| (Copyright) by Dwight Fleming (Oroville, California) |
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| The Resurrection of Jesus Christ was a great victory that is important to every Christian. It is unfortunate that many have turned to pagan fertility symbols to celebrate this event. The apostle Paul stated: “And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is vain, and your faith is also vain. Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God… And if Christ has not been raised, then your faith is futile, and you are still in your sins. Then those who have fallen asleep in Christ are perished” (I Corinthians 15:14-18). While the death of Christ will remove our sins and reconcile us to God, without the Resurrection there will be no ultimate victory over death. Both Christ’s death and resurrection are vital for our salvation. But when can we expect our ultimate victory over death to happen? “But Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead also comes through a man… But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at His coming” (I Corinthians 15:20-23). The Feast of Firstfruits is a 50-day harvest period in the spring of the year. On the first day, a wave sheaf offering was made of the first cut grain. It was the first of the firstfruits. This was fulfilled by Jesus Christ by being raised from the dead. He was slain at the correct time on the 14th day of the first month of the Hebrew Calendar as a Passover lamb. His resurrection was a few days later on the day of the wave sheaf offering on the first day of the week. The 50th day of this harvest festival is an annual Sabbath aka Pentecost which pictures the resurrection of those in Christ at His future return. Thus, Pentecost (which means “50th”) will be another day of victory over death as also pictured by the first day when the wave sheaf offering was made. If the 50th day is an annual Sabbath, then why wasn’t the first day of this 50-day harvest made a Sabbath day as well? Simple. You don’t start a harvest on a Sabbath. Rather, a celebration comes at the end of the harvest. The first day of unleavened bread which is the 15th day of the first month is an annual Sabbath. There are those who observe the Feast of Fruitfruits by sometimes starting their 50-day count on the first day of unleavened bread when it falls on the first day of the week. This thinking comes from a misunderstanding of Joshua 5. There is an excellent article written by Paul Yoos many years ago. He explains that a wave sheaf offering was not made at that time as some believe. Here is the link to his article: The Journal: News of the Churches of God Joshua and the Israelites had crossed the Jordan River to take possession of the Promised Land. Their primary mission was to conquer the cities of the land. Settling down to raise crops was a few years away. Yet, if there was a day of victory as pictured by the wave sheaf offering, then it was the day that Jericho fell. All the inhabitants of Jericho were put to death with the exception of Rahab and her household. Thus, it was a day of victory over death for Rahab. She was not an Israelite in the flesh but in the spirit. She is even counted in the lineage of Jesus Christ. See Matthew 1:5. |
| Iron Sharpening Iron In regard to: Jesus Our Victory Article by Dwight Fleming Comments by Laura Lee (Oroville, California) |
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| Dwight Flemings Article: The Resurrection of Jesus Christ was a great victory that is important to every Christian. It is unfortunate that many have turned to pagan fertility symbols to celebrate this event. The apostle Paul stated: “And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is vain, and your faith is also vain. Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God… And if Christ has not been raised, then your faith is futile, and you are still in your sins. Then those who have fallen asleep in Christ are perished” (I Corinthians 15:14-18). While the death of Christ will remove our sins and reconcile us to God, without the Resurrection there will be no ultimate victory over death. Both Christ’s death and resurrection are vital for our salvation. But when can we expect our ultimate victory over death to happen? “But Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead also comes through a man… But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at His coming” (I Corinthians 15:20-23). Laura writes: Here the King James Bible is a poor translation of 1 Corinthians 15:20. 1Co 15:20 But now is Christ risen from the dead and become the firstfruits of them that slept. Firstfruits here should actually be firstfruit. It is singular and not plural. It should read as follows: 1Co 15:20 But now is Christ risen from the dead and become the firstfruit of them that slept. If you look in other Bible translations, you will find that many translate it correctly as “firstfruit.” But now Christ has been raised from the dead; He became the firstfruit of those having fallen asleep. (Green’s Literal Translation 1993) But now Crist roos ayen fro deth, the firste fruit of deed men; (Wycliffe Bible 1382) The reason it is singular is because Christ is only one. Christ is the first one of the firstfruits. When the resurrection of the ecclesia takes place, it would then be the resurrection of the firstfruits plural because there will be more than one person being resurrected at the same time. Dwight Flemings Article: The Feast of Firstfruits is a 50-day harvest period in the spring of the year. On the first day, a wavesheaf offering was made of the first cut grain. It was the first of the firstfruits. This was fulfilled by Jesus Christ by being raised from the