Pentecost – the gift of the Holy Spirit achieved the goal of the Torah

“You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings, and brought you unto Myself. Now therefore, if you will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then you shall be a peculiar treasure to me above all people …”(Exodus 19:4-5) God redeemed the children of Israel […]

Counting the omer – Part 1 – from Bondage to Revelation and beyond

The history of the Exodus is prophetic and contains many pointers to the later and ultimate Redemption. The events following the first Passover in Egypt were thus ‘codified’ in the Jewish festive calendar, serving as an annual reminder of this important history and establishing the ongoing significance of these events for future generations. At the same time, Israel’s failure to possess […]

The second omer – Daniel’s countdown from exile to Messiah

Seventy weeks are determined upon your people and upon your holy city … Daniel 9: 24 In a previous article, Counting the omer – part 1, we considered the history of the Exodus from the Passover to Shavuot (Pentecost) and saw how this history was “codified” in the Jewish festive calendar. We also saw how Israel failed to realise its […]

The Feast of Weeks – Pentecost / Shavuot

“From the day after the Sabbath, the day you brought the sheaf of the wave offering, count off seven full weeks. 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). Background to the Feast of Pentecost Pentecost, or the […]

Shavuot and the giving of the Torah

Shavuot, the Feast of Weeks, also known as Pentecost, is a celebration of the firstfruits of the spring harvest. It is a time of rejoicing before the Lord: From the day after the Sabbath, the day you brought the sheaf (the Omer) of the wave offering, count off seven full weeks. Count off fifty days […]