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While WLC continues to uphold the observance of the Seventh-Day Sabbath, which is at the heart of Yahuwah's moral law, the Ten Commandments, we no longer believe that the annual feast days are binding upon believers today. Still, though, we humbly encourage all to set time aside to commemorate the yearly feasts with solemnity and joy, and to learn from Yahuwah’s instructions concerning their observance under the Old Covenant. Doing so will surely be a blessing to you and your home, as you study the wonderful types and shadows that point to the exaltation of Messiah Yahushua as the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, the conquering lion of the tribe of Judah, and the Lamb of Yahuwah that takes away the sins of the world. |
World’s Last Chance is a team of non-denominational volunteers who have dedicated themselves to sharing the Bible truth in its entirety. When given the evidence for the Lunar Sabbath, it was studied line upon line and precept upon precept until we had no other choice than to proclaim it to be precious Light from Yahuwah for His last day people. We have since been blessed with new Light regarding our Heavenly Father’s Sacred Name and the Sacred Name of His Blessed Son, Yahushua. So when the proposal was laid before us that the “popular” methods, including our own, of counting to the Feast of Weeks (Pentecost) were incorrect, the WLC Team had once again arrived at a pivotal crossroads in Biblical Doctrine! Although skeptical, we had to study it out and journey forward with the weight of evidence, wherever it might lead. Our Loving and Merciful Father Yahuwah is truly restoring all of His divine ordinances. We whole-heartedly believe that we have been in error about how to count to the Feast of Weeks! Rather than presenting an enormous dissertation of our conclusions, we shall provide you with what we feel is more than sufficient evidence to discard our former understanding of the count to the Feast of Weeks (7 complete Sabbaths plus 1 day) in favor of reckoning 7 Sabbaths Complete and then numbering 50 days (Lev. 23:16), placing the Feast of Weeks on the 28th or 29th of the Fourth Month on Yahuwah’s Luni-Solar Calendar. Please be like the Bereans and study these points out for yourselves, as each must decide for themselves based on what they believe to be the weight of Scriptural evidence.
“…they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so. Therefore many of them believed…” Acts 17:11-12
Notice that this new understanding creates a beautiful pattern of Feasts being in the Spring, Summer, and Fall; each corresponding to a season of harvest. The Feast of Weeks is the only Feast that is not a fixed day on Yahuwah’s Calendar; incidentally, it is also the only Feast in which we are asked to count in order to find the day (See Leviticus 23:16).
Here is a more detailed chart that explains the calculations of how to count to the Feast of Weeks (Pentecost). The calculation is very simple and you only have 2 options.
Doctrinal changes are NO small matter, and this is a most serious issue to everyone at WLC. As honest Bible students, however, we must always yield to the weight of evidence, even if it is not in harmony with our cherished traditions and preconceptions. If we are to receive greater light, we must be obedient to the light that is immediately before us.
"But the path of the just is like the shining sun, That shines ever brighter unto the perfect day." Prov. 4:18 (NKJV)
That being said, here are several solid points of evidence favoring the count to the Feast of Weeks being 7 Sabbaths Complete (or 7 Complete Weeks) PLUS 50 Days:
"And thou shalt observe the feast of weeks, of the firstfruits of wheat harvest,
and the feast of ingathering at the year's end." (Exodus 34:22)
"Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest" (John 4:35, KJV)
A study of John's narration indicates that Yahushua likely said this around the time of the Passover (i.e. the First Month). This means that Yahushua believed that the wheat would not be ready to harvest until about the middle of Summer. No one argued with Him!
In order to maintain that the 9th day of the third lunation is the correct date for observing Pentecost, we must believe that the scene at the well here (John 4) took place in winter. This does not seem reasonable, as the chronology of John's narrative as well as the context of Yahushua's conversation with the woman at the well strongly suggests that a pilgrimage feast was at hand.
It is worth noting Fenton's literal translation of the Greek text. Fenton suggests that Yahushua actually stated plainly that the wheat harvest took place in the "fourth month."
