the COUNTDOWN to the Spiritual Jubilee our SPIRITUAL FREEDOM in MESSIAH
Written By Felicia A. Trecek

John 7:38-39 (v:38) "...out of His innermost shall flow rivers of living water."
(v:39) "And this He said concerning the Spirit, which those believing in Him were about to receive..."

Leviticus 23:15-16 (v:15) "And from the morrow after the Sabbath, from the day you brought the sheaf of the wave offering, you shall COUNT for yourselves: seven completed Sabbbath's." (v:16) "Until the morrow (day) after the seventh (day weekly) Sabbath you count fifty days, then you shall bring a new grain offering to YHWH."

The count of 50 days represents Spiritual liberation, thus a Spiritual jubilee
The day of Pentecost is a Spiritual jubilee (Spiritual redemption) v.s. a physical jubilee (physical redemption). There are paralleling clues between the physical jubilee and the countdown to Pentecost which will demonstrate that Pentecost is a Spiritual jubilee. The first clue to this code of Pentecost is the counting of seven Sabbaths in seven weeks. The focus is on the seventh day Sabbath because the mandate reads we are to begin our count one day after the weekly Sabbath (Lev 23:16). There are seven Sabbath rest days just like there were seven Sabbatical rest years within a physical jubilee period. The second clue is both the counting of Pentecost and the jubilee year have the multiplication 7 x 7 that equal 49. The third clue is the counting of an addition one number. When counting for Pentecost, we add one day to the 49th day which equals 50. When counting for the physical jubilee, during the 49th year the jubilee is proclaimed as the following year, the one added year totalling 50. And, the fourth clue is the 49th year is a seventh Sabbatical year of release as likened to the 49th day - the one day before Pentecost is a seventh day weekly Sabbath of rest.

REFERENCES: The mandate for the seventh Sabbatical years and the 50th, jubilee year: Deuteronomy 15, 31:9-12, Leviticus 25:8-16 The mandate for Pentecost: Deuteronomy 16:9-10, Leviticus 23:15-16.

THE PLAN OF YHWH RESPRESENTED BY PENTECOST

WHEN TO BEGIN THE COUNT UNTO PENTECOST
Leviticus 23:15-16 reads, (v:15) "And from the day after the Sabbath, from the day that you brought the sheaf of the wave offering, you shall count for yourselves: seven completed Sabbaths. (v:16) Until the day after the SEVENTH Sabbath you count fifty days, then you shall bring a new grain offering to YHWH".

The Pharisaic Jews (as do others) begin their count on the 16th of Abib, one day after the first day of unleavened bread, the 15th of Abib. This practice/observance is incorrect.

Firstly, verse 15 of Leviticus 23 mandates the count to begin on the day after the Sabbath. Within the Torah (old testament), there is not one single scripture that defines or labels the first day or the last day of unleavened bread as a Sabbath as likened to the weekly Sabbath - a day of rest. The only defining information for the first day and the last day of the unleavened bread are: 1) do no servile work, 2) a commanded convocation (assembly), and 3) eat unleavened bread. There is no commandment to rest, nor are either one of these two days called (in Hebrew) a Shabbath or Shabbathown. [As an example of this: the Israelites did not rest on the 15th of Abib - the first day of unleavened bread. They left Ramese and trekked by foot all day with all of their animals and personal possessions (Ex 12:37, Num 33:3).] Therefore, the count unto Pentecost should begin one day after the weekly Sabbath since verse 15 of Leviticus 23 mandates the count to begin on the day after the Sabbath.

Secondly, verse 16 includes the word "seventh". The phrase Òseventh sabbathÓ means the weekly Sabbath, the seventh day of the week. It DOESNÕT mean, begin counting 50 days after seven Sabbaths. The purpose of verse 16 is to clarify verse 15. It specifically defines which Sabbath day because there are other Sabbaths within YHWHÕs law in addition to the weekly Sabbath.

Unfortunately, many who confess Messiah are now following Pharisaic tradition. They misconstrue the plain words of verse 16 to mean: the 50 days should include 7 Sabbaths. This statement by it self is true, but it is not the intended meaning of verse 16. The reason why verse 16 is misconstrued is because the first day of the feast of unleavened bread can in no way be reckoned as a ÒseventhÓ Sabbath. But, nevertheless, many begin their count one day after the first day of unleavened bread.

