to His own, and His own received Him not, required that He come again to them. At this feast, Jesus was offered to them, and on this feast He will continue to be offered to them once again, just as if time had stopped and suddenly began again, in the same place, under the same set of circumstances but with a modern cast.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Jesus could only have been offered as the new offering, symbolized by the loaf of bread that was offered in the Temple as a sign of completion, because He Himself had been completed as Messiah just 10 days before at His ascension by returning back to His divinity.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Its my humble opinion that Pentecost was in fact fulfilled that day almost two thousand years ago. And I agree with the author that the remaining fall feasts will be fulfilled at the second coming-after the tribulation if it was fulfilled.

    I know some disagree but I do'not see a gap between the rapture and the start of the tribulation in scripture. I also cant prove that there wont be one but since it doesnt specifically indicate anywhere in scripture that there will be one I think the evidence is on my side. As far as im aware there are no gaps between any of the other dispensation/administration periods so why this one? The age of Law ended abruptly on the day of Pentecost, there was no "phasing" in period.

    Since there will be no gap and we know how long the tribulation will be (2550 days) a Springtime or Pentecost rapture is not likely. It used to make sense to me that the Church age should end on the same day it started but I no longer believe this. The next high watch time will be late summer, early fall this year and next and the one after no matter how far off it is.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Actually, I tend to disagree with the idea that there's no gap with the first century birth if the church Pentecost. You could argue that the new age (new covenant) began at the crucifixion, and thus there's a "gap" of 50 days before the church really got going. Whether there's a gap between rapture and the AC signing the peace treaty remains to be seen, but I think it's possible.

      Delete
  12. Replies
    1. And on which time according to GMT?

      Delete
    2. It is now after 8 PM in Jerusalem. Israel is now GMT+3 so you can do the math to accommodate your local time. Count stands at 7,777,756,900 and counting!

      Delete
    3. How sure are you about the Rapture when the world's population will exactly count 7,777,777,777, Pastor Rich?

      Delete
    4. It could be but my heart is telling me not now. It is another milestone on the way to,

      25 Let you be wise in your own
      sight, I do not want you to be
      unaware of this mystery, brothers:
      a partial hardening has come upon
      Israel, until the fullness of the
      Gentiles has come in.

      (Romans 11:25 ESV)


      The world's population counter gives a snap-shot of global population. Offset that now against the Gentile population. What would that counter look like? Even so, we will never know the fullness of the Gentile Church will we?

      I think that 10-7's is another sign just as the fullness of Lake Tiberias. At least there is some Rabbinical prophecy to refer to in that regard. Time will tell if they continue to be correct. So far they are accurate concerning the state of the Israeli government.

      Delete
    5. We're a couple thousand births away from 10-7's in the 10 o'clock hour in Israel. This is interesting as it is the 7 o'clock hour for GMT.

      Delete
    6. 7.777.777.777 AT 10 :28:30 EASTERN EUROPEAN TIME ,IN MY COUNTRY IS THE SAME TIME IN EUROPE ...




      Delete
    7. I thought it might be 7 o'clock,eastern european time but I was wrong, it was now 10:28:30 ...

      Delete
    8. In my country it s the same time like in Israel..

      Delete
    9. Awesome! You got the seconds. The screenshot from my phone didn't include that information.

      Unofficial time was 10:28:30 PM (IDT), 7:28:30 PM (UTC), 3:28:30 PM (Eastern) and 7:28 AM (NZST).

      Delete
    10. Do we not lift up our heads & look for redemption WHEN SUMMER IS NIGH?

      Delete
    11. I opened the timezone calendar to the right of the screen with hours, minutes, seconds, to the left the zoomed site with the world's population in real time, and my child took pictures of the monitor, so I got all the data

      Delete
    12. Greek Dictionary (Lexicon-Concordance)
      Key Word Studies (Translations-Definitions-Meanings)
      ť G1028 Ť


      #1028 βροχή broche {brokh-ay'}

      from G1026; TDNT - n/a; n f

      —Greek Word Study (Transliteration-Pronunciation Etymology & Grammar)


      1) a besprinkling, watering, rain
      1a) used of a heavy shower or violent rainstorm

      —Thayer's (New Testament Greek-English Lexicon)
      From G1026; rain:—rain.
      —Strong's (Greek Dictionary of the New Testament)

      #1028.
      βροχη´
      brochē; from 1026; a wetting:—
      NASB - rain(2).