"Do you not say, 'The harvest comes with the fourth month'? See! Look up, I tell you, and survey the fields; for they are already white for harvesting." (John 4:35, Fenton)
"And the Yahuwah said unto Moses, Stretch forth thine hand toward heaven, that there may be hail in all the land of Egypt, upon man, and upon beast, and upon every herb of the field, throughout the land of Egypt. . . . And the flax and the barley was smitten: for the barley was in the ear, and the flax was bolled. But the wheat and the rye were not smitten: for they were not grown up
When the hail fell in the early part of Abib (Month 1), the wheat was not destroyed because it was unripe (it had not even sprouted). The Tyndale Bible supports this understanding:
"but the wheat and the rye were not smitten, for they were late sown." (Ex 9:32, Tyndale Translation)
In order for the wheat to have been ready for harvest by the 9th day of the third lunation (Sivan 9), it would have had to go from seed to harvest in about two months! This is simply not possible. Wheat generally takes 100-120 days to mature (about 3 1/2 - 4 months).
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This would not make any sense if Pentecost were to be celebrated on Sivan 6 or 91 (the 6th or 9th of the Third Month). Israel had yet to even arrive at Mt. Sinai on the 9th of Third Month, much less receive the Law! Here are the details of the count of 50 days:
In Exodus 19:1, we read: "In the third month, when the children of Israel were gone forth out of the land of Egypt, the same day came they into the wilderness of Sinai." From this we learn, that Israel arrived at Mt. Sinai on the 15th day of the Third Month. We can know this because Moses tells us that they arrived on the same day of the month that they had left Egypt, which was the 15th (Num. 33:3). This means that Israel arrived at Mt. Sinai exactly 7 days after the "seventh complete Sabbath," which is always the 8th day of the Third Month (See chart above).
If we continue reading, we see that the Israelites were commanded by Moses to consecrate themselves and wash their clothes for they were to meet with Yahuwah - in 3 days. "For on the third day, Yahuwah will come down upon Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people" (Ex 19:10-11). By this we can conclude that Yahuwah descended on Mt Sinai in the sight of all the people exactly 10 days after the "seventh complete Sabbath" (8th day of Third Month + 7 days + 3 days).
In Exodus 20:18-21, we read that the Israelites were terrified at the presence of Yahuwah, so they ask Moses to speak to Yahuwah for them. Moses then ascends the mountain, where he remains for "forty days and forty nights" (Ex. 24:18). After 40 days, Moses descends Mt. Sinai with the Ten Commandments Law of Yahuwah (Deut. 9:9-12). From this, we can conclude with certainty that Moses descended Mt. Sinai with the Commandments EXACTLY 50 days after the "seventh complete Sabbath" (8th day of Third Month + 7 days + 3 days + 40 days). Amazing! So we most definitely agree that the Feast of Weeks is a memorial of the giving of the Law! And now we can keep it on the right day! Praise Yahuwah!
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SPECIAL NOTE on the timing of the GIVING of the law – to the people [the Ekklesia in the wilderness Acts 7:38]:
Throughout Exodus 19 and 20 we are told that everything spoken both by Yahuwah and the people was relayed through Moses. The purpose of this was to confirm Moses’ position as Yahuwah’s installed / authorized leader / mediator. [Just as Yahushua was Yahuwah’s anointed /appointed mediator]
Exodus 19
3 And Moses went up unto Yahuwah, and Yahuwah called unto him out of the mountain, saying, Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel;
8 And all the people answered together, and said, All that Yahuwah hath spoken we will do. And Moses returned the words of the people unto Yahuwah.
9 And Yahuwah said unto Moses, Lo, I come unto thee in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with thee, and believe thee for ever. And Moses told the words of the people unto Yahuwah.
25 So Moses went down unto the people, and spake unto them.
Exodus 20
Here Yahuwah SPOKE /ANNOUNCED the 10 commands [to Moses who was close and comprehended His words] but all the people perceived was that Yahuwah was speaking to Moses.
18 And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off.
19 And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not Yahuwah speak with us, lest we die.
20 And Moses said unto the people, Fear not: for Yahuwah is come to prove you, and that his fear may be before your faces, that ye sin not.
21 And the people stood afar off, and Moses drew near unto the thick darkness where Yahuwah was.
22 And Yahuwah said unto Moses, Thus thou shalt say unto the children of Israel, Ye have seen that I have talked with you from heaven.
