WHAT IS SHABUOTH WHAT IS PENTECOST

The main thing to keep in mind is that Shabuoth is a wedding anniversary. It commemorates the day Yahuah and Yisharal entered into the Everlasting Covenant. Yisharal was not "born" at Sinai (Mt. Horeb), Yisharal entered into the marriage covenant with the Maker of Heaven and Earth, Yahuah. At the first Shabuoth, the Covenant was inscribed in stone tablets. Acts 2 records this same Covenant being written in men's hearts. The first event at Sinai was an offer or betrothal. The second was a confirmation. The third event will occur at Yahusha's return, and be the consummation of the marriage.

Shabuoth is Hebrew for "weeks" (Shabua means "week"), based on the Hebrew word for "seven", SHEBA. Seven weeks after the deliverance, Yisharal entered into the Everlasting Covenant with Yahuah, and it is the day Yahuah "gave" His TORAH to Yisharal, to share with all the world's nations. "Giving" is different from "receiving". At Acts 2, Yisharal "received" the TORAH into their hearts, and the 120 Natsarim gathered in the upper room at the Temple were the first to receive this living Spirit, the Mind of Yahuah into their hearts. The "giving" of TORAH occurred 50 days after the Exodus from Egypt; but there is some dispute among Yahusha's followers as to when to "count" the 50 days (Pentecost is Greek for "count 50"). Unless we "receive" a love for TORAH, we will perish:

The Orthodox "rabbis" practicing the religion called "Judaism" (teachings which descend from the sect of the Prushim, or "Pharisees") always begin the count to Shabuoth from the "morrow after the Sabbath", being the annual Sabbath of the first day of Matsah. The first day of Matsah is on Abib 15, so they observe the Wave-Sheaf offering (First-Fruits) on Abib 16 every year. This ignores an important "Messianic" element, the "sign of Yonah", which only Natsarim seem to be aware of. The understanding of "First-Fruits" being the resurrection of Yahusha is vital, but the "sign of Yonah" is also linked to the resurrection.

The starting point becomes obvious when we look at these two things; First-Fruits, and the sign of Yonah. First-Fruits, or "Wave-Sheaf" was the resurrection, and the week Yahusha rose it involved the "sign of Yonah". This is why many of us track First-Fruits by the "morrow after the Sabbath", being the weekly Sabbath.

When the 15^th of Abib coincides with a weekly Sabbath, it’s fine to begin the count of the omer from the 16^th of Abib. The Wave-Sheaf is "First-Fruits", and is a "shadow" of Yahusha's resurrection. The “barley” sheaf represents Yahusha’s resurrected body, “waving” because it was stilled, but began to “move” again after being “harvested” (killed). The week of His resurrection, He would not allow Miryam to touch Him because He had not yet ascended to present Himself; and this happened well beyond Abib 16 that particular week. When Yahusha was placed into the tomb, the 15th of the moon fell on what is today called a “Woden’s day” just before sunset, and “Thor’s day” of that week was the annual Sabbath.

The Pharisees (Orthodox rabbis) who don’t believe in Yahusha don’t have this sign of Yonah, so they err in reckoning the starting point. After 3 nights and 3 days, at the close of the weekly Sabbath, He rose from the dead. The “morrow” (1^st day of the week) after the Sabbath He presented Himself before Yahuah as the Wave-Sheaf (First-Fruits) offering, fulfilled by His resurrection because His body was the fulfillment represented by the Wave Sheaf. The week Yahusha was buried, He was dead and in the tomb on Abib 16, so He did not resurrect as First-Fruits until the end of the weekly Sabbath. He presented Himself as First-Fruits on the "morrow after the Sabbath", sometime AFTER being discovered by Miryam at the garden tomb.

If First-Fruits is not determined by counting from the weekly Sabbath, and First-Fruits is always observed on Abib 16, then Yahusha missed it and did not present Himself as the First-born (First-Fruits) from the dead at the correct time, and the “sign of Yonah” (3 days and 3 nights) failed as the sign He offered that He is the Mashiach. We know this is not the case, and the correct understanding solves this perfectly. Yahusha was in the tomb on Abib 16 during Matsah, and did not wave Himself until 3 nights and 3 days after His death and burial. So, the reason the Orthodox err in their setting the observance of First-Fruits is that they don’t have a clue that it is a shadow-picture of Yahusha’s resurrection. Christians don’t seem to know it either, since they have no observance reflecting the Wave-Sheaf (First-Fruits) offering. Sadly, many Natsarim teachers are misinformed about this also, and they are following the pattern of those who do not believe Yahusha is the Mashiach of Yisharal.

The reconciliation of both Christianity and Judaism is the faith of the Natsarim, the original sect of believers who followed Yahusha.

Before the Resurrection of Yahusha, what was the most significant event in all of human history?