      —NAS Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible with Hebrew-Aramaic and Greek Dictionaries
      Copyright Š 1981, 1998 by The Lockman Foundation — All rights reserved — http://www.lockman.org

      AV - rain 2; 2

      rain
      Matthew 7:25, 27.

      Delete
    13. last night in the city thatI live in it started to rain very strong ....

      Delete
  13. At https://eschatologytoday.blogspot.com/2020/04/global-sitrep-b3-20-psalm-9010-exegete.html "Global SITREP B3-20: Psalm 90:10 Exegete":

    ""So teach us to number our days so that we may get a heart of wisdom." The 'heart of wisdom" here, for myself at least, is to see that the 7 weeks of years of the Lord's wrath and judgment upon the earth should take place outside of the 80 years of strength instead of within them."

    How do you think about the possibility that the final 7 years before the Second Advent of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ would happen after 2028?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. All things are possible with God, however, it should be reasonable to expect that God will do that which brings glory to His Name.

      Could the seven years begin after Israel turns 80? Do I think that we may return with Christ after 2028?

      Not really.

      As I've said before, it depends on how you understand (Psalm 90:10). 2021 will begin the seven year count to the 80th birthday of Israel. (80-prophetic years comes on Sunday, March 21, 2027). Does that mean we'll be here to see that day?

      YMMV but I don't believe so.

      The LORD has us here for a reason. The restrainer restrains and will restrain until the day that all hades will be allowed to break loose. Literally.

      Hold fast my friend! Occupy as a light in the darkness.

      Delete
    2. Hi Moin, I do believe that Psalm 90 defines a generation as 80 years. Also common experience and statistics as well show us that is the typical life span of a human. Matthew 24 says that the generation that sees the fig tree bloom will not pass away before all the things Jesus mentions in Matthew 24 are revealed. If we go past 2028 that would mean the generation has passed away. Thus I believe that 2028 is the end of the trib that Jesus describes on the Mount of Olives.

      Delete
    3. ...and the fig tree in bloom may very well be Israel expanding its borders and settlements as currently being defined and developed in advance of implementation of "The Vision".

      Delete
    4. When will Israel expand its borders, is it after the Psalm 83 war and is it a part of the Covenant with the Many which the antichrist will confirm?

      Delete
    5. I've interpreted 'putting forth leaves' as Israel becoming a recognized world power. When Netenyahu was running around signing lots of trade deals and meeting world leaders, I constantly was thinking of this interpretation.

      Delete
    6. So really, the answer is that it depends on what Jesus meant by "fig tree budding". Most prophecy teachers today believe that the first "bud" was Israel becoming a nation in 1948, but it is certainly possible that He meant something else. I too tend to think that Jesus meant 80 years since 1948 and thus we have at most until sometime in 2022 (the Rapture could happen not just up until, but also during the 73nd year). But if that date passes by and we're still here in 2023, I'd probably come to the conclusion we've misinterpreted things.

      Delete
  14. At https://www.politico.eu/article/commission-uncoordinated-exit-strategies-could-cause-political-friction/ "Brussels: Uncoordinated exit from coronavirus lockdowns risks ‘political friction’":

    "Brussels: Uncoordinated exit from coronavirus lockdowns risks ‘political friction’

    Commission document obtained by POLITICO sets out criteria for easing restrictions.

    By Jillian Deutsch and Bjarke Smith-Meyer

    4/14/20, 3:50 PM CET

    Updated 4/14/20, 6:42 PM CET

    The European Commission urged coordination between EU member countries when lifting their coronavirus confinement measures, according to a Commission document obtained by POLITICO.

    "A lack of coordination in lifting restrictive measures risks having negative effects for all Member States and is likely to give rise to political friction between Member States," the Commission wrote in its draft roadmap toward lifting COVID-19 containment measures.

    Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is expected to present the plan Wednesday afternoon. Meanwhile, countries are already planning national exit strategies."

    See also https://g8fip1kplyr33r3krz5b97d1-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/exit_strategy_B.pdf

    Very coincidental that the exit strategy from the Covid-19 lockdowns is planned right after Passover. Watch out, this can easily lead to the birth of the actual Revived Roman Empire, which will consist of 10 European nations!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Interesting comments. Still watching tomorrow 4/15/20. However, this article is definitely worth serious consideration, and left me with a strong sense of peace. Thank you, Stephanie

    ReplyDelete
  16. TEN-SEVENS HAS BEEN BREACHED!!!