From the above, we can conclude the following:
In Exodus 20, the 10 commands were SPOKEN / ANNOUNCED with Moses’ clear understanding but the people did not comprehend the words. These were later WRITTEN on tablets and GIVEN to Moses as head / leader / representative of Israel and all the others including the mixed multitude encamped at Mt Sinai.
"And Yahuwah said unto Moses, Come up to me into the mount, and be there: and I will give thee tables of stone, and a law, and commandments which I have written; that thou mayest teach them". (Exodus 24:12)
The symbolism here is unique in that Moses, the mediator, had the law before it was GIVEN to Israel [the Ekklesia in the wilderness - Acts 7:38 ] just as Yahushua, our Mediator, had the Holy Spirit before it was GIVEN to the Ekklesia at The Feast of Weeks [Pentecost].
"This is he, that was in the ch-rch […Ekklesia] in the wilderness with the angel which spake to him in the mount Sinai, and with our fathers: who received the lively oracles to give unto us." (Acts 7:38)
CONCLUSION:
The commands were GIVEN to Israel [the Ekklesia in the wilderness] only AFTER Moses had ascended and later came down with Yahuwah’s WORD from the mount. The Holy Spirit was GIVEN to the Ekklesia at "Pentecost" [Feast of Weeks], only AFTER Yahushua had ascended to heaven and came down with Yahuwah’s SPIRIT as the Holy Spirit. |
"And when Aaron saw it, he built an altar before it; and Aaron made proclamation, and said, Tomorrow is a feast [Strong's H2282] to Yahuwah." (Ex 32:5)
Note: Yahuwah does not reprimand His high priest [Aaron] for proclaiming a feast on the wrong day; rather Yahuwah cites idolatry as the reason for His anger. (Ex. 32:7-9; Deut.9:16, 20)
Moses descended the mountain with the Ten Commandments Law of Yahuwah on the same day that Aaron (the high priest) somehow knew to proclaim a "feast [khag] to Yahuwah." This took place EXACTLY 50 DAYS AFTER THE "SEVENTH COMPLETE SABBATH"! It is simply NOT reasonable to dismiss all of these things as coincidence.
Note: It seems that the children of Israel had been anticipating a feast on this very day, for on the preceding day, we see that it was when they saw that Moses "delayed," that they went to Aaron, and began making their own [wicked] preparations for a feast the following day. "And when the people saw that Moses delayed to come down out of the mount, the people gathered themselves together unto Aaron, and said unto him, Up, make us gods, which shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him. . ." (Ex 32:1, KJV)
Incidentally, this is one of the most remarkable proofs for the lunar Sabbath! For only by counting "seven complete Sabbaths" on a luni-solar calendar, and then counting 50 days, can you locate the Biblical Feast of Weeks! This means that only those who use the luni-solar calendar to reckon the Seventh Day Sabbaths (in addition to the other feast days) can locate Yahuwah's appointed Feast of Weeks - the feast most closely associated with the pouring out of the Holy Spirit and the latter rain!
"Yahuwah, who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. But if the ministry of death, written and engraved on stones, was glorious . . . how will the ministry of the Spirit not be more glorious?" 2 Cor. 3:6-8
Yahuwah said that the first fruits of the wheat harvest would be that which Israel had sown in the field.
" . . and the Feast of Harvest [Feast of Weeks], the firstfruits of your labors which you have sown in the field . . . The first of the firstfruits of your land you shall bring into the house of Yahuwah your Elohim." (Exodus 23:16, 19)
According to Joshua, they did not arrive in the "promised land" until Abib (See Joshua, Chapters 3-5). In order for the children of Israel to be able to offer a “new [wheat]” offering at the Feast of Weeks from that which they themselves had sown in the field, they would have had to plant spring wheat [which matures in the Summer] after they arrived in the land in the First Month. It is a physical impossibility for wheat to mature in 50 days. The EARLIEST that the Israelites could have had wheat that they themselves had sown would have been late in the Fourth Month.
Scripture continually associates the wheat harvest with the grape harvest, both taking place in the Summer. The "new wine" spoken of in Acts Chapter 2 would not have been available in the Third Month (Spring).