An event that shook the world: SHABUOTH (today referred to as “Pente-cost”, the Greek word, “count 50”)

I just watched the video, and have actually viewed it not too long ago with my children! Excellent.

How about the baked bread of two loaves of newly harvested wheat, a fine flour with leaven? How about traditions of eating dairy during this feast? How about all the sacrifices?

Is our Torah obedience referring to the 10 Commandments and the Levitical laws on food? What about 613 laws of the Torah?

The ultimate sacrifice of Yahusha Ha Mashiach redeemed us and fulfilled the law of sin offerings I know,

but how do we define for ourselves what needs to be observed and what has been fulfilled?

I have watched many of the videos on Torah Institute and Torah Zone etc. They are inspiring and information packed.

By the way, I have been listening to Michael Rood’s videos also…and saw a comment by Lew recently. His teaching style is very dynamic.

Concerning some of your questions about Shabuoth, and which “laws” we are to observe today:

Before the Resurrection of Yahusha, the most significant event in human history was the giving of the Ten Commandments at Horeb (Sinai) to the nation of Yisharal. It is called “Shabuoth” (weeks, the plural of shabua, “week”). The Resurrection, then the outpouring of His Spirit into His obedient followers enabling them to walk in the power of His Spirit, brings eternal life into a Temple made without human hands. Obviously, the 120 Natsarim (first followers were known as Natsarim, Acts 24:5) were obediently gathering together on Shabuoth in the upper room. That Temple built with hands was destroyed by Titus in 70 CE. There is now a “3rd Temple”, and it is being built-up even now, without hands. It is a Spiritual Temple, made up of “living stones”, the Natsarim who obey Yahuah’s Commandments, and hold to the testimony of Yahusha (Rev. 12:17, 14:12). Yahusha is alive forevermore, and He indwells us now (His Temple), because we have repented and obeyed Him through our pledge (at immersion), having received Him and a love for His Covenant.

The “613 laws” are referred to in the Talmud, and these are the sum of every directive found in the Torah. The Talmud is an unnecessary “addition” (yeast of the Pharisees) that puffs-up, inflates, and burdens its adherents. It is held out by men referring to themselves as “rabbis”, self-exalted teachers demanding respect through this title which means “my exalted one”. They impose additional boundaries and restrictions through their successful efforts to promote “forms of righteousness”, while forbidding their students from calling on the Name of Deliverance.

These 613 laws described by the Talmud are made up of the Covenant that defines sin (Dt. 5 for example), along with many other instructions that reveal Yahuah’s instructions for proper living (our walk), such as Leviticus / Wayyiqra chapters 11, 13, 19, & 23, and others in Debarim. The way we can distinguish which instructions apply to our walk today is by making the determination of whether an instruction is “moral” (defining what is considered sinful behavior), or “ceremonial” (atoning for sinful behavior). The former priesthood was in existence with its imperfect high priest, priests, Temple, and sacrifices until the fullness of time arrived, when the ultimate, permanent offering was finished. The debt was paid in full, and we who believe in Yahusha’s atoning blood for our sins actively trust and obey. We have the commission to teach the nations to repent, and be immersed in the Name of Yahusha for the forgiveness of their sins, as we have done.

Some of the 613 directives were for the priests, some for men only, and others for women only. Some concerned offerings for sin, some for tithing to support the priesthood and Temple, and others to be taught to all men for moral uprightness.

To observe Shabuoth, we observe the day exactly as we are told, minus the sacrifices performed by the priesthood. This year we will recognize the day of Shabuoth as sunset on May 18 (the end of the weekly Sabbath day) to sunset on May 19. It is our “wedding anniversary”, since Yahuah betrothed Yisharal as His bride through the Ten Commandments (the Covenant), and she said she accepted His betrothal by committing to obey all He said. It is not a “birthday” (that’s a zodiac/beast behavior, rebellious to Yahuah, held in esteem by witches). Reflecting the wedding itself at Sinai, the Shekinah descended upon the mountain, and Yahuah SPOKE into the whole Earth His Covenant. All mankind could understand, no matter their distinct languages. Likewise, the Shekinah descended upon MEN as a visible manifestation of FIRE, and enabled by Yahusha’s Spirit now in them, Yahusha SPOKE through them, and all who heard them understood perfectly.

As the anniversary of our wedding, Shabuoth is the “morrow after the 7th Sabbath”, so it always occurs on the 1st day of the week, counted from the day of the Wave offering (First-fruits) during Matsah. It is “seven completely intact weeks” (49 days), up to the day following the morrow after the 7th Sabbath. Christianity disconnected from this due to Constantine.