Again, verse 16 reads, "...Until the day after the SEVENTH Sabbath you count fifty days,..." We are to begin counting one day after the seventh day weekly Sabbath during the feast of unleavened bread. And, the fiftieth day is Pentecost; also known as the feast of weeks and the festival of the harvest (Ex 23:16, 34:22, Deut 16:16).

THE WAVE SHEAF SYMBOLISM
Within the books of Leviticus and Deuteronomy, YHWH commanded the Israelites to bring a wave sheaf to the priest when they; 1) entered the land, 2) and when they began their harvest within the land (Lev 23:10, Deut 16:9, Lev 23:15). They entered the land on the 15th of Abib, the first day of unleavened bread (Joshua 5:10-12), and they began harvesting the ripened grain crop of the land during the festival. Therefore, the waving of the sheafs occurred during the days of unleavened bread. In the land of Israel, the first spring harvest was barley. And, the wheat harvest immediately followed which was considered, the second spring harvest (Ruth 1:22, 2:23, Ex 34:22). When the wheat harvest culminated, it was celebrated on the day of Pentecost, also known as the Feast of Weeks (Lev 23:16). Therefore, the mandated wave sheaves were barley, because they were the very first cut; the commencement of the barley harvest during the feast of unleavened bread. And, they were brought as an offering unto YHWH in Jerusalem. (Lev 23:10-11, Deut 16:9, Joshua 5:10-12). Each wave-sheaf was commanded to be waved in Jerusalem, by a priest on the same day the count unto 50 (Pentecost) began which was during the festival of unleavened bread. The wave sheaf itself was the focus of this festival harvest, not the harvest ingathering finale.

The barley wave sheaf represents: Yahushua Messiah...

1. Messiah's redemption by His Father YAH in heaven. Messiah was redeemed from death, among the flesh, and the sins of all mankind. (1 Peter 1:21, Heb 9:12). He was the first of the first-fruits to be taken into the House of YHWH [in heaven]. (Ex 34:26, 1 Cor 15:20)
2. Messiah, the first of the first-fruits, was given unto us. (Deut 26:1-2,10, Col 2:6)
3. Messiah was "delivered" to the priest in Jerusalem to be condemned, and Messiah was "raised" from the dead unto heaven for our acceptance. (John 20:16-25, Mark 16:9-19, Romans 4:25) This event is likened to the Israelites who "delivered" the first-fruit barley sheaf to the priest in Jerusalem, and the priest "raised" and waved the sheaf for their acceptance. (Lev 23:10-11, Deut 26:1-11). Romans 4:25 reads, "Who (Messiah) was delivered for our offenses, and was raised again for our justification." (KJV)

COUNTDOWN UNTO OUR OWN REDEMPTION
Firstly, in priority succession, one must be pardoned from their sins by humbly consenting and partaking in Messiah's perfect sacrifice - His blood and body on Passover. Secondly, because of Messiah's resurrection, redemption was made possible for those who accepted and will accept Messiah's sacrifice. Messiah ascended into heaven and entered the Holy of Holies. He appeared perfect and unspotted before His Father YHWH on our behalf (Heb 9:11-12,24), to redeem mankind unto Elohim. These events: the day of the waving of the sheaves before the altar in the House of YHWH (Deut 26:4), and the day Messiah ascended into heaven and was taken into the house of YHWH, were both within the very day in which the first century saints began counting 50 days unto Pentecost. It was a literal countdown unto their very own spiritual redemption by Messiah, our elder brother and redeemer. (John 20:16-25, Mark 16:9-19, Ex 34:26, Romans 14:9, Gal 3:13, Gal 4:4-5, Rev 5:8-10, 14:3)

The first outpouring and implantation of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost (the 50th day) during the first century was the first phase of mans' Spiritual redemption. The receivers of the Spirit were/are the first-fruits; the saints, who are the second crop of the two crops within YHWHÕs spring salvation harvest. Messiah was the first. (Rom 8:23, James 1:18, Gal 3:13) Although, Spiritual redemption is obtained through the Holy Spirit, the first-fruit saints yet await physical rest which they will receive when Messiah returns to earth at His second coming. Messiah will return from heaven with a shout on the day of Trumpets and stand upon the Mount of Olives during the 49th year, a seventh Sabbatical year. During this 49th Sabbatical year, all debts will be released as the law mandates. And, the saints will be raised; changed from physical unto Spiritual, obtaining and entering into His full rest (Heb 4:8-11). Afterward, on the day of Atonement, during the 49th year, the trumpet will sound again. Messiah, being our High priest, will proclaim liberty (deliverance). The jubilee will be proclaimed as the following year. At the onset of the jubilee, Messiah will redeem Jerusalem and both houses of Israel. (Zech 14:4-9, Isaiah 52:7-10, 1-Thes 4:16, Leviticus 25:8-11, Joel 2, Is 11:10-16)

