Chapter 2: Introduction

The Empowerment of the Local Commission: Jerusalem

A. Pentecost: Acts 2:1-41

1. Arrival: Acts 1:1

a) Chronology of Pentecost. – 50 days after Passover

SPRING FEASTS (Picturing Christ’s First Coming)

Passover Feast. (Leviticus 23:4-8)

Leviticus 23:4–8 KJV 1900

4 These are the feasts of the Lord, even holy convocations, which ye shall proclaim in their seasons. 5 In the fourteenth day of the first month at even is the Lord’s passover. 6 And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the feast of unleavened bread unto the Lord: seven days ye must eat unleavened bread. 7 In the first day ye shall have an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein. 8 But ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the Lord seven days: in the seventh day is an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein.

Jewish - Nisan (Abib) 14 – Christian Mar/Apr

OT – The Exodus.

NT – Speaks of CALVARY. (1 Corinthians 5:7)

* Christ died on Passover.

1 Corinthians 5:7 KJV 1900

7 Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:

Unleavened Bread Feast. (Leviticus 23:4-8)

Jewish - Nisan (Abib) 15-21 – Christian Mar/Apr

OT – The Exodus.

NT – Speaks of Calvary. (1 Corinthians 5:7)

* 1st comes REDEMPTION, then a Separated Walk.

The Feast of First Fruits. (Leviticus 23:9-14)

Leviticus 23:9–14 KJV 1900

9 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 10 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye be come into the land which I give unto you, and shall reap the harvest thereof, then ye shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest unto the priest: 11 And he shall wave the sheaf before the Lord, to be accepted for you: on the morrow after the sabbath the priest shall wave it. 12 And ye shall offer that day when ye wave the sheaf an he lamb without blemish of the first year for a burnt offering unto the Lord. 13 And the meat offering thereof shall be two tenth deals of fine flour mingled with oil, an offering made by fire unto the Lord for a sweet savour: and the drink offering thereof shall be of wine, the fourth part of an hin. 14 And ye shall eat neither bread, nor parched corn, nor green ears, until the selfsame day that ye have brought an offering unto your God: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations in all your dwellings.

Jewish - Nisan (Abib) 16 – Christian Mar/Apr

OT – Crossing the Red Sea.

NT – RESURRECTION of Christ. (1 Corinthians 15:23)

The Feast of Weeks or Pentecost. (Leviticus 23:15-25)

*Occurred after a week of weeks (7 weeks – 49 days) after Passover on the 50th day.

Jewish - Sivan 6 – Christian May-June

OT – Moses receiving the Law.

NT – Coming of the SPIRIT.

FALL FEASTS (Picturing Christ’s Second Coming)

5) The Feast of Trumpets. (Lev. 23:23-25)

Jewish - Tishri (Ethanim) 1 – Christian Sept/Oct

OT – Memorial trumpets were blown on the 1st day of the 7th month reminding Israel of the trumpets blown 7 times to command travel in the Wilderness Wanderings.

NT – The Rapture. (1 Thess. 4:13-18)

1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 KJV 1900

13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 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: 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. 18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

6) The Day of Atonement. (Lev. 23:26-32)

Jewish - Tishri (Ethanim) 10 – Christian Sept/Oct

OT – National Atonement when the High Priest entered the Holy of Holies on the 10th day of the 7th month.

NT – Prophetic – The Tribulation.

Christological – The Sacrifice of Christ. (Heb. 9:24)

Hebrews 9:24 KJV 1900

24 For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:

7) The Feast of Tabernacles (Booths, Ingatherings). (Lev. 23:33-43)

Jewish - Tishri (Ethanim) 10 – Christian Sept/Oct

OT – Wilderness Wanderings (when Israel tabernacle

with the Shekinah Glory Presence of God)

NT – The Millennium when Israel will again dwell with God’s presence and when all the great soul harvest of the ages will be completed. (Rev. 20:1-6)

Revelation 20:1–6 KJV 1900

1 And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. 2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, 3 And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season. 4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. 5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

b) Comparison of Pentecost.

