Pentecost is so deep and so meaningful and many who speak on it often miss some of the biggest meanings of Pentecost. I have a video sermon reposted from 2024, but has a timeless message. You will find a full and complete review of what Pentecost is really all about in that video sermon. I hope you check it out.
Most of us who keep Pentecost recognize it as the day of two main events, as taught by most of the church groups which keep Pentecost: the giving of God’s law at Sinai, and the pouring out of God’s Holy Spirit in Acts 2. True, these are profoundly important parts of Pentecost, but there’s so much more. Let’s start with those 2 foundational understandings and then move on in a condensed form, other often missed parts of Pentecost.
First was the giving of the Law at Mt Sinai in Exodus 19-24, AND God’s Marriage to Israel at this season. Keep in mind something else too: the 70 elders of Israel plus Moses, Aaron and his two oldest sons – all SAW the GOD of Israel, and ate and drank with GOD, on a glass-like supernatural foundation like bright, gorgeous sky-blue sapphire. (Ex. 24:9-11). Keep this in mind for later. This foreshadowed a future duplication of firstfruits saints on a much greater brilliance of a heavenly sea of glass (Revelation 14:1-5).
Exodus 24:9-11 “Then Moses went up, also Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel, 10 and they SAW the GOD OF Israel . And there was under His feet as it were A PAVED WORK OF SAPPHIRE STONE, and it was like the very heavens in its clarity. 11 But on the nobles of the children of Israel He did not lay His hand. So THEY SAW GOD, and they ate and drank.”
Seventy four leaders SAW God the Word who was on a paved work like bright BLUE sapphire stone, and ate and drank with Him. No human has ever seen God the Father (John 1:18) so this had to be YHVH the Word. Remember, scripturally YHVH can apply to the Word as well as to God the Father. No one has seen the Father, so whenever anyone has seen YHVH (like Gen 18 and Ex. 24:10-11) that had to be the one we know as Jesus the Christ. Exodus 24:1-2 clearly show us this is YHVH calling them up to meet him Him and they SAW this “LORD” – so it had to be the future Yeshua, son of God, since no human has ever seen God MOST High.
The Second point most talk about is how on this day of Pentecost in Acts 2, God poured out his Holy Spirit to the 120 gathered as one on this day. They spoke in tongues, and in this case, the miracle was in the hearing. As each one spoke, everyone heard him talk in their own language or dialect (Acts 2: ***). No one needed to interpret for them in Acts 2. They heard them speak in their own earthly language. Three thousand were baptized and received the Holy Spirit.
So this day reminds us of the giving of the law of God and entering a covenant relationship with him and marriage to God – in the Old Testament in this season – and then giving of the Holy Spirit in the New Testament.
BUT THERE’S SO MUCH MORE, and I explore this in detail in my video posting of Pentecost. This will add so much more to your normal view of this day, so don’t miss it. Most preachers miss the other points. I’m summarizing in this blog for those who want a quick-read review.
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FIFTY DAYS before Pentecost was the WAVESHEAF CEREMONY – when the very first of the FIRSTFRUITS of finely ground barley (the “omer” or sheaf”) was raised up to heaven on behalf of the rest of the harvest so the barley harvest could begin (Leviticus 23:9-11). This pictured Jesus after his resurrection telling Mary he had to go “to my God, and your God, to my Father and your Father” (John 20:17).
Jesus is the FIRST of the firstfruits early harvest. Notice the word “firstfruits” here and continuing on. This is a HUGE point: PENTECOST is the ONLY holyday that refers to FIRSTFRUITS several times, except a reference also to the wavesheaf being a DAY of firstfruits also, picturing Yeshua.
Here are more scriptures which combine the word “firstfruits” with words about Pentecost, or Feast of Weeks. Numbers 28:26; Exodus 34:22 – you shall observe the Feest of Weeks of the firstfruits of wheat harvest… Also the TWO LEAVENED LOAVES that are raised up towards God in heaven on this day are also described this way: “these are FIRSTFRUITS to the LORD” Leviticus 23:17.
So keep that in mind. Pentecost is about Firstfruits.
It helps to understand God’s plan of salvation to realize that the spring and summer holydays point to those being called first, now. The Fall holydays picture God working with and calling the rest of the world. Obviously NOT everyone is being called now; just firstfruits. Keep that in mind as we pivot later to discussing the first resurrection. And remember the first resurrection is about resurrecting those who are in Christ and are FIRSTFRUITS to God. And Pentecost is all about firstfruits.
The harvest of firstfruits began on Wavesheaf day, picturing Jesus’ ascending to God on that day, and ended on Pentecost 50 days later with the beginning of the wheat harvest. Wavesheaf and Pentecost are not about the entire harvest so much as being about the firstfruits of the barley and later the wheat. Firstfruits of the spring early-summer harvest begins with Wavesheaf day and ends on Pentecost.
Remember that “firstfruits” are the first ones harvested – not the entire harvest.
And seven weeks/sabbaths plus one day, come between Wavesheaf day and Pentecost, which comes from the Greek meaning “50” or “fiftieth”. The Hebrew name for this day is SHAVUOT, meaning “Weeks”. So this holyday is also called “the Feast of Weeks (Exodus 34:22) of the firstfruits of the wheat harvest”.
Spiritually that’s the same meaning. Jesus is the first of the firstfruits of those being called and chosen now (1 Cor.15:22-24) – and those who are called, chosen and faithful to the end (Rev. 17:14) at the return of the Messiah will be the END of the firstfruits harvest, pictured by Pentecost.