dead. He was slain at the correct time on the 14th day of the first month of the Hebrew Calendar as a Passover lamb. His resurrection was a few days later on the day of the wavesheaf offering on the first day of the week. Laura writes: The wave sheaf offering does not represent Christ. Christ was accepted by the Father the minute He died for us which is why it was dark from noon until about 3 PM when Christ died, and the vale was ripped. Mat 27:51 And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent. The wave sheaf represents the ecclesia. Read Albert Edersheim: . . . They [delegates from the Sanhedrin] cut down barley to the amount of one ephah, or ten omers, or three seahs, which is equal to about three pecks and three pints of our English measure. The ears were brought into the Court of the Temple, and thrashed out with canes or stalks, so as not to injure the corn; then ‘parched’ on a pan perforated with holes, so that each grain might be touched by the fire, and finally exposed to the wind. The corn thus prepared was ground in a barley mill, which left the hulls whole. According to some, the flour was always successfully passed through thirteen sieves, each closer than the other. The statement of a rival authority, however, seems more rational – that it was only done till the flour was sufficiently fine (Men. vi. 6, 7), which was ascertained by one of the ‘Gizbarim’ (treasurers) plunging his hands into it, the sifting process being continued so long as any of the flour adhered to the hands (Men. viii. 2). Though one ephah, or ten omers, of barley was cut down, only one omer of flour, or about 5.1 pints of our measure, was offered in the Temple on the second Paschal, or 16th day of Nisan. The rest of the flour might be redeemed and used for any purpose. The omer of flour was mixed with a ‘log,’ or very nearly three-fourths of a pint of oil, and a handful of frankincense put upon it, then waved before the Lord, and a handful taken out and burned on the altar. The remainder belonged to the priest. This was what is popularly, though not very correctly, called ‘the presentation of the first or wave-sheaf’ on the second day of the Passover-feast, or the 16th of Nisan. (pp. 204-205, The Temple: Its Ministry and Services, updated edition) The wave sheaf requires going through fire and being refined which is exactly what is happening right now to the first fruits. In temple times (at the time of Christ) the wave sheaf was always done on the 16th of Nisan or the day after the Passover. Passover and the First Day of Unleavened Bread are on the same day. Christ was crucified and died on the afternoon of the 14th of Nisan between the two evenings or about 3 PM. Dwight Flemings Article: The 50th day of this harvest festival is an annual Sabbath aka Pentecost which pictures the resurrection of those in Christ at His future return. Thus, Pentecost (which means “50th”) will be another day of victory over death as also pictured by the first day when the wavesheaf offering was made. If the 50th day is an annual Sabbath, then why wasn’t the first day of this 50-day harvest made a Sabbath day as well? Simple. You don’t start a harvest on a Sabbath. Rather, a celebration comes at the end of the harvest. The first day of unleavened bread which is the 15th day of the first month is an annual Sabbath. There are those who observe the Feast of Fruitfruits by sometimes starting their 50-day count on the first day of unleavened bread when it falls on the first day of the week. This thinking comes from a misunderstanding of Joshua 5. Laura writes: When people misunderstand what day Passover is on, then they also misunderstand what is being said in Joshua 5 about Passover because Joshua 5:10 is a pretty clear scripture so there should be no misunderstanding as far as what it says. Jos 5:10 And the children of Israel encamped in Gilgal and kept the passover on the fourteenth day of the month at even in the plains of Jericho. When you believe that Passover is on the early part of the 14th of Nisan, which it is not, then you automatically believe some people are doing the wave sheaf offering and harvesting grain on a high day. When you start with a false premise the whole doctrine will be wrong. On the Hebrew Calendar the Passover and First Day of Unleavened Bread are the same day and there are multiple scriptures throughout the Bible that prove this is true. So, when you understand what day Passover is actually on then the day after Passover is Nisan 16 which is not a high Sabbath. Dwight Flemings Article: There is an excellent article written by Paul Yoos many years ago. He explains that a wavesheaf offering was not made at that time as some believe. Here is the link to his article: The Journal: News of the Churches of God Laura writes: Paul Yoos does not know what he is talking about. His article will lead people in the wrong direction as he is teaching a false doctrine. The wave sheaf offering is spoken of here: Lev 23:9 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Lev 23:10 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: Lev 23:11 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. Lev 23:12 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. Lev 23:13 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. Lev 23:14 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. Lev 23:15 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: Lev 23:16 Even unto the morrow after the seventh sabbath shall ye number fifty days; and ye shall offer a new meat offering unto the LORD. It is pretty clear in these scriptures that they were not to eat anything in the new land until they did the wave sheaf offering which was to be made on the