"And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. . . . [Some] mocking said, ‘These men are full of new wine. [Strong's G1098]’" (Acts 2:3-4, 13)
Peter speaking on the Day of Pentecost: "But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith Yahuwah, I will pour out of My Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: And on My servants and on My handmaidens I will pour out in those days of My Spirit; and they shall prophesy . . . " (Acts 2:16-18, KJV)
Peter is quoting from the following passage: "And the floors shall be full of wheat, and the fats shall overflow with wine and oil. . . . And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out My Spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out My Spirit." (Joel 2:24, 28-30, KJV)
Scripture continually associates the wheat harvest with the grape harvest, both taking place in the Summer. (See: Neh.13:15; 2 Chron. 31:5; Jer. 8:20; Jer. 40:10; Dan. 2:35; Micah 7:1; Judg. 15:1-5; Hag. 1:11; Joel 2:24-28) Note: Grain crops (e.g.. wheat) are often translated as "corn."
This new understanding explains why we are instructed by Yahuwah to "count" (See Lev. 23:16) - and why we are not simply instructed to observe a fixed date (i.e. Sivan 6 or 91).
When we examine the actual Hebrew of Leviticus 23:16, we find a problem. When comparing the English translation with the Hebrew, you will notice that the translators neglected to translate one of the characters/words!
From the above lexicon charts, we can see clearly that 'ad - min - mochorath is most accurately translated as
"FROM the morrow".
Notice in the red box above that when 'ad is with min, it means "From".
"FROM the morrow after the seventh Sabbath shall ye number fifty days; and ye shall offer a new meat offering unto Yahuwah." Leviticus 23:16
This is why we believe that the Ferrar Fenton Translation offers a more accurate rendering of this verse:
WLC is by no means endorsing the Fenton translation in its entirety.
Mr. Fenton, however, was clearly faithful to the Hebrew text when translating Leviticus 23:15-17, where other translators were not.
"Strict integrity should be cherished by every student. Every mind should turn with reverent attention to the revealed word of Yahuwah. Light and grace will be given to those who thus obey Yahuwah. They will behold wondrous things out of His law. Great truths that have lain unheeded and unseen since the day of Pentecost, are to shine from Yahuwah's word in their native purity. To those who truly love Yahuwah the Holy Spirit will reveal truths that have faded from the mind, and will also reveal truths that are entirely new." --Fundamentals of Christian Education, p.473*
When confronted with unfamiliar doctrine, it is only natural to have reservations, questions, and/or concerns. As serious Bible students and lovers of Truth, we must approach all proposed light with the utmost care, caution, and prayer. Here are some concerns that we had to address ourselves in order to fully and boldly embrace this New Light!
QUESTION: "In the retelling of the Law in Deuteronomy 16:9-10, there is no reference to the additional count of 50 days. If we are supposed to count 50 days in addition to the seven complete Sabbaths, wouldn't it be noted in these passages?"
ANSWER: You will notice that there are many details missing from Deuteronomy 16. For example, no dates are given for Passover, the Feast of Unleavened Bread, or the Feast of Tabernacles. Also, in regards to the Feast of Weeks, there is no mention of a fiftieth day (or the day after the seventh complete week/Sabbath), either. If we were to look only at this chapter, we would not know with certainty when to observe any of the Feasts. The absence of details in this chapter is certainly very puzzling, but does not conclusively prove anything. Omission of details is not the equivalent to making a contradictory declaration. Every piece of evidence must be considered. As with all bible study, line must be upon line and precept must be upon precept (Isaiah 28:10).
QUESTION: "Doesn’t Scripture state that wheat was to be harvested in the Spring?"
ANSWER: Where in Scripture does is state that the wheat harvest that coincided with the Feast of Weeks took place in the Spring?