WEDDING TO Israel and then the FIRSTFRUITS of GOD in New Covenant IN HEAVEN after the FIRST RESURRECTION
In the Pentecost season is when GOD MARRIED ISRAEL (Exodus 24:1-8) and they agreed to obey his covenant. There was a wedding feast where the 74 leaders ate and drank with God of Israel (Exodus 24:9-11) on a pavement of sky-blue sapphire-like stone. THAT PICTURED The REALITY of what will happen yet ahead of us! The Israel of God in the New covenant are CALLED OUT ONES from ALL NATIONS, not just Israel. And if they are in Christ, they are HEIRS of the promises (Gal. 3:26-28).
God is the Father who will also put on a wedding for his Son, Jesus the Christ to the New Covenant Firstfruits saints from all nations (READ Matthew 22:1-10). GOD IS IN HEAVEN. Those redeemed from the earth are shown as being before the very throne of God and of the 24 elders – all of which is in heavenly Jerusalem!!
The FIRST RESURRECTION makes no sense happening in the FALL – which is not about FirstFruits. PENTECOST is the holyday about Firstfruits.
The FIRST RESURRECTION is ONLY about the firstfruits. ONLY firstfruits saints filled with the Holy Spirit and who have God’s law written on their hearts will be in the first resurrection.
And the ONLY holyday that is about FIRSTFRUITS is Pentecost. ON this day TWO LEAVENED LOAVES were elevated to God in heaven -- picturing us, the firstfruits of God (James 1:18) also raised to Heaven after our resurrection, which will most likely be on the day of PENTECOST.
Revelation 14:1-5 Then I looked, and behold, a Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His Father's name written on their foreheads. 2 And I heard a VOICE FROM HEAVEN, like the voice of many waters, and like the voice of loud thunder. And I heard the sound of harpists playing their harps. 3 They sang as it were a new song before The THRONE, before the four living creatures, and the elders; and no one could learn that song except the hundred and forty-four thousand who were redeemed FROM the earth.
4 These are the ones who were not defiled with women, for they are virgins. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These were redeemed from among men, BEING FIRSTFRUITS TO GOD and to the Lamb. 5 And in their mouth was found no deceit, for they are without fault BEFORE The THRONE OF GOD.”
So the 144,000, after the 7th or Last trump of God, are IN HEAVEN, BEFORE The THRONE OF GOD!! They are spared having to go through the Seven Last Bowl plagues of God (Rev. 16), which are the WRATH OF GOD on evil people on earth.
Revelation 15:1-3
“Then I saw another sign IN HEAVEN, great and marvelous: seven angels having the seven last plagues, for in them the WRATH OF GOD is complete.
2 And I saw something like A SEA OF GLASS mingled with fire, and those who have the VICTORY over the beast, over his image and over his mark and over the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, having harps of God. 3 They sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying:”
Remember the pavement of sky blue Sapphire in Exodus 24:9-11, when the leaders of Israel ate and drank with the God of Israel right after the marriage between God and Israel? That all pointed to the reality of Rev. 14 and 15!! THIS SHOULD BE SO EXCITING TO US!!
And then soon later, God puts on the Wedding Feast of the Lamb (Revelation 19), in heaven. WHERE else IN The UNIVERSE could you have A FITTING LOCATION FOR The Wedding of Christ and His Bride that is worthy of such an event. Much more of the details are in my Pentecost sermons for 2024-2025. This should be so exciting to you and me. Yes, firstfruits are going to heaven to worship God the Father and be among those blessed to be at the wedding supper of the Lamb of God, Jesus the Messiah.
REMEMBER, AFTER The FIRST RESURRECTION AT The 7TH TRUMP, there are still SEVEN LAST PLAGUES going on, which take MONTHS. WHERE are those FIRSTFRUITS after they are resurrected?
THEY ARE TAKEN by Jesus the Christ to HEAVEN to be shown their homes, to meet God and their angels and to get married!!! It’s all spelled out in the sermon! They are not just hovering over earthly Jerusalem all that time.
ALL THAT I’VE JUST SAID is what is so often just skipped over, and not understood, by 95% of the sermons about the meaning of Pentecost.
Much more in the sermons on Pentecost. So what’s the meaning of this day:
- It’s all about FIRSTFRUITS SAINTS filled with God’s spirit and who have God’s law written on their minds and hearts (Jer 31:31-33). Yes, the Holy Spirit was given on Pentecost which started the New Covenant church. Yes, the LAW of God was given in Ex. 20-24 on Mt Sinai at this time.
- The FIRST RESURRECTION happens – very likely on Pentecost, which is all about firstfruits. ONLY Firstfruits of God will be in the First resurrection.
- These firstfruits saints are taken to the third HEAVEN as the 7 last plagues of Rev. 16 are being poured out. (Rev. 14:1-5; 15:1-4)
- The WEDDING of the Lamb is put on by the Father (Matthew 22:1-2) in HEAVEN, where HE is.
- Those attending are chosen from the byways and whoever they could find, for the first ones called were not worthy! (Matthew 22:8-10) So Gentiles and Israelites alike will compose the Bride.
- THEN, after the 7 last plagues are done on earth, and the Wedding is complete in heaven, we shall all follow The King of Kings back to earth, to reign with him and under him (Rev. 20:1-6). This will happen in the Fall, likely on the Feast of Trumpets/Shouts.
SO ENJOY PENTECOST and everything it explains for us. Praise you our dear Abba, our heavenly Father. Praise you Yeshua, our Savior and Redeemer. Hallelujah, Amen.