The day of Pentecost or rather the word Pentecost is not strange even among Sunday- observing Christians.
The day of Pentecost or rather the word Pentecost is not strange even among Sunday-
observing Christians. Pentecost is referred to as Shavuot in Hebrew. It is known universally
as the day on which the apostles were filled with the HOLY SPIRIT after the ascension of
Messiah (Christ) as recorded in Acts 2:4. As such, those Christians that believe in speaking in
tongues and other manifestations of the HOLY SPIRIT refer themselves to as Pentecostals.
Other Christians keep it on a day known to them as the day of the Holy Spirit. Always
falling on a Sunday, this date was derived from an incorrect count of the Omer. They
erroneously count from the morrow after the weekly Sabbath of the feast of Unleavened
Bread rather than the first High Day Sabbath of the same as instructed in Leviticus 23:15-
16.This manner of counting has its origin from the Sadducees of whom Messiah said they
err "because they do not know the Scriptures" (Mat 22:29).
However the correct way of counting Omer and that was followed by the apostles; require
starting from the morrow of the first High Day Sabbath of the feast of unleavened bread.
Referring to the Pharisees, Messiah said "the Scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses' seat; do
what they say but not what they do" (Mat 23:2-3). They meticulously followed matters of the
law (even offering tithe of mint). They relayed all correct teachings but lacked the power of
the HOLY SPIRIT to guide them to believe in Yahshua. He always criticized them as
hypocrites. Unlike the Sadducees who neither acknowledged Angels nor resurrection, they
(Scribes and the Pharisees) believed in both and as such it's not surprising that the apostles
identified more with them as we see Paul do at one point (Acts 23:6-8).
It is worth noting that there are Sabbath-keepers who have deviated from the original
observance on Sivan 6 to Sunday-Pentecost so that one is not caught unawares.
COUNTING THE OMER
In Leviticus 23:11-16, and Leviticus16:9-10, we read, "And you shall count unto you from
the morrow after the Sabbath from the day you brought the sheaf of the wave offering, 7
Sabbaths shall be complete". Note that Sabbath or end of a week has been used in this case
meaning a period of 7 days same as you would say "I spent a week in hospital not necessarily
meaning from the first day of the week to the last day of the same. Note that in Acts 2:1 it
says, "When the day of Pentecost was FULLY come..."
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE DAY
Like all the seven annual Sabbaths, the day of Pentecost has a great meaning in GOD's plan
of salvation to mankind. In the Old Testament, it is on this day that the Ten Commandments
were given. Exodus 19, the chapter preceding the one with the Ten Commandments, gives us
the countdown to this spectacular event.
The children of Israel camped at the foot of Mount Sinai on the first day of the third month
(Ex 19:1-2).Moses was to consecrate them before the 3 rd day by requiring them to wash their
clothes and abstain from marital relationship as a sign of sanctification (verse 10). They were
also instructed to keep off the mount on the material day.
The LORD came down on the 3 rd day which fell on 6 th Sivan (the third month of the Hebrew
calendar). This event was accompanied by earthquake, thunder, fire and smoke on the
mountain as ELOHIM descends on it in a cloud.
In (Acts 2:1), we read "When the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were gathered in one
place and suddenly, there were sounds of a mighty wind from heaven and the HOLY SPIRIT
came down upon them. This is the fulfillment of the promise that Elohim would write HIS
law in people's hearts as recorded in Jer. 31:33-34. Engraving of the law in the believers'
hearts is the second giving of the law so that they're able to keep it because of the grace that
came with the atoning Yahshua's blood.
DID MESSIAH KEEP PENTECOST?
Although not explicitly recorded in the gospels that Messiah kept Pentecost, we know that
from childhood He was a Feast Observer. He was at one time left at the temple by His parents
and even when it was risky for Him, He still went up to Jerusalem (Jon 7:1-11).
The fact that He gave the HOLY SPIRIT to the apostles while they were gathered on this
particular day is proof that it is a custom they continued to observe even after His ascension.
Otherwise, why would they be gathered together on an ordinary day?
In Acts 20:6, Paul, the belated apostle who instructs us to emulate him as he imitates Messiah
says that he determined to be in Jerusalem on Pentecost.
Colossians 2:16 is one of the scriptures that many preachers twist to their own destruction as
Peter says of Paul's letters in (2 Pet 3:16). While it clearly says, "Let none judge you
concerning Feasts, Holy days, New-moons and the Sabbath days." They interpret that
Christians should not be judged for not observing them making them non-doers and consider
those who observe them as un-liberated believers who are still under the law rather than
"grace". Moreover, Paul refers to all these things as shadows of what is yet to come. There is
no object without a shadow and as we all know, a shadow takes a person to where the object
is located. For you to be associated with the object, you must first be associated with the
shadow. However, when we get to the object or rather the body, (which is Messiah) we will
not need the shadow anymore.
CONCLUSION
In keeping the weekly Sabbath, we declare that we recognize GOD as the creator of heaven
and earth and all that is there in. In Genesis 1:14-17, we read, "And GOD made two great
lights, one to rule by day and the other by night and to divide seasons. Had both the Sun and
the Moon not been made, there would still have been day and night as light was made and
separated from darkness on the first day (Gen 1:3-5) and they (sun and moon) on the 4 th (Gen
1: 17-19). At this juncture you can pause and visualize how dull a day and dark a night would
be. This is how the the spiritual life of a believer would be without Feasts as we're about to
In Hebrew, the word season has a much deeper/spiritual meaning than the four seasons we
know. Season/festival/feast means a time set apart by GOD for the purpose of meeting HIS
people. In Ex 31:13, God told the children of Israel to keep His Sabbaths as they're a sign
between Him and His people throughout generations that they may know He is the LORD
that sanctifies them. Ezekiel20:12 imply that it is in keeping the Sabbaths that we become
sanctified or set apart. It looks like a reciprocating act where you receive because you gave;
that is, it is by sanctifying what HE sanctified that you'll be sanctified.
In keeping the New moons, the Annual Sabbaths and the Feasts, we declare that we recognize
GOD as the Ruler (in addition to being the Maker of the universe). In so doing, we fit into
HIS plan of salvation for mankind rather than try to make HIM fit into our own.
The point here is that Elohim has given us a laid out plan where Messiah will reign for a
thousand years with His saints (Dan 7:27) (Rev 5:9-10), (Rev 20:4,) and the famous beatitude
"Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth", and the ensuing rule of GOD Himself
in Rev 21:3 which is a realistic hope that all Feast-keepers believe in.
Back to all articles