At the Council of Nicaea in 325 CE, Constantine “the Great” declared to the assembled bishops that “Passover” and all the customs of the Yahudim were to be avoided entirely:

"It was, in the first place, declared improper to follow the custom of the Jews in the celebration of this holy festival, because, their hands having been stained with crime, the minds of these wretched men are necessarily blinded . . . . Let us, then, have nothing in common with the Jews, who are our adversaries. . . . Let us . . . studiously avoiding all contact with that evil way . . . . For how can they entertain right views on any point who, after having compassed the death of the Lord, being out of their minds, are guided not by sound reason, but by an unrestrained passion, wherever their innate madness carries them . . . . lest your pure minds should appear to share in the customs of a people so utterly depraved . . . . Therefore, this irregularity must be corrected, in order that we may no more have any thing in common with those parricides and the murderers of our Lord . . . no single point in common with the perjury of the Jews."

By the way, the Wave offering is Yahusha Himself, representing His Resurrection. He is the First-fruits. “First-fruits” and “first-born” are derived from the same Hebrew root word, BIKKUR. Once each year, an omer (sheaf) of barley was waved by the High Priest on the morrow after the weekly Sabbath during Matsah, which follows Passover, when Yahusha DIED and was buried. 3 days and 3 nights later (the sign of Yonah), He resurrected as the “First-fruits” (BIKKURIM), and “waved” Himself before the Throne of the Father. It was for this reason He told Miryam “do not hold on to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father.” (John/Yahuchanon 20:17) His resurrection was the reality, and the “First-fruits” wave-offering (the omer of barley) was the “shadow of things to come”. We “count 50 days” from the waving of the omer of barley, thus we hear “counting the omer”. Really, we’re “counting FROM the omer” (a sheaf).

Another consideration concerning many of the 613 directives is “where” we are now living. We are a scattered people, living all over the Earth, and waiting for Yahusha to return and re-gather us from the ends of the Earth. We don’t return ourselves, He does it in His timing. He is not coming “home” to the LAND, but rather to His inheritance, His people who await Him.

The two loaves baked with fine flour and leaven represent the two “houses”, Yahudah and Yisharal, which Yahusha will make into one tree / stick at His return. These are referred to as “First-fruits”, and when He returns there will be a resurrection of the dead in Mashiach, and then a sudden seizing (harpazo) of those yet alive. These will all be clothed with immortality, and this is what is called the “first resurrection”. The second resurrection will occur 1000 years later, and will involve ALL those that have lived on the Earth throughout time. Their outcome at the Great White Throne Judgment will be determined by their names being in, or absent from, the Scroll of Life. Some will be found written, others not found.

As for guidance on what teachers to listen to, we only want to be following Yahusha. Those He indwells teach His Will, and help purify His bride for His coming. There are “spots” and “wrinkles”, and these are mostly the traditions of men, adding-to or taking-away from His Word.

Mal 4:1-6: “‘For look, the day shall come, burning like a furnace, and all the proud, and every wrongdoer shall be stubble. And the day that shall come shall burn them up,’ said Yahuah of hosts, ‘which leaves to them neither root nor branch.

But to you who fear My Name the Sun of Righteousness shall arise with healing in His wings. And you shall go out and leap for joy like calves from the stall.

And you shall trample the wrongdoers, for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet on the day that I do this,’ said יהוה of hosts.

‘Remember the Torah of Mosheh, My servant, which I commanded him in Horeb for all Yisharal – laws and right-rulings.

See, I am sending you Eliyah the prophet before the coming of the great and awesome day of Yahuah. (Luke1:17)

And he shall turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with utter destruction.’” (Zech. 14:11)

You can identify a tree by its fruit: the Spirit of Yahusha indwells those who have love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, and self-control. He promised us He would send us teaching shepherds, and here is where they are described:

Jer 3:14-18: “‘Return, O backsliding children,’ declares Yahuah, ‘for I shall rule over you, and shall take you, one from a city and two from a clan, and shall bring you to Tsiyon.

And I shall give you shepherds according to My heart, and they shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.

And it shall be, when you have increased, and shall bear fruit in the land in those days,’ declares Yahuah, ‘that they no longer say, “The ark of the covenant of Yahuah.” Neither would it come to heart, nor would they remember it, nor would they visit it, nor would it be made again.

At that time Yerushalayim shall be called the Throne of Yahuah, and all the nations shall be gathered to it, to the Name of Yahuah, to Yerushalayim, and no longer walk after the stubbornness of their evil heart.

In those days the house of Yahudah shall go to the house of Yisharal, and they shall come together out of the land of the north to the land that I have given as an inheritance to your fathers.”

The Good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. His sheep know His Voice (akin to a yodel, a characteristic sound distinct to each shepherd).

One of Yahusha’s sheep will know a lawless voice when they hear it, and not follow that voice.

The Torah of Yahuah protects us in that sense, since it trains us to discern between wolves trying to deceive us, and our True Shepherd’s Voice.

The Torah provides us with the character of Yahusha, teaching us how to love Him, and our neighbor.