    7,777,777,777 was breached at 10:28 PM (IDT) or 7:28 PM (UTC). The hour of this milestone is intriguing as is the minute. We need to acknowledge that this is not a precise counter but that it hit SO CLOSE TO 7:26 or 7:27 (UTC) has to be of some interest.

    I think this certainly qualifies as a sign and will take a closer look as time permits.

    Duty calls!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello to you, what doesn't seem to me, with this count, is that it counts everyone on earth, believers born again too, are in the total number. So if we remove an unknown number of believers, because only God knows his children, by faith alone in Jesus, the number is not yet reached?!?! I do not know if I explain well. This total indicates "all", unbelievers and believers. If we refer to the verse in the Bible, the total number must be Gentiles. The Gentiles do not believe in God, and when we come to Jesus, we are no longer among the Gentiles, well, I think, unless I am twisting the scriptures and I hope not! We are no longer Gentiles or Jews, we are a new creature in Jesus Christ. Can someone explain to me if I missed something please? Carole

      Delete
    2. Hi Carole,

      You catch my drift on the counter. It is all souls currently on the planet. How shall we count them if to break them up? I don't think we should over-think this metric save that it points to a significant number at a very interesting time both by hour and by season.

      God created man both male and female. That we appear to have reached this milestone now and under the current circumstances? It has the makings of a sign regardless of how we may want to parse the numbers. On the surface and at the most basic level this, IMHO has the makings of a sign -- one of many that are set before us.

      Delete
    3. In the times of Noah, there was a great population boom... and also the rise of men of great reknown (aka celebrities)

      I expect the counter itself is off, as it only uses statistics to try and calculate it. It's not like anyone has gone out and counted every single person... but is it ahead or behind the actual number? Only God knows :)

      Delete
    4. Agreed, Pastor Rich- very close to 726- but also Strongs 728 - arrabon- an earnest, earnest-money, a large part of the payment, given in advance as a security that the whole will be paid afterwards.

      Delete
    5. Yes, I saw that too. Interesting but I'm wondering if there is more to dig on?

      Delete
  17. Here's some copying and pasting of points of interest regarding a Pentecost rapture that seems to mesh well with this post.

    Was Pentecost fulfilled with the outpouring of God's spirit on Pentecost in Act's Chapter 2? As someone who believes in studying the Bible from a dispensational perspective, I've always been fascinated by by Jesus's quote of Isaiah in Luke 4:18.

    Luke 4:18 - The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,

    He stops shorts of reading the whole reference, at the point where Isaiah says, "and the day of vengeance of our God;". Why? Well, in hind sight we know that the conclusion of that prophecy in Isaiah was reserved for a yet further point in time. Jesus was well aware of the mystery kept secret since the world began. His partial quote was because of the future to be revealed pause in the prophetic continuation of Israel's program; until the forming of the Body of Christ had been completed.

    Isaiah 61:1-2
    1 The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;
    2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;

    Peter followed this same pattern on Pentecost.

    Act 2:16-17
    16 But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;
    17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:

    Here's the full prophesied picture given in Joel.

    Joel 2:28-31
    28 And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:
    29 And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.
    30 And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke.
    31 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and terrible day of the Lord come.

    In both instances we see a partial reference back to the prophets words and what's left out has been the day of vengeance / the great and terrible day of the Lord. Based on Peter's left out details on Pentecost, I think one can reasonably conclude that Pentecost has only been partially fulfilled, which seems interesting in light of the rapture being the next prophetic dispensational shift from the age of grace into the time of Jacob's Troubles. By Peter's words alone we have verification that the outpouring of the spirit at Pentecost is linked back to Joel. Therefore, we know that when the rest of the Pentecost is fulfilled, the sun will be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and terrible day of the Lord and with Psalm 18 being a picture of the rapture, there seems to be a link with sort of description connecting with the rapture.

    What does all of this indicate? Well, the rapture appears to be linked to the fulfillment of the rest of Joel 2:30-31, which is linked to Pentecost, through the partial quote given by Peter and testified by Peter to connect back with Joel.

    ReplyDelete

  18. Let's also consider the 120 connection between Solomon's temple and the soon the be completed temple that is the body of Christ. I am particularly fascinated by the “coincidence” that there were 120 priests who brought the ark of the covenant into the house of the Lord, which Solomon had built.