Scripture continually makes the connection between the grape harvest and the wheat harvest, both taking place in the SUMMER. (Counting from First Fruits, 7 Complete Weeks + 50 days = end of July / beginning of August - In the MIDDLE OF SUMMER)
Notice the following verses:
"In those days saw I in Judah some TREADING WINE PRESSES on the sabbath, and BRINGING IN SHEAVES [of grain], and lading asses; as also WINE, GRAPES, and figs, and all manner of burdens, which they brought into Jerusalem on the sabbath day: and I testified against them in the day wherein they sold victuals." (Neh.13:15)
"And as soon as the commandment came abroad, the children of Israel brought in abundance the FIRSTFRUITS of [H1715 dagan, "grain"] CORN, WINE, and oil, and honey, and of all the increase of the fields; and the tithe of all things brought they in abundantly." (2 Chron. 31:5)
"The HARVEST is past, the SUMMER is ended, and we are not saved." (Jer. 8:20)
" ...but ye, gather ye WINE, and SUMMER FRUITS, and oil, and put them in your vessels, and dwell in your cities that ye have taken." (Jer. 40:10)
"Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the CHAFF of the SUMMER THRESHING FLOORS; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them...." (Dan. 2:35)
"Woe is me! for I am as when they have gathered the SUMMER FRUITS, as the GRAPE GLEANINGS of the VINTAGE: there is no cluster to eat: my soul desired the FIRST RIPE FRUIT." (Micah 7:1)
"But it came to pass within a while after, in the time of WHEAT HARVEST, that Samson visited his wife... . . . And when [Samson] had set the brands on fire, he let them go into the STANDING CORN [grain] of the Philistines, and burnt up both the shocks, and also the standing corn, with the VINEYARDS and olives." (Judg. 15:1, 5)
"And I called for a drought upon the land, and upon the mountains, and upon the [Heb. "grain"] CORN, and upon the NEW WINE, and upon the oil, and upon that which the ground bringeth forth, and upon men, and upon cattle, and upon all the labour of the hands." (Hag. 1:11)
"And the floors shall be FULL of WHEAT, and the vats shall OVERFLOW with WINE and oil. . . . And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions" (passage quoted by Peter in Acts 2 - Joel 2:24-28)
QUESTION: "I have heard that the count to the Jubilee is a perfect mirror of the count to Pentecost, with a count of 49 years + 1 year = 50 years."
ANSWER: Nowhere in Scripture does it state that the count to Jubilee is "a perfect mirror of the count to Pentecost, with a count of 49 + 1." The weight of evidence in favor of reckoning Pentecost 50 days after the seventh complete Sabbath far outweighs any assumed connection between the Jubilee and the count to Pentecost.
QUESTION: "If The Feast of Weeks is actually 99 or 100 days from Abib 16, how can it be referred to as “Pentecost”, which is Greek for 50th?"
ANSWER: Yes, Pentecost means "fiftieth" in Greek, but this proves nothing either way. The fact, that by this new understanding, you have to actually "count" 50 days following the seventh complete Sabbath more than justifies the Feast being referenced as "Pentecost."
1 Sivan 6: Popular theology teaches that Pentecost is on Sivan 6. This is because it is believed that Sivan 6 is always exactly 50 days after the Day of Firstfruits (Abib 16). This method erroneously assumes that the modern Gregorian calendar week and the Biblical week are synonymous. It is worth noting that this is also a self-defeating method of counting because it recognizes that Abib 16 (the starting point for the count) is always "the morrow after the Sabbath" (Lev. 23:15). This is only possible on the luni-solar calendar. It is impossible for Abib 16 to consistently coincide with "the morrow after the Sabbath" when reckoning time by a continuous weekly cycle. (Abib 16, as recognized by proponents of this method, is always the day after the Sabbath. This means that the 15th is always a Sabbath, and consequently, the 8th, 22nd, & 29th are also seventh-day Sabbaths. This is another remarkable proof for the luni-solar calendar. Sadly, though, many blindly cling to tradition rather than carefully and honestly examining the doctrines that they profess.)
Sivan 9: Some, as WLC once did, believe that Pentecost is on Sivan 9. This date is arrived at by counting seven complete Sabbaths, and then adding one day. New Moon Days and translation days are not counted (since they are not part of the week) and the starting point is always Abib 16 (the Day of Firstfruits), the day after the Sabbath. WLC believes that the method for counting the "seven Sabbaths" (Lev. 23:15) is correct. The only difference is that WLC now believes that the day after the seventh Sabbath is actually just the starting point for the count of 50 days (i.e. Pentecost = 7 Sabbaths + 50 days).
* We have taken out from the original quotations all pagan names and titles of the Father and Son, and have replaced them with the original given names. Furthermore, we have restored in the Scriptures quoted the original names of the Father and Son, as they were originally written by the inspired writers of the Bible. - WLC Team