Today is the Sabbath in the midst of Days of Unleavened Bread. It was after this specific Sabbath that the wave sheaf offering happened. It is also the Sabbath after which the count to Pentecost begins.
[Significance of the Wave Sheaf]
We keep in a different way than the other feast days. All the other Holy Days are on fixed dates. Because we are asked to count each year this should show that it should not/ cannot happen on a fixed date – otherwise why not just give us the exact day?
Why Count?
Let’s look at the instructions
Leviticus 23:15 ‘And you shall count for yourselves from the day after the Sabbath, from the day that you brought the sheaf of the wave offering: seven Sabbaths shall be completed.
Leviticus 23:16 Count fifty days to the day after the seventh Sabbath; then you shall offer a new grain offering to the LORD.
We are given two different ways to count. So, counting has a significant aspect to play in day of Pentecost. It is such an important part of the day that God gives us two ways to count – why?
Count 7 seven’s
Count 50
Numbers have a significance in the Bible
There was a reason that God used 50 – because He reveals things to us in numbers. We know about 10 (commandments and plagues), 12 (tribes and apostles), 40 (days/nights rain; days of fasting; years of wandering in the wilderness) etc.
God gave this to us to help us understand the meaning of the day and it should be noted that these two different ways go hand in hand.
Meaning of 7
Seven days of creation; Seven days of unleavened bread in which we are to come completely out of sin; Seven holy days, seven churches, seven angels to the seven churches, seven seals, and the seven last plagues. The first resurrection of the dead takes place at the 7th trumpet, completing salvation for the Church.
Completion/perfection seven times over, in this way it signifies spiritual perfection.
Seven Sabbaths shall be completed and then we have a new beginning.
Meaning of 50
Many instances of 50 in the Bible but the most significant are the ones relating to time – not quantity or numbers of items.
Jubilee
There are correlations in the plan of God between holy days. We see reconciliation throughout all of the days and different harvests for instance.
One of the correlations in the Bible can be seen in the Counting of the Jubilee and Pentecost.
Similarities in the Count
Notice the instruction in Leviticus 25:8 in light of what we have read about counting the Day of Pentecost and we see that they complement one another.
Leviticus 25:8 ‘And you shall count [same word as in Lev 23:15] seven sabbaths of years for yourself, seven times seven years; and the time of the seven sabbaths of years shall be to you forty-nine years.
Leviticus 23:15 ‘And you shall count for yourselves from the day after the Sabbath, from the day that you brought the sheaf of the wave offering: seven Sabbaths shall be completed.
Leviticus 25:10 And you shall consecrate the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty ….
Leviticus 25:11 That fiftieth year shall be a Jubilee to you….
Themes associated with the Jubilee
1. Coming out of Bondage
Typically once in every adults life-time they got to experience a Jubilee year
After 50 years they get the land back and are able use it to do business. They are no longer in a state of servitude no is there any more debt. After the 50 years they became free.
2. Forgiveness
Deliverance and freedom
The 50th Year
Leviticus 25:10 And you shall consecrate the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout all the land to all its inhabitants. It shall be a Jubilee [yobel] for you; and each of you shall return to his possession, and each of you shall return to his family.
This blast or teruah of the shofar was to sound and bring a message of liberty and freedom to all the people! Everyone was to get his inheritance back and be reunited with family.
Imagine having your debt wiped away – how jubilant would you be!
God put into place a system by which the land that He had given them would not be forever lost and also gave them the means by which they could be family once again.
Leviticus 25:10 And you shall consecrate the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout all the land to all its inhabitants….
3. Law
Now notice that it was necessary to follow God’s instructions and be obedient
Leviticus 25:18 ‘So you shall observe My statutes and keep My judgments, and perform them; and you will dwell in the land in safety. [giving the law at Pentecost] Leviticus 25:19 Then [because you have the law] the land will yield its fruit, and you will eat your fill, and dwell there in safety.
