The count to Pentecost
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From Sabbath to Sabbath, a continuous seven day cycle?
This article helps us answer two common questions that Truth seekers have today.
There are a few interpretations on how to count to Pentecost, using scripture we will hopefully remove all doubt as to how we should begin and end the count to Pentecost.
There are many interpretations, conflicts, and disputes over how to reckon biblical weeks and months. Some say they are to be reckoned by the cycles of the moon, some say that they are reckoned by repeated seven-day periods of time. Does Scripture show us matter of factly how to reckon from Sabbath to Sabbath? Is it simply a matter of reading Scripture as it is given to us? This study uses the litmus test to help us discern the Truth.
There is a precondition to this study.
1)
You must realize that the days begin and end at the going down of the sun. If you are uncertain of this please perform our calendar study:
You must realize that the days begin and end at the going down of the sun. If you are uncertain of this please perform our calendar study: Lets get started!
We will start in Leviticus 23.
Leviticus 23:15-17
15‘And from the morrow after the Sabbath, from the day that you brought the sheaf of the wave offering, you shall count for yourselves: seven completed Sabbaths. 16‘Until the morrow after the seventh Sabbath you count fifty days, then you shall bring a new grain offering to YHWH. 17‘Bring from your dwellings for a wave offering two loaves of bread, of two-tenths of an ephah of fine flour they are, baked with leaven, first-fruits to YHWH.
Grab a calendar, or print out this calendar From Sabbath to Sabbath calendar. Now lets follow along with Scripture to determine our weeks and months.
Note: It is preferred that if you are using your own calendar that you use the timing of that years counting to the Feast of First-Fruits as your template, remember the days begin and end at the going down of the sun.
In verse 15 we are told, “from the morning after the Sabbath” “the same day the Wave Offering is waved before the Eternal” “count seven complete Sabbaths”. We know that the Sabbath referred to is the weekly Sabbath following the 1st High day of Unleavened.
On your calendar place a mark on the morning of the 1st day of the week (The wave offering is waved in the morning of that day). Now count seven complete Sabbaths and mark your calendar on the morning after the seventh Sabbath.
In verse 16 we are instructed to count “fifty days to the morning after the weekly Sabbath”. Your count would begin from the first weekly Sabbath after the first High Day of Unleavened and continue fifty days, ending on the day after the weekly Sabbath, ending in the morning.
Mark your calendar accordingly. You should have counted fifty days from the day the sheaf is waved before the Almighty.
Lets continue on and use another Scripture reference to verify our times & dates.
Deuteronomy 16:9-12
9“Count seven weeks for yourself. Begin to count seven weeks from the time you begin to put the sickle to the grain. (Wave Offering) 10“And you shall perform the Festival of Weeks to YHWH your Elohim, according to the voluntary offering from your hand, which you give as YHWH your Elohim blesses you. 11“And you shall rejoice before YHWH your Elohim, you and your son and your daughter, and your male servant and your female servant, and the Lewite who is within your gates, and the stranger and the fatherless and the widow who are in your midst, at the place where YHWH your Elohim chooses to make His Name dwell. 12“And you shall remember that you were a slave in Mitsrayim, and you shall guard and do these laws.
Here in Deuteronomy we are commanded to “count seven weeks from the time (morning) that the first grain was cut (the Wave Offering). Mark your calendar once again on the morning of the wave offering and then count seven full weeks. Mark your calendar on that day. If we use any type of week or month calculation other than a continuous seven-day cycle Deuteronomy will not agree with the Leviticus command. If we reckon the Deuteronomy command with the seven-day cycle we see that it flows smoothly and agrees completely with the Leviticus command.
Here is an example of a finished calendar. Finished from sabbath to Sabbath calendar.
Try any other reckonings and see if they fit this biblical reckoning.
Do we see that a continuous seven-day cycle is essential for our commands to agree? Both commands refer to the same event.
If we come to a conclusion that disagrees with Scripture, or if we have to twist and reshape simple translations to fit our own reckonings, we should pray earnestly for guidance and understanding. The truth is plainly visible to those who have eyes to see.
This study should clarify and leave no doubts about the timing from Sabbath to Sabbath, and the counting to Pentecost. A continuous seven day cycle was given to mankind by the Almighty at the creation of this world we live on. Continuing today, observed through the centuries by those who believe, trust, and love the One true Mighty One of all creation.
Shalom & Agape in YHWH’s precious name
Allen Spiker