    2 Chronicles 5:12-13
    Also the Levites which were the singers, all of them of Asaph, of Heman, of Jeduthun, with their sons and their brethren, being arrayed in white linen, having cymbals and psalteries and harps, stood at the east end of the altar, and with them an hundred and twenty priests sounding with trumpets:)

    It came even to pass, as the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the LORD; and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of musick, and praised the LORD, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: that then the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of the LORD;

    Here is an example of prophetic foreshadowing. Just as God’s spirit would fill the house of the LORD with the 120 priests in Solomon’s Temple, so also did the 120 in the upper room at Pentecost (Acts 1:15) become temples filled by the Holy Spirit. Another such connection to Pentecost was Moses coming down from the mountain after having received the law, which lead to the death of “about 3,000 men” (Exodus 32:28), while we find that Peter’s preaching on Pentecost led to the saving of “about three thousand souls.”

    The Many Parallels of Sinai and Pentecost
    http://acts242study.com/they-many-parallels-of-sinai-and-pentecost/

    I find the 3,000 killed after Mount Sinai and the 3,000 saved after Pentecost particularly interesting due to the account of Moses on Mt. Sinai, which has elements consistent with the start of the “Day of the Lord” and also the rapture of the body of Christ.

    Exodus 19:9-20
    9 And the Lord said unto Moses, Lo, I come unto thee in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with thee, and believe thee for ever. And Moses told the words of the people unto the Lord. And the Lord said unto Moses, Go unto the people, and sanctify them to day and to morrow, and let them wash their clothes,
    11 And be ready against the third day: for the third day the Lord will come down in the sight of all the people upon mount Sinai.
    12 And thou shalt set bounds unto the people round about, saying, Take heed to yourselves, that ye go not up into the mount, or touch the border of it: whosoever toucheth the mount shall be surely put to death:
    13 There shall not an hand touch it, but he shall surely be stoned, or shot through; whether it be beast or man, it shall not live: when the trumpet soundeth long, they shall come up to the mount.
    14 And Moses went down from the mount unto the people, and sanctified the people; and they washed their clothes.
    15 And he said unto the people, Be ready against the third day: come not at your wives.
    16 And it came to pass on the third day in the morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud; so that all the people that was in the camp trembled.
    17 And Moses brought forth the people out of the camp to meet with God; and they stood at the nether part of the mount.
    18 And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the Lord descended upon it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly.
    19 And when the voice of the trumpet sounded long, and waxed louder and louder, Moses spake, and God answered him by a voice.
    20 And the Lord came down upon mount Sinai, on the top of the mount: and the Lord called Moses up to the top of the mount; and Moses went up.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Despite all these reasons to watch Pentecost, here's some info to consider if we make it past Pentecost.
    ____________________

    This coming Yom Teruah is 2550 (30+1260+1260) days before Yom Kippur in 2027, 1290 days before Passover day 7, and also 1335 days before Pentecost. Perhaps just as Israel fled into the wilderness from Pharaoh, who is described as a dragon by Ezekiel, so also might the nation of Israel again be fleeing from the anti-christ into the wilderness, on this anniversary date of Passover day 7, for their remaining 1260 days (times, time, and half a time) until a 2nd Coming on Yom Kippur. Interestingly, Leviticus defines the 7th day of Passover as a sabbath day and it's always in winter. Obviously, this scenario is strengthened by the idea of the "daily" that is taken away being the living sacrifice, which is the body of Christ. This then gives way for the anti-christ to be revealed after the restrainer is removed, but yet prior to the Tribulation, which would in this scenario start 30 days later, when the two witness's ministry would need to start on Adar 1st, which I've read is traditionally believed to be the anniversary of the plague of darkness. Perhaps Pentecost will again be a day for the outpouring of the holy spirit, which in this case might be a "blessed day" because it could be for the sealing of the 144,000. Here's some more notes that pertain to this idea.

    Note: Looking at the government start date for Israel in 1949, when using 360 prophetic year intervals of time, this coming Feast of Trumpets could be considered to fall in the 73rd year, which gives just enough time to fit in the tribulation before reaching the end of the 80th year count, when counting in this manner.

    Note: www.37X73.com uncovers an insane amount of patterns related to God's triune # of 3 and God's heptadic # 7. Therefore, a 73rd year rapture after the fig tree's rebirth seems consistent with biblical number patterns to fit the tribulation in, before the 2nd Coming.