4. Redemption
Leviticus 25:16 According to the multitude of years you shall increase its price, and according to the fewer number of years you shall diminish its price; for he sells to you according to the number of the years of the crops.
Leviticus 25:23 ‘The land shall not be sold permanently, for the land is Mine; for you are strangers and sojourners with Me. [so they wouldn’t go into slavery, like they had been in Egypt].
Leviticus 25:24 And in all the land of your possession you shall grant redemption of the land.
Leviticus 25:25 ‘If one of your brethren becomes poor, and has sold some of his possession, and if his redeeming relative comes to redeem it, then he may redeem what his brother sold.
Leviticus 25:26 Or if the man has no one to redeem it, but he himself becomes able to redeem it,
Leviticus 25:27 then let him count the years since its sale, and restore the remainder to the man to whom he sold it, that he may return to his possession.
Leviticus 25:28 But if he is not able to have it restored to himself, then what was sold shall remain in the hand of him who bought it until the Year of Jubilee; and in the Jubilee it shall be released, and he shall return to his possession.
Redemption for sure in the 50th year
New beginning!
So when the Israelites thought of 50, especially in this manner when it applied to them specifically, you know that it had a particular and special meaning.
How should we then view these 50 days and the count towards Pentecost
Parallel Meaning for Us
Pentecost ultimately represents the harvest of the first fruits. The final fulfillment of the day is the salvation of the first-called and the culmination of our walk in this life. This represents the days of our salvation.
The 50 days of Pentecost represent our life’s walk out of sin and slavery, through forgiveness and redemption, towards salvation as spirit beings.
This incorporates the Jubilee, 50 years and the meaning of Pentecost together.
1. We Were in Bondage
1 John 5:19 We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one.
2 Timothy 2:24 And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient,
2 Timothy 2:25 in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth,
2 Timothy 2:26 and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.
Hebrews 2:14 Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil,
Hebrews 2:15 and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
Romans 6:5 For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection,
Romans 6:6 knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.
Romans 6:7 For he who has died has been freed from sin.
Part of the understanding of the Jubilee is that you are not to become a slave again because God brought you out of Egypt which is sin. We aren’t to return to this – hence the Jubilee rules
We are to continually make sure that we do not fall back into his grip.
1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.
1 Peter 5:9 Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.
There is a release from the bondage of Satan and the sway he has over us and the sin that he causes us to do by which we incur a debt – the penalty of sin that can only be paid by the atoning/covering sacrifice of our High Priest.
2. We had a Debt that Needed Forgiving
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
1 John 2:2 And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.
John 1:29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!
No longer will the debt of sin be a factor because we now have forgiveness.
You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men. 1 Corinthians 7:23
3. The Law of God sets us free
1 John 5:2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments.
1 John 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.
John 8:31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed.
John 8:32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
John 8:33 They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can You say, ‘You will be made free’?”
John 8:34 Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin.
John 8:35 And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever.
John 8:36 Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.
4. Redemption – Now and Later
Definition: the action of regaining or gaining possession of something in exchange for payment, or clearing a debt.
It most simply means: to buy back.
Hebrews 9:15 And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.
Hebrews 9:11 But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation.
Hebrews 9:12 Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.
50 Years of Conversion
Let’s look at another 50 that is not so obvious. You will not find this in the Bible directly.
The age adulthood begins:
Exodus 30:14 Everyone included among those who are numbered, from twenty years old and above, shall give an offering to the LORD.
Numbers 1:3 from twenty years old and above—all who are able to go to war in Israel. You and Aaron shall number them by their armies.
Numbers 32:11 ‘Surely none of the men who came up from Egypt, from twenty years old and above, shall see the land of which I swore to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, because they have not wholly followed Me,
How long we have to live:
Psalms 90:10 The days of our lives are seventy years; And if by reason of strength they are eighty years, Yet their boast is only labor and sorrow; For it is soon cut off, and we fly away.
