PENTECOST
The Feast of Pentecost Deuteronomy 16:9-10 & Exodus 34:22
Introduction
From the day after Passover to Pentecost (Shavout) there are seven weeks (Leviticus 23:15-21), or fifty days. The word 'Pentecost' means 'fifty.' Since Pentecost begins on the fiftieth day some Jewish groups recite Psalm 67 which has forty-nine words in Hebrew. Pentecost has various applications both for the Jew and the Christian.
The Jewish holiday
There are two basic views amongst the Jews regarding this feast. The first considers it to be the concluding ceremony of the Passover season. The second idea sees it as an independent festival. From a Biblical understanding of Pentecost it is better to view it as the conclusion of the fifty day Passover celebration. To divorce it from Passover is to lose the spiritual significance of the whole season.
The themes
The first major theme of Pentecost is of revelation. On this day the Ten Commandments were given to the Israel (Leviticus 23:15-21), exactly fifty days after they had crossed the Red Sea. Therefore Pentecost is the day that God revealed Himself and His will to His people. The second major theme is the outpouring of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8; 2:1-18). The resurrection of Christ took place on the Feast of First Fruits, fifty days later the Holy Spirit was given to His followers.
Comparison between the Old and New Covenant in light of Pentecost
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Old Covenant
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New Covenant
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Exodus 19
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Jeremiah 31:31-33
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On the fiftieth day
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On the fiftieth day
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Commandments written on tablets of stone (Exodus 24:12).
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Commandments written on our hearts (Jeremiah 31:33; 2 Corinthians 3:3; Hebrews 8:10).
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Written with God’s finger (Exodus 31:18).
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Written by God’s Spirit (2 Corinthians 3:3; Hebrews 8:10).
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Three thousand slain (Exodus 32:1-28).
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Three thousand baptised (Acts 2:38-41).
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The letter of the Law
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The letter of the Spirit (Romans 2:29; 7:6; 2 Corinthians 3:6).
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Mount Sinai (Exodus 19:11)
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Mount Zion (Romans 11:26; Hebrews 12:22; 1 Peter 2:6).
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The outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost
In Exodus 19:19 we read that there was a trumpet blast that increased with strength. In Exodus 20:18 we read that the people heard great thunderings coming from Mt. Sinai. The followers of the Lord Jesus Christ experienced spectacular manifestations also (Acts 2). The Old Testament Pentecost speaks of the birth of Israel as a nation, but in the New we see it as the birth of the Church. The bread that was used on this day was burned upon the altar (Leviticus 23:15-17), and we see the sanctifying fire of the Holy Spirit falling on those in the Upper Room, sometimes referred to as 'the baptism of fire' (Luke 3:16). Pentecost was meant to lead Israel into a deeper relationship with God and a greater understanding of His Word. This is precisely what Pentecost in the New Testament is all about.
Conclusion
Pentecost could not be celebrated without Passover lamb being slain fifty days previously. The baptism in the Holy Spirit cannot be experienced by those who have never come to Christ for salvation. There could have been no outpouring of the Holy Spirit if the Lamb of God had not poured out His blood for us.
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Extract from a study by Gavin Finley MD endtimepilgrim.org 2003 ABRIDGED VERSION
In this article the Hebrew YHVH is used for the Name of the LORD.
About Pentecost:
Throughout Jewish history, it has been customary to engage in all-night study of the Torah on the first evening of Shavuot. Children were encouraged to memorize Scripture and rewarded with treats. The book of Ruth was traditionally read during Shavuot. Today, however, many of the customs have been left behind and their significance lost. The public holiday has become more of a culinary festival of dairy dishes. Traditional Jews still light candles and recite blessings, adorn their homes and synagogues with greenery, eat dairy foods, study the Torah, read the book of Ruth and attend Shavuot services.