    Note: 9/11 in 3 BC & 9/18/2020 are both at the START of Yom Teruah, so if the Star of Bethlehem revealed the timing of his birth during the Feast of Trumpets, then so also might the body be born on the same day. Also, based on an inclusive 8 day count, Jesus would have been circumcised on the Gregorian day of 9/18. This might therefore be a fitting day for the body of Christ to be cut off, so to speak, from the earth, which is compared to a womb for those being resurrected.

    Note: The Fig tree was given 3+1 years to bear fruit. Might those years reflect the time between the Revelation 12 Sign on 9/23/17 and the feast of trumpets on 9/18/2020?

    Note: From the potential "blessed day" when the 1335 day count ends on Shavuot of 5/15/2024 until the potential 2nd Coming of Jesus on Yom Kippur of 9/12/2027, there are 1215 days. Interestingly, the gematria value of Christ, Come, Midnight, & Save each have a total of 1215. The 1st location of the G3317 (Midnight) is in Acts Chapter 16, which mirrors up perfects with the rapture. The verse with a sum of 1215 is Genesis 9:8 and is God speaking to Noah to establish his covenant of the rainbow.

    Note: The bible records the first day of the first month as when Noa opened the covering of the Ark, so he seems to have seen the new world for the first time on Yom Teruah. Might our 1st glimpse of heaven be on the 1st day of the year?

    Note: the Priests didn't wear their fancy breastplate on Yom Kippur, but rather wore plainer white attire. This attire seems most reflective of how Jesus is described in the intro of Revelations, which seems to nod to Yom Kippur as the timing of the 2nd Coming.

    Note: the Days of Awe span from Yom Teruah to Yom Kippur and may be reflective of the timeframe from the rapture to the 2nd Coming. Interestingly, if true this would position those seeing him coming in the clouds and trying to go hide, as most likely occuring during the Days of Awe right before Yom Teruah.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Interesting, your timeline looks much like mine. I may model it quickly to see how they compare.

      Delete
    2. well done......Rapture must occur on appointed time, in my opinion. Next watch is Pentecost 2020. Feast of Trumpets next. I am more in favor of Pentecost. This would allow time for Arab war with Israel, and Gog/Magog war. Trib would start on Feast of Trumpets.

      Delete
    3. Pastor Rich,

      I put my thoughts into a .pdf and have various stuff calculated in an excel file too. If you're interested, here's a Google drive link to download the .pdf file, which also has embedded in it, a link at the very bottom to get the excel file, if you want it.

      https://drive.google.com/file/d/14WzUzLGbUjY9tHACcxU-iUFRoCc41QQe/view?usp=drivesdk

      Constructive criticism is always appreciate.

      Thanks!

      Delete
    4. Hi Brandon,

      I just found this thanks to the prompting of the HS. Will take a look and happy to share but happier that so many of us are looking up!

      PR

      Delete
  20. More from Grace Through Faith regarding numbers (not of the world population, but the number of BELIEVERS, i.e., the "Fullness of the Gentiles"):
    The fullness of the Gentiles is from Romans 11:25, part of a passage by Paul about the end times redemption of Israel. It says. “I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in.” It’s only one verse but it contains several important components.

    The partial hardening of Israel is also called blindness and refers to a diminished capacity for mental discernment, or a dulled perception. This is the condition Jesus pronounced upon Israel when they failed to recognize Him as their Messiah (Luke 19:41-44).

    The phrase full number (or fullness) refers to a specific number of gentiles who will “come in” before the partial hardening of Israel is removed. To “come in” means to arrive at a scheduled destination, as in “what time does your flight come in?”

    The removal of this blindness begins when the people in Israel officially renew their Old Testament relationship with God and need a Temple again. This will mark the beginning of Daniel’s 70th Week and according to Paul will happen after the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. I think the battle foretold in Ezekiel 38-39 will prompt this. Ezekiel 39:22 tells us, “From that day forward the House of Israel will know that I am the Lord their God.”

    That tells us the phrase fullness (full number) of the Gentiles doesn’t mean each and every Gentile, but only those who are part of a group that will arrive at its scheduled destination before the blindness is lifted. This is a reference to the rapture of the Church, which will contain a specific number of members. When that full number has been reached, we’ll be taken from earth to our place in “my Father’s house” to be with the Lord (John 14:1-3).

    After the Church is gone, Israel’s spiritual eyes will begin to open, at first only so far as to bring them back into their Old Covenant relationship. That’s why they’ll need a Temple. Then toward the end of Daniel’s 70th Week the Lord will pour out His Spirit of grace and supplication and they’ll finally recognize their Messiah (Zechariah 12:10).

