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We observe the Appointed Time of Harvest (Shavuot or Pentecost) on the 50th day after the Passover Sabbath; counting - as do the Jews - from the morrow after the first day of unleavened bread.

As is well known, the Appointed Time (Feast) of Harvest (Pentecost) occurs seven complete weeks after the consecration of the harvest by the offering of the wave sheaf of first ripe barley. This sheaf was waved on "the morrow after the Sabbath".

Note the words "on the morrow after the Sabbath." In this letter I will give you scriptural reasons why we count to Pentecost from the morrow after the first day of unleavened bread. We should base our opinions on the Scriptures alone. On this subject we find that Leviticus 23:11-14 states that the harvest was not to be eaten till after the wave sheaf and the food and drink offerings had been presented to YaHuWaH.

The statutory progression of events was as follows:

1. First came the Sabbath. (the one we are trying to identify)
2. Then on the next day the wave sheaf and the meat and drink offerings were presented to YaHuWaH.
3. And AFTER that Israel was allowed to eat bread, parched corn or green ears.

It is this third point, the eating of the bread, parched corn or green years, that gives us the clue as to which Sabbath triggers the 50th day count to Pentecost. We read further in the book of Joshua that the children of Israel, in obedience to the regulations laid down in Leviticus 23:11-14 ate the corn of the land "on the morrow after the Passover."
Note the words "on the morrow after the Passover".

Looking at this passage closely and comparing it with the one in Leviticus 23, we cannot help but conclude that Joshua (a type of Messiah) was here faithfully carrying out the instructions given in Leviticus 23, and that "the morrow after the Sabbath" in Leviticus 23 and "the morrow after the Passover" in Joshua 5 were in fact referring to the same day. And so, though, we still haven't identified the Sabbath of Leviticus 23:11, we now know that in the book of Joshua that same Sabbath was called "the Passover". The inevitable question now becomes: and what day is the Passover held on - which in Leviticus 23:11 is simply called "the Sabbath"?

The answer is, the Passover is held on the first day of unleavened bread, which is also a Sabbath day. Yes, the Passover is held on the first day of unleavened bread (15th.Aviv) Here is the proof.

These three texts prove that the preparations for the Passover took place just before the first day of unleavened bread - that is, at the end of the 14th Aviv. This is in complete agreement with YaHuWaH 's instructions as recorded in Exodus 12 where we see how the Passover Lamb was slain towards the evening or end of the 14th Abib - the period which immediately preceded the first day of unleavened bread. (Exodus 12:5-6)

The inevitable conclusion, therefore, is: that Joshua must have kept the Passover on the first day of unleavened bread and then gone on to eat the corn of the land on the morrow after it.

In other words, Joshua's 50 day count to Pentecost must have begun on the morrow after the first day of unleavened bread, which is a Sabbath day.

By way of summary we may say that we count to Pentecost from:

1. The morrow after the Sabbath. (Lev. 23:11) which elsewhere is referred to as
2. The morrow after the Passover (Joshua 5:11), which elsewhere is identified as
3. The first day of the Feast of unleavened bread.

Concerning the wording of Leviticus 23:15-16, Hebrew scholars admit that the words "seven Sabbaths" and the "seventh Sabbath" in these verses do not necessarily mean seven Saturdays but rather "seven weeks". Even the Greeks who translated this as Pentecost understood it to mean 7 weeks - not 7 Saturdays. Using a calendar which is not distorted by man made regulations and traditions we count to Pentecost each year, because it does not always fall on the 6th day of Sivan every year as some incorrectly suppose. Because the first and second months do not have fixed lengths Pentecost must be counted to.

In the present Jewish calendar months have fixed lengths - and this is not strictly scriptural. Abib, for instance could be 30 days or 29 days in length. Likewise the second month, it may be 29 or 30 days in length. This affects the count - so Pentecost is counted to, because it does NOT always fall on the 6th day of Sivan.

The Boethusian way of counting 50 days from the Sunday during the week of unleavened bread is, nevertheless, worthy of consideration. You will need to contact other groups who use that method. We also keep a close watch for the SIGNS in the sun, moon and stars on the Sunday that is arrived at by that method of counting. As it is a non-working day in Britain, we have no trouble doing this. No doubt a SIGN in the sun or moon, as indicated in Genesis 1:14, would settle the matter as to which counting method is correct.

There has been centuries of dispute over the 'count to Pentecost,' and no doubt this will continue till the Master returns. Meanwhile my advice to all is to keep an open mind on it and respect the opinions of other believers. Above all we cannot afford to pontificate on the subject, because it is not as clear cut as some think.

By far the greater issue is the one about the distorted calendar that so many festival-keeping Believers in Messiah are currently using. That error alone causes millions of believers to inadvertently keep over half of YaHuWaH 's festivals on the wrong dates in two out of three years.