50 days from the day the first fruits of the barley harvest was waved before the Lord, (50 days from the morrow after the Sabbath after Passover), is Shavuot or the Day of Pentecost. Rabbinic scholars believe that it was on this day that God visited His people after their exodus from Egypt and through Moses, brought the Law down from Mount Sinai. This earthshaking day of visitation, trembling, and betrothal is the birthday of the nation of Israel. Moses brings down the Torah or Law for the nation. The Old Covenant is a national covenant between YHVH-God and His covenant people. And so the nation of Israel is established. They agree to follow Him in devotion and obedience. In spite of past failures Israel will be fully restored. (See Ezek.37). This will be accomplished in the power of the New Covenant. God's law is written in the hearts. (See Jer.31:31 & Heb.8:8) Zechariah saw the nation of Israel repenting and receiving Messiah as Jerusalem was surrounded by armies at the close of this age. (Zech 12:7-13:1)
50 days from the day the first fruits of the barley harvest was waved before the Lord, (50 days from the morrow after the Sabbath after Passover), in the summer of the year of Jesus/Yeshua's passion, God visits His people. This is another earthshaking day of visitation and betrothal. The Holy Spirit fills the 120 in the upper room. The outpouring of YHVH-God's glory continues as they go out into the streets of the city of Jerusalem proclaiming the Good News, the message of redemption and salvation. The Feast of Pentecost is thereby fulfilled in the New Covenant and the Day of Pentecost becomes the birthday of the Church. This Holy Spirit revival spreads out into Judea, Samaria, and thence onward into the utmost parts of the world. For the next two millennia the God of Israel continues to 'call out' His 'ekklesia', Congregation, or Church. YHVH-God's Congregation (Now expanded into the Church) takes the good news of the Gospel out through Israel and beyond into the gentile nations.
PENTECOST SEEN AS A PROMISE OF MARRIAGE (ENGAGEMENT PERIOD)
As we have seen, Pentecost is a transforming experience. It is the doorway into a new relationship. Two who were formerly separate now "tie the knot" and walk as one. Christ the Head is betrothed to His Church, even His Body, the Body of Christ. Together they are the Servant of God the Father, even the man-child company. (Rev.12:1-5) They are committed to each other in a relationship that is binding. As the people of God, we are being changed from the inside out. By our surrender to the leading of the Holy Spirit we are becoming a new person. We are being sanctified and set apart for a higher purpose. We are being transformed into the very image and spiritual likeness of Jesus Christ!
At the time of the giving of the Law the Old Covenant, a marriage covenant between YHVH and Israel, was proposed and answered with a resounding "We do!" by the nation of Israel. We saw this on that first Pentecost at Mount Sinai. Now, in the New Covenant Pentecost is seeing the betrothal of Christ's Church. It is a day of epiphany, a time of divine manifestation. Once again God is coming down and showing Himself powerful among men. God's covenant people are again entering into a new relationship with God in a mountaintop experience. It is an earnest, a down payment, on our future inheritance in God. Here at Pentecost we see and eat the first fruits of many glories yet to come. Pentecost is a foretaste of that magnificent future day when the Church will be glorified.
So our betrothal to Jesus Christ/Yeshua Hamashiach is a wonderful privilege. And our own personal Pentecost is very real empowering in God. It is serendipity, an unexpected happy event, an initiation into the ‘Agape’ love of God. The prospective bride and groom commit themselves to each other. The "bride to be" willingly agrees to "obey" her bridegroom and be faithful to Him as her future husband. She pledges to keep the commandments and precepts He has given her for her future glory. They break bread together. The Bridegroom then presents the cup before His prospective Bride. If she decides to go with Him she drinks the cup. And so she enters into the New Covenant.
The couple come into communion together. They exchange vows. He promises to come for her at a future time. There is to be a Wedding Feast. The ‘Marriage Supper of the Lamb’ will also mark the consummation of their future marriage.
Meanwhile, the Bridegroom promises to send His Holy Spirit, the Comforter to strengthen and to guide His bride until they meet at the consummation. By His Spirit He will communicate His love for her. He will cherish her through all times, the good and the bad. He expresses His love to her forever. She agrees to be faithful to Him, to love Him and to obey Him. By His Spirit she will endure life's trials on His behalf. She has signed the betrothal with Him. And so she will be His witness. Her witness remains true through hardships, distress, trials, persecutions, discouragements, or whatever.
There is no denying it, the Pentecost experience is a betrothal. It is a watershed, and it represents a new and higher relationship along with a new commitment.