MULTIPLE JUBILEES
YHWH began redeeming mankind unto Himself during the first century. Everyone redeemed before Messiah's second coming are the (spring) first-fruits (Rom 8:23, James 1:18, Gal 3:13) of YHWH's harvest. And, after Messiah's second coming, he will begin redeeming the fall-fruits. Firstly, the fall-fruits who are left alive after the wrath of YHWH at the onset of the 1,000 year Sabbatical which is also the 7,000th year. Secondly, the resurrection of the dead after the millennium (also known as the second resurrection) which begins at the onset of the 8,000th year. The dead will be raised in a successive order which requires many redemption jubilees. (Romans 1:16, Zech 12:7, Ez 37:1-13, 1 Cor 15:23-28). Conjecturally, a resurrection might occur every 49th year according to generations within this last 1,000 year time frame. Although, the Jew/Israelite is first within whatever order YHWH has planned.

The 8,000th year in YHWHÕs plan for mankind is represented by both; the day of Pentecost and the Last Great Day. The Last Great Day, is one day after the seven day festival of Booths/Ingathering which is called the eighth day (Leviticus 23:36) The day of Pentecost foreshadows this Last Great Day as it is also one day after a seven day weekly span.

Pentecost (also known as the Festival of Weeks) and the Closing Day are both a new beginning for mankind. Pentecost was a specific day the Spirit was made available and poured out upon man during the first century. And, the Closing Day, the eighth day is the 8,000th year time period when the Spirit will again be made available and poured out upon the rest of mankind after being resurrected from the dead (Hosea 6:1-3, Ez 37:11-14). It is no coincidence that during the first century, Messiah announced the soon coming Holy Spirit on the last Great Day - the eighth day of the festival of Booths/Ingathering. (John 7:37-39).

It is also no coincidence the ancient Israelites were mandated to circumcise all male born children on the eighth day (Lev 12:3) of life. Circumcision was the sign of the covenant (Rom 4:9-13, Gen 17:11-12, Deut 10:16). And, it also foreshadows the eighth day, Closing Day of the festival of Booths / Ingathering when those within the second resurrection (Rev 20:4-6) will receive the new covenant: circumcision of the heart by the implantation of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost during the 8,000th year period (Deut 30:1-3,6, Rom 2:28-29, Hebrews 8:8-11, Rev 22:17).

The 8,000th year time period embodies the final recurring jubilees of redemption. And, it represents a new beginning for all of mankind unto eternity with their Creator. The day of Pentecost foreshadows this grand finale - a new beginning (Ephesians 1:9-10).

OVERALL SUMMARY
Yahushua Messiah lived a perfect life in the flesh, and died in our stead so that we could be redeemed from the death penalty imposed upon us by the first Adam (Gal 3:13). Messiah openly announced this redemption on the last great day - the one day following the seven day feast of Tabernacles (John 7:37-39) during the first century. THIS IS the GOOD NEWS.

Galatians 5:1 "In the FREEDOM with which Messiah has made us free, stand firm then, and do not again be held with a yoke of slavery."

We obtain redemption by the implantation of the Holy Spirit which transforms our carnal nature into His Spirtual nature. And, this very Holy Spirit was poured out on the day of Pentecost within the year following Messiah's announcement; a jubilee year.

Pentecost is a celebration of freedom/redemption unto eternal life, thus a Spiritual jubilee depicted by the 50 day count.

Pentecost is special day in YHWH's plan of salvation which will eventually engulf all of mankind. Although Pentecost is a spring crop harvest festival, it forshaddows the last great day within the fall crop harvest.

The last weekly Sabbath within the count unto Pentecost represents the last seventh Sabbatical year before the jubilee - the 50th year. Just as Jubilee is one day after the seventh Sabbitical year, Pentecost, the 50th day is one day after a seventh day weekly Sabbath. Pentecost is observed on the first day of the week which reveals: 1) an 8,000 year plan. 2) it forshaddows THE last and eighth (Holy) day within YHWH's plan of salvation, the one day after the seven day feast of Ingathering, 3) and, a new beginning for all of mankind; who ever accepts the Living Word. It was no coincidence, on the last great day (eighth day) during the first century, Messiah announced Spiritual redemption (the Holy Spirit) which was poured out in the following year on the day of Pentecost.