From Pentecost To Teruah
For many years, actually about four decades, I believed the common Church of God understanding that the spiritual fulfillment of Pentecost, - occurred on “Pentecost” - , when the apostles were assembled and the Spirit of God came upon them. But, a new understanding of at least two independent Church of God teachers have dramatically expanded the scope of the meaning of the fulfillment of the Day of Pentecost. They conclude, that since Pentecost, being the “feast of weeks” is referred to as the harvest of firstfruits, the “fulfillment” of the day would have to include the time when the spiritual firstfruits of God will be gathered together (harvested).
Exo 34:22 And thou shalt observe the feast of weeks, of the firstfruits of wheat harvest (Pentecost), and the feast of ingathering at the year's end (Tabernacles).
Lev 23:15 And ye shall count unto you from the morrow after the sabbath, from the day that ye brought the sheaf of the wave offering; seven sabbaths shall be complete:
16 Even unto the morrow after the seventh sabbath shall ye number fifty days; and ye shall offer a new meat offering unto the LORD.
17 Ye shall bring out of your habitations two wave loaves of two tenth deals: they shall be of fine flour; they shall be baken with leaven; they are the firstfruits unto the LORD.
Num 28:26 Also in the day of the firstfruits, when ye bring a new meat offering unto the LORD, after your weeks be out, ye shall have an holy convocation; ye shall do no servile work:
The feast of weeks called “the firstfruits of the wheat harvest” and the gathering together of the firstfruits at the resurrection of the saints is such an obvious connection that it is hard to understand how it could have been missed all these years. We must have been blinded by the dynamic events that occurred on Pentecost, when the Church of God was born. Even though the birth of the Church is monumental, there is nothing in the context of the instruction in the Old Testament that points to something other than the harvest of the firstfruits. The instructions entirely deal with the harvest of the firstfruits. This feast day, as in every other Annual Sabbath pictures a future fulfillment that will bring about the “purpose” of the original feast day. The feast of weeks being Pentecost, is picturing the future harvest of the firstfruits of God. ,
The following shows us that God will have firstfruits and that the firstfruits are also the saints of God.
Jam 1:18 Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
1Co 16:15 I beseech you, brethren, (ye know the house of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints,)
Rev 14:4 These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.
The saints are those who were “redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb”.
The Bible gives a clear record of the time of the gathering of the saints of God. This gathering occurs at the last trump, being the seventh trump and the time of reward.
1Co 15:52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
1Th 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: (the Greek shout means a shout of a command)
17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
Rev 11:15 And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.
Rev 11:18 And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.
We know that “the feast of weeks, of the firstfruits of wheat harvest” is called Pentecost in the New Testament. We have seen that the Bible has provided the information that makes it apparent that the resurrection and gathering of the first fruit, the harvest of the firstfrut will occur on a “Day of Pentecost”. It will be on Pentecost when the saints will be gathered together or in other words, “harvested”, at the sound of the seventh and last trump. This will be the “spiritual fulfillment” of the third Annual Holyday. It will be the precious harvest of the firstfruits of God that have been developed throughout the last six thousand years.
This paper is titled from Pentecost to Teruah because the information that will be considered will begin with the verses, in the book of Revelation, that deal with the 7th trump and end shortly after the announcement of the marriage of the Lamb --- the marriage of the Lamb being the fulfillment of “The Day of Teruah” (see the papers titled “The Day of Teruah” and “The Bride of Christ”). The Book of Revelation provides a well-developed progression of events from the harvest of the firstfruits to the joyous celebration of the “marriage of the Lamb”. It’s appropriate to begin with Revelation 10:7
Rev 10:7 But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.
Notice that the angel isn’t sounding, but that the “mystery of God” would be finished when he shall begin to sound. The following four verses give us the understanding of what that mystery is.
Eph 6:19 And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,
Mar 4:11 And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables:
Col 1:27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
1Ti 3:16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
These verses give rise to the following information:
· The gospel (good news) is actually a mystery that can not be fully understood by those who are not called of God.
· This gospel is about the kingdom of God.
· The “glory” of this mystery (Col. 1:27) is that Christ may live in us and this results in the earnest expectation of the glory that awaits the firstfruits, which is being brought into the kingdom of God.
· The mystery is the fact that our sinning carnal nature may be made “godly” through the work of God and that the saints may be received into the glorious kingdom of God.
Revelation 10:7 tells us that at the 7th trump (last trump) the mystery of God will be completed. We know that at this time the firstfruits, or saints, are made immortal and brought into the spiritual kingdom of God. This completes the mystery. The rest of chapter ten concerns the little book.
Chapter eleven talks about the work of the two witnesses, their death, their resurrection and the time of the blowing of the 7th trump and its consequences.