1) New Testament Pentecost may be compared to Old Testament Babel.

a. At Babel we see sinful men working for their own glory. (Gen 11:4)

b. At Pentecost we see saved men WAITING for God’s glory (Acts 1:14)

c. At Babel God Confounded man’s language. (Gen 11:9)

d. At Pentecost, God CLARIFIED man’s language. (Acts 2:8)

e. At Babel, God Scattered all nations throughout the world. (Gen 11:9)

f. At Pentecost, God GATHERED men from all nations within His church. (Eph. 1:10)

2) New Testament Pentecost compared with Old Testament Pentecost.

a. OT Pentecost occurred 50 days after Israel was set free from Egypt.

b. NT Pentecost occurred 50 days after our freedom from SIN by the Resurrection.

c. OT Pentecost witnessed the slaying of some 3,000 souls.

d. NT Pentecost witnessed the SAVING of some 3,000 souls.

e. OT Pentecost was the day Israel received the Law.

1. The Law shows the HOLINESS of God.

i. Ex 20:3 – “no other gods before me”

ii. Ex 20:4 – “no graven images”

iii. Ex 20:5 – “no worship of the images”

iv. Ex 20:7 – “no taking the name of God in vain.

2. The Law shows our sinfulness. (Romans 3:23)

f. NT Pentecost was the day the Church received the Spirit.

1. The Spirit shows our Messiah, Jesus Christ.

2. The Spirit shows our forgiveness and new life.

g. OT Pentecost was introduced in a mighty way. (Ex 19:16, 18)

Exodus 19:16 KJV 1900

16 And it came to pass on the third day in the morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud; so that all the people that was in the camp trembled.

Exodus 19:18 KJV 1900

18 And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the Lord descended upon it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly.

h. NT Pentecost was introduced in a might way. (Acts 2:2-3)

Acts 2:2–3 KJV 1900

2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.

c) Comprehension of Pentecost. (Lev. 23:15-17)

Leviticus 23:15–17 KJV 1900

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.

1) The Harvests. (Lev 23:15-16)

A) “the morrow after the Sabbath” vs. 15

1. The beginning of the barley harvest.

2. The Feast of First Fruits.

3. The Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

B) “NEW” meat offering unto the Lord” vs. 16

???The SECOND First Fruits???

1. The beginning of the wheat harvest.

2. The Followers of Jesus Christ.

James 1:17–18 KJV 1900

17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. 18 Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

Note: In Christ, we are the FIRST FRUITS unto God for God’s use only.

2) The Fundamentals. (Lev 23:17)

a. Dateless.

1. Shavuot means WEEKS – Feast of Weeks.

i. Not long time.

ii. 1 day.

2. Only Feast without a specific DATE for celebration.

3. Colossal.

i. OT – Law brought together and organized a nation.

ii. NT – Spirit brought together all nations into the body.

4. Confusing.

i. Forces Focus on PASSOVER to Celebrate Pentecost.

ii. Foundation of Life – Focus on Christ’s Death and Resurrection.

b. Two Loaves

1. Only place where 2 loaves are asked.

2. 2 Witnesses in Agreement. (Deut 19:15)

Deuteronomy 19:15 KJV 1900

15 One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sinneth: at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established.

3. 2 Witnesses sent by Jesus.

4. 2 NATIONS gathered. (Acts 2:10)

i. Jews

ii. Proselytes (Gentiles)

Application: The CHURCH is a unique offering made up of 2 groups of people in unity presented in Christ Jesus.

c. LEAVEN

1. Pictures Sin, Unbelief, Hypocrisy, Insincerity.(Luke 12:1; 1 Cor 5:6-8)

Luke 12:1 KJV 1900

1 In the mean time, when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people, insomuch that they trode one upon another, he began to say unto his disciples first of all, Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.

1 Corinthians 5:6–8 KJV 1900

6 Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? 7 Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: 8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

2. Could not be offered in sacrifices. (Lev 2:11)

Leviticus 2:11 KJV 1900

11 No meat offering, which ye shall bring unto the Lord, shall be made with leaven: for ye shall burn no leaven, nor any honey, in any offering of the Lord made by fire.

3. Now it is Mandated.

Application: We come to God as we are. Salvation is “as is”.

d. Fine Flour

1. Means crushed down, beat down, until perfectly consistent.

2. Highest grade flour used from the best part of the wheat grain.

3. Considered a luxury item used for sacrifices or in a king’s household.

Application: Trials, tribulations, and chastening in our life mold and shapes us to be CONFORMED to the image of Jesus Christ to be PRESENTED to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

e. Baken 1 Cor 3:11-15

1 Corinthians 3:11–15 KJV 1900

11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; 13 Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. 14 If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 15 If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

Application: One day, our works will be tried with fire to what sort it is.