Current average age of death in the world: 71.1 years
Worldwide, the average life expectancy at birth was 71 years (70 years for males and 72 years for females) over the period 2010–2015 according to United Nations World Population Prospects 2015 Revision, or 69 years (67 years for males and 71.1 years for females) for 2016 according to The World Factbook.
In other words we have 50 years as an adult – 20 to 70. In the church this would be 50 years of conversion – from the time of accountability until 70. There is some variance that Psalm 90 accounts for and we realize that some are called later in life – but we know God is in charge.
During these 50 days in the count to Pentecost we are to evaluate the 50 years that we have been given to walk in this way of life.
Our Count to the day of Pentecost
Ephesians 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,
Ephesians 1:4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world [a plan, not playing it by ear], that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love,
This is what Christ wants and expects of us. This is what we are to be doing. How are we living our lives now that we have come out of sin. We need to be evaluating our lives and our walk NOW and how it measures up to our Elder Brother. In some respects, I think this is more a time of introspection than the days leading up to Passover. With Passover the main focus is and should be Christ. When we take the Passover in a right manner we are to focus on Jesus and the symbols of footwashing, bread and wine that He gave to us and what that means. Then we enter the Days of Unleavened Bread and it pictures the removing of sin and replacing it with Christ in us. As we then begin our walk towards Salvation we need to focus on we are doing our part.
Are we holy, clean and set apart? As the temple of the holy spirit, are we pure and undefiled? This is what we need to be asking ourselves.
Ephesians 1:5 having predestined us to adoption [sonship] as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will,
In this plan these are the days of our salvation, our walk, our 50 years that we are to be counting.
Ephesians 1:6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.
Christ was accepted before God on this day of the wave sheaf. It was waved and accepted before God. Now as we progress toward Pentecost and the wave loaves, which are to happen 50 days from today, we are to be marching in an acceptable manner so that we can be presentable before God.
Ephesians 1:7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace
This is the redemption that allows us to come out of sin and be forgiven. It is the first redemption (on the front end) and points to the final redemption at the return of Christ.
Ephesians 1:8 which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence,
Ephesians 1:9 having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself,
Ephesians 1:10 that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth—in Him.
Fullness of times: the full completion; 7×7; perfection
Ephesians 1:11 In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will,
God will work with us as long as we stay in the game
Ephesians 1:12 that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory.
Ephesians 1:13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,
Another aspect of the day of Pentecost; the holy spirit is one of the better promises of the new covenant along with the inheritance:
Ephesians 1:14 which is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.
The final redemption is the culmination of what we are working towards.
Fullness and Completion
This is where the 7×7 comes in. It represents spiritual perfection!
We are to go on to perfection and we are to become perfect like God is; the only way that we achieve this is through God in us.
Ephesians 4:13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;
What we see then is that 50 represents a fullness and completion
Acts 2:1 When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
When it is fully complete the 50th day becomes a new beginning. It is ultimately the time that we have on earth in which we are to complete an acceptable life that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather us together with Him as completely spirit beings.
Redeem the time
Ephesians 5:14 Therefore He says: “Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light.”
Ephesians 5:15 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise,
Ephesians 5:16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
We are to be making the most of our 50 days and 50 years
we have a finite amount of time
Romans 13:11 And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.
Romans 13:12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.
Romans 13:13 Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy.
Romans 13:14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.
We are to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Conclusion
During the 50 days leading up to Pentecost we are to evaluate our lives – and ask ourselves if we are using our time wisely. Because there is a time coming soon where we will have give a count of our days to God. (Romans 14:12)
We are to realize that God has given us a limited time before we are judged whether we are acceptable before God…or not.
Psalms 90:12 So teach us to number our days….
As we follow the admonition to “count for ourselves.”
Leviticus 23:15 ‘And you shall count for yourselves from the day after the Sabbath, from the day that you brought the sheaf of the wave offering: seven Sabbaths shall be completed.