April 27, 2021: NOW is the time to prepare for SHAVUOT!!
We are currently more than half way through the COUNTING of the OMER, as instructed in Deuteronomy 16:9
“Count off seven weeks [Shavuot] from the time you begin to put the sickle to the standing grain.”
This is a VERY SPECIAL SEASON that leads up to SHAVUOT (Feast of Weeks, also called "Pentecost"). This year, SHAVUOT begins on Sunday May 16th, 2021!
After the appointed festivals of Pesach (Passover) and Bikkurim (First Fruits), which occurred on the second day of Passover, we entered into a period called SEFIRAT HA'OMER, or "Counting the Omer" (Sheaf).
WHAT Is the OMER and WHY Is It COUNTED?
“From the day AFTER the SABBATH, the day you brought the SHEAF [OMER] of the WAVE OFFERING, count off SEVEN FULL WEEKS [SABBATHS].” Leviticus 23:15
An OMER is a UNIT of MEASURE that refers to SHEAVES of a harvested CROP.
In ancient times, the Jewish People brought the Omer of barley to the Temple as an OFFERING on the second day of Passover.
The Torah commands the Jewish People to COUNT SEVEN WEEKS (49 days) from the time of this WAVE OFFERING until the evening of the FESTIVAL of SHAVUOT. Shavuot occurs on the 50TH DAY.
The number 50 is associated with the YEAR OF JUBILEE and, therefore, represents FREEDOM and LIBERATION! (Leviticus 25:10)
It's a time when the SHOFAR IS PLAYED and all slaves would go FREE and ALL DEBTS would be CANCELED!
Similarly, we are to be COUNTING THE DAYS in ANTICIPATION until YESHUA RETURNS and establishes HIS KINGDOM of RIGHTEOUSNESS, PEACE, and JUSTICE on this earth!
As we continue to count the Omer, we draw closer to the end of this 49-day period that culminates in the 50th day, CHAG HA'SHAVUOT - "Feast of Weeks".
On the 50th DAY, a NEW GRAIN OFFERING is to be presented to the LORD and a sacred assembly held to CELEBRATE the FEAST OF SHAVUOT (Weeks/Pentecost).
“Count off fifty days up to the day after the seventh Sabbath, and then PRESENT AN OFFERING OF NEW GRAIN to the LORD.” Leviticus 23:15-16
Although we are no longer required to bring an Omer offering to the TEMPLE, the Counting of the Omer is still observed as a TIME TO REFLECT on our CHARACTER, so that we are properly PREPARED to come BEFORE the LORD, on SHAVUOT, to offer up our lives as LIVING SACRIFICES.
"Therefore, I URGE you, brothers and sisters, in view of GOD'S MERCY, to OFFER your bodies as a LIVING SACRIFICE, HOLY and PLEASESING to GOD--this is your TRUE and proper WORSHIP." Romans 12:1
And in Jewish tradition, Shavuot is regarded as the time of the giving of the TORAH on MOUNT SINAI.
These 50 days remind us that GOD not only physically FREED the Israelites from bondage in Egypt, but HE also freed them SPIRITUALLY from idolatry and immorality by giving them the LAW on MOUNT SINAI.
However, PRAISE THE LORD that the SIGNIFICANCE of the feast, DID NOT END on Mount Sinai!
Counting the Omer POINTS to the 50 DAYS after YESHUA'S (Jesus) RESSURECTION from the dead, and appeared several times in HIS RESURRECTED BODY, until HE ASCENDED to Heaven. He then SENT the promised RUACH HA'KODESH (Holy Spirit) to FILL the Apostles and others who were WAITING in Jerusalem!! (Acts 2:1–31)
RECEIVING the RUACH HA'KODESH (Holy Spirit) is our SEAL of FREEDOM FOREVER!!!
As it is written in John 3:5: “YESHUA answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is BORN of WATER and the SPIRIT, he CANNOT ENTER the KINGDOM of GOD.”
Shavuot is the Feast of YHWH!
Therefore, PREPARE yourself! SHAVUOT begins on Sunday May 16th, 2021!