    In Acts 15:13-18 we see the same sequence of events. First the Lord will take (carry away) from the Gentiles a people for Himself (the Church). Then David’s fallen tabernacle (the Temple) will be rebuilt. Then the remnant of men, both Jew and Gentile, will have one last chance to seek Him.
    * * * *
    Of that 7,777,777,777 people count, how many are gentiles who still need to come in before the Church will be raptured?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. So well put Jenny! So well put. How many Gentiles are left to come in? All I know is we're not there yet.

      That leave us to keep caring, keep sharing and keep praying doesn't it?

      Delete
  21. I AM BLOWN AWAY at how the Spirit is getting poured out among you all! The articles, comments and writing has been so inspired lately! I marvel at it and am overjoyed at the outpouring!

    God is so, so good!

    ReplyDelete
  22. James has gotten a lot of misunderstanding over the years.
    "You have Faith....I'll show you my Faith by my works"
    The David's and Abraham's have works of Faith!
    But let Faith have its perfect work!
    Works of Faith, cause without it you don't get in.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You won't find many takers here. The only "work of faith" necessary for salvation is to believe in the One God has sent (Jn. 6:29). Anything else is a false gospel (Rm. 4:5; Eph. 2:8-9).

      "Works of faith" is essentially the Catholic doctrine produced at Trent when they declared the whole Protestant/Evangelical movement heretical.

      Delete
    2. Thats where James gets misunderstood "Catholicism" and the like.
      Lets frame it another way:
      Works of believe,Romans 10:10-17.
      "For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."
      And Galatians 3:2
      Hebrews 11:13

      Delete
    3. Believing in God is no proof that you are justified by faith alone for even devils believe without justification James 2:19. It is clear from Gen. 22 that Abraham proved his faith in God when he was asked to offer up Isaac as a sacrifice. It was faith that led him to this act of obedience. Had he refuse to obey it would have demonstrated that he had no faith in God or his word. It is also clear that this act of faith and works was not his initial justification by faith that was at least 40 to 50 years before offering Isaac.

      Faith without works is dead, works without faith is dead, neither is complete in itself it is like fire burning without fuel and fuel burning without fire.

      James 2:14 This refers to those who say they have faith and that works are not necessary in Christian living. It does not say they have real and activate faith but they say they have. Can faith alone save? James is not referring to initial justifying faith, but to the demonstration of Christian faith before men. Christianity demands of his followers good works to all men. One is not justified by works, but justified ones must do them to prove their Christian consecration.

      Delete
  23. James 2:024 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
    See the connection He makes, works of Faith!

    ReplyDelete
  24. While studying Temple in the Wilderness you find the simplest
    expression of Christianity from beginning to end in the Old Testament.

    The Tabernacle was the shadow cast by the word of God to be fulfilled in the time of the promised Messiah. Beginning in the time of Moses, it’s rites and rituals have pointed the people of the tribes of Israel directly at the Messiah. After the rejection of Jesus, the Jews continue as they were, under the law, awaiting their Messiah right into the present day.

    The alter of burnt offering where two kinds of sacrifices were offered: the sin, and the trespass.
    Trespass, is where man usually starts when he talks about sin.
    The sin offering was for that condition.

    In the New Testament, it’s not the blood of animals, its the blood of one Christ, Jesus is the propitiation, the one who paid the price.
    The words already nigh you, it’s in your mouth, speak it forth, for with the heart man believeth and with the mouth declaration is made unto salvation.

    As God decreed a plan involving the laying on of hands, for Old Testament transactions, all you have to do, where ever you are, is believe that God laid on him the iniquity of us all, and you step out from underneath, and stand redeemed, by simply believing, and hanging the body in a act of using the tongue.
    Now, you’re inside! Inside the fence, covered with the righteousness of Christ.

    I think James has been bastardized by the "Catholics and the likes"

    ReplyDelete


Recommended

[Top Post][grids]

World News

[Top World News][bleft]

Highlights

[Highlights][twocolumns]

Bible Study

[Bible Study][list]

Astronomy

[Astronomy][bleft]

Politics

[Political][twocolumns]

Wolf Watch

[Wolves][bsummary]

Birth Pangs

[Birth Pangs][bleft]

Archaeology

[Archaeology][twocolumns]

Science

[Top Science][list]

In-Depth Articles

[In-Depth][bleft]