Rev 11:3 And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth. (3 ½ years)
6 These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will.
It is very interesting that Elijah “shut heaven” for 3 ½ years (James 5:17) and Moses turned water into blood and that the two of them have already once been resurrected on the mount of transfiguration (see the paper “Moses Elijah and the Transfiguration).
Rev 11:11 And after three days and an half the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them.
12 And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them.
14 The second woe is past; and, behold, the third woe cometh quickly.
15 And the seventh angel sounded -------
The words “Come up hither” would likely be the shout of command spoken of in 1 Thessalonians 4:16. Notice that in verse 16 the shout comes before the “trump of God”.
1Th 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: (the Greek shout means a shout of a command)
Jesus gives the commanding shout that brings the saints, those who were dead and those who are alive, up into the air (heaven). The sound of the trump gathers them from one end of heaven to the other.
Mat 24:31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
Then we are told:
Rev 11:15 And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever
18 And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth..
Why does it say “the kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord” since the power of the nations hasn’t been destroyed yet? The apparent answer is that at the moment described by Rev 11:15, Jesus takes away from Satan any vestige of control, Jesus being in complete control of the rest of the events that culminate the end of the age. From this moment the future co-rulers with Christ have been brought into the kingdom. The long awaited “vengeance” of God remains to be administered through the “bowls of wrath and the “war” Jesus Christ makes with the nations.
Rev 15:7 And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever.
Rev 16:1 And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth.
Rev 19:19 And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army.
20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.
21 And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.
Chapter twelve includes information that relates to the interrelationship of Jesus Christ, Satan and God's church.
Chapter thirteen concerns the powers of the “beast”, “image of the beast”, “beast coming out of the earth” and the “dragon”.
Chapter fourteen begins with the firstfruits standing on the “heavenly” mount Sion before the throne. Hebrews 12:22 shows us that there is a heavenly mount Sion.
Heb 12:22 But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,
23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,
Verse five describes these firstfruits standing before the throne of God. As we shall see the throne of God is still in heaven. Verses 6-10 give the messages of three angels.
Beginning with verse 12 and ending with verse 20 the subject has to do with the patience of the saints.
Rev 14:12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus
Verse 13 refers to saints that have died with the expectation of their resurrection.
Rev 14:13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.
The words “from henceforth” most logically would mean from the time that John wrote the words down.
Verses 14-16 describe the harvest of the firstfruits. Notice that it is apparently Jesus that harvests his firstfruits. This is definitely part of the “patience of the saints”.
Rev 14:14 And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle.
15 And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe.
16 And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped.
These verses describe the wonderful fulfillment of the third Annual Holyday at the time of the 7th trump. The word “reaped is Strong's G#2325 and literally means to harvest.
Verses 17-20 describe the gathering of the nations to the “great winepress” of the wrath of God.
Rev 14:17 And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle.
18 And another angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire; and cried with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe.
19 And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God.
20 And the winepress was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the winepress, even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs.
Verses 17-20 refer to the events leading up to and culminating in the “day of the Lord” which includes the “battle of Armageddon”. And this also is part of the “patience of the saints”.
Rev 6:9 And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:
10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?
Chapter fifteen begins with a sign. Thayers renders it: “of signs portending remarkable events soon to happen”. It occurs in heaven and shows the seven angels having the seven last plagues of the wrath of God. Verse two describes “a sea of glass”.
Rev 15:1 And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvellous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God.
2 And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God.
The sea of glass is first spoken of in Revelation 4:6 and its location is given in Revelation 4:2.
Rev 4:2 And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne.
6 And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind.
But, Revelation 15:2 shows a group of individuals standing on the sea of glass and it reveals their identity.
Rev 15:2 And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God.
3 And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints.
The Bible shows that there is only one group that has gotten “victory” over the beast.
1Co 15:57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
1Jo 5:4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
It is the” faith” of the saints that gets the victory over the world and having victory over the world they will have victory over the “beast”. The saints of God will be standing on the sea of glass in heaven, before the throne of God, when they sing the song of Moses.
Verse 4 looks forward to when Jesus Christ is recognized as the King and Lord over the whole earth.
Rev 15:4 Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest.
Verses 5-8 are a vivid description of the long awaited “vengeance” of God that has been gaining the righteous need to be released as each millennia passed.
Rev 15:5 And after that I looked, and, behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened:
6 And the seven angels came out of the temple, having the seven plagues, clothed in pure and white linen, and having their breasts girded with golden girdles.
7 And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever.
8 And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his “power”; and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled.
It is quite evident to see how God is to be fervently involved with this impending, merited, wrath that is soon to be released upon the unrighteous of the world. Apparently the “smoke from his power”, doesn’t dissipate until the seven plagues have been fulfilled.
This chapter describes the effect of pouring out the vials or bowls of wrath. The sixth bowl (verse 12) initiates the gathering the kings of the whole earth to the day of God (day of the Lord). They are gathered to Megiddo. The battle is yet to be fought.
The seventh angel (verse 17) pours his bowl into the air a voice announces; “it is done”. The words, it is done, can credibly be translated “it has come” as Young’s Literal Translation has done. What has come is the greatest earthquake that mankind has ever experienced. Strong enough to move Islands and to level mountains. Strong enough to reshape the earth to create a new earth. It is also strong enough to destroy the “cities of the nations”, in particular the city of Babylon, and to divide Jerusalem into three parts.
Rev 17:1 And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters:
This chapter goes back to the time before the bowls are poured out. There is agreement among commentaries that the angel is holding the bowl before its contents are poured out. That understanding is likely arrived at by the words “I will show you the doom” rather than “you have seen the doom”.
It is also likely the seventh angel is holding the bowl because the destruction of Babylon is contained in the bowl.
The rest of the chapter deals with the apostasy of the great whore, the ten kings, and the revealing of the identity of the woman (great whore) being the city of Babylon, which has influence over the whole earth.
This chapter describes the future destruction of Babylon and it’s consequences. Verses 8 and 21 show it to be a future event.
Rev 18:8 Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her.
Rev 18:21 And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all.
The last verse, verse 24, is one of the most revealing statements in the entire Bible.
Rev 18:24 And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth.
This is a sweeping statement, and through it we can understand that
the influence of the “spirit” of Babylon has been in force since the murder of
Able and is not
just
responsible for the blood of the Old Testament prophets and
the New Testament saints.
Chapter 19
It is important to recognize that the timing of the events of the chapter occur after the bowls of wrath, and in particular the seventh bowl, have been poured out. Remember that the “victorious” ones, the faithful overcomers, were standing on the sea of glass, in heaven, before the throne of God and before the bowls of wrath had been poured out. Consequently, they witnessed the pouring out of God’s wrath. They personally witnessed God’s vengeance from heaven. And they had been told, in their lives on earth, that “vengeance is mine”.
Rom 12:19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
Chapter 19 provides us with the description of one of the most anticipated events that God, the Father and the Son, has had since the plan of salvation was formulated. The entire New Testament is literally dedicated to the creation of the bride of Christ. I’ll go through the chapter, for the most part, verse by verse.
Rev 19:1 And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God:
The location of the events is still being placed in heaven.
Rev 19:2 For true and righteous are his judgments: for he hath judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand.
Verse two shows that God's judgment has been administered. In particular the judgment of the seventh bowl contained the issuance of the wrath of God upon the great whore.
Rev 19:3 And again they said, Alleluia. And her smoke rose up for ever and ever.
This would indicate that Babylon would never come into existence again.
4 And the four and twenty elders and the four beasts fell down and worshipped God that sat on the throne, saying, Amen; Alleluia.
5 And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great.
Psalm 47 is a sublime description of what is taking place at this time. The following is, in truth, a credible translation of Psalm 47 (see the Teruah paper for the conformation of the following wording).
1 O clap your hands, all you people; shout unto God with the call of a shout for joy.
2 For the Lord most high is to be revered; He is a great King over all the earth.
3 He shall subdue the people under us, and the nations under our feet.
4 He shall choose our inheritance for us, the excellency of Jacob whom he loved. Selah.
5 God is exalted with the sound of teruah, the Lord with the sound of a ram’s horn.
6 Sing praises to God, sing praises: sing praises unto our King, sing praises.
7 For God is the King of all the earth; sing ye praises with understanding.
8 God reigns over the heathen; God sits upon the throne of His holiness.
9 The charitable ones of the people are gathered together, even the people of the God of Abraham; For the protectors of the earth belong unto God: He is greatly exalted.
This is a great Psalm of praise. The words “us” and “our” in verse 3, "our" in verse 4 and virtually all of verse 9 refers to the risen saints.
Rev 19:6 And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.
7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.
These two verses are by far, the most powerful outpouring of rejoicing and gladness that is recorded in the entire Bible. It is the quintessential expression of the Hebrew word “teruah”. The voices of the great multitude in heaven are thundering for only one reason. The marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. This is the fulfillment of the work of God in the church of the New Testament. This has been most greatly anticipated by God from the beginning. This is the fulfillment of the fourth Annual Holy Day being the “Day of Teruah”. (see the paper titled The Day of Teruah)
Rev 19:8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.
9 And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.
The saints are now the wife of Jesus Christ.
Rev 19:11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.
12 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.
13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.
Verse 11 is still yet describing things happening in heaven. In his righteous judgment Jesus Christ, The Word of God, is going to make war with Satan and all his followers.
Rev 19:14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.
15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.
Jesus leaves heaven with his armies to finalize “the day of the Lord” and take over the ruler-ship of the world.