Posted by Bible Probe on August 13, 2005 at 14:18:55:
The Day the Shekinah glory returned to Israel
Falling on the sixth day of the Jewish month of Sivan, in late May/early June, the time of Shavuot (Pentecost) is defined in Torah (Old Testement) as the day that occurs 7 weeks plus one day (or 50 days) from the Feast of Firtfruits. Amazingly enough this festival of Shavout is a day of rejoicing in remembrance of the Lord having freed the Hebrews from Egypt.
More interesting than that, is if the Jews would pay attention - all their traditions and feast days turned out to be foreshadowings and "heads up" warnings of what would come vis-à-vis the Messiah of Israel.
The Temple services for Shavuot mandated firstfruit offerings of long, flat leavened bread made with fine flour. This foreshadowing was to point to the very day that the Holy Spirit would descend on the apostles exactly 50 days after Jesus rose from the dead. Shavuot was a very important Jewish feast day. It is worthy to note that the other feast days contained unleavened bread--but this feast day mandated leavened bread, as to signify that God would "fill them up" on this day.
We know that the celebration of firstfruits was meant to make the Jews aware that the Messiah would Himself be the first fruit offered up to the Father, who would take away the sins of those who believe in Him.
Jesus rose from the dead on the 3rd day of Passover season (Nisan 16) on the very day of Firstfruits. The risen Lord is as Paul said in 1 Corinthians 15:22, the guarantee and the beginning (first fruits) of the final harvest, or resurrection, of all mankind. In this feast day the foreshadowing once again turned factual. Jesus rose from the dead and became Himself the first fruits of the resurrection, on the very day of the feast of Firstfruits.
The Jew, Paul said: "But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep". 1 Corinthians 15:20. Also see Revelations 1:5.
It is customary for observant Jews to stay up all night the night of Shavuot reading Torah. This was also true in ancient times. This too would have a significance beyond what the 1st century Jews were to grasp.
In the year Jesus died and rose again, thousands of Jews were praying at the Temple in Jerusalem. The morning service (Shakharit) was just getting over. It was mid morning on a hot day. It was a cloudless day, and there was no wind.
Suddenly a howling violent sand storm could be heard by the entire crowd. The defeaning noise was advancing toward them from overhead. Several hundred men rushed to the southwest gate and began pointing to what appeared to them as a whirling wind with bits of fire. It made its way across the city to a house below. From within the crowd watching the thought became one --that this was the Shekinah glory returning to Israel after 600 years of absence. Nobody had ever seen anything like it.
The crowd of Jews raced to the house where the mighty "wind on fire" hovered. They pounded on the door.
Immediately 12 men came outside and addressed the crowd. They spoke to the crowd in every language --so that each person in the crowd heard them in their own tongues. A murmer went through the crowd, each asking the other how these seemingly uneducated Gilileans could share scripture in so many languages.
Word spread throughout the city quickly of the fire wind and the Galileans speaking such wonderful things in so many languages. So many people surrounded that house that the Galilean leader named Peter shouted for the crowd to follow him to the southern entrance to the Temple, an area where more people could assemble and hear him speak. It was a good area for addressing crowds.
Listen what I say Peter told the crowd. These men are not drunk, as you suppose. No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: "And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, that I will pour out of my Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and daughters shall prophesy".
Peter spoke to the crowd of the prophecies of Kind David and Israel's prophets concerning the promised Messiah, Jesus of Nazareth. Prophecy after prophecy convinced the assembled Jews of the foretold Messiah's death, resurrection, and ascension into heaven. Being with the Holy Spirit, Peter's words burned into the hearts of those listening to him. Some within the crowd began shouting, "What should we do"? Peter told them "Repent". Peter pointed toward the pool of Siloam and continued, "Then be immersed in the name of Jesus the Messiah, because your sins are forgiven, and you will receive the Holy Spirit...for the promise is for you and your children."
In all, about 3000 trusted in the Lord that morning.
Another Foreshadowing completed: This occurred 7 weeks, plus one day (50 days) after the Lord (Firstfruits) rose from the dead.
THIS WAS THE NEW COVENANT WITH ISRAEL the Jeremiah did speak of:
Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: Jeremiah 31:31
And the Redeemer shall come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob, saith the LORD. 21 As for me, this is my covenant with them, saith the LORD; My spirit that is upon thee, and my words which I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor out of the mouth of thy seed's seed, saith the LORD, from henceforth and for ever. Isaiah 59:20-21
Reference: The Feasts of the Lord, by Kevin Howard and Marvin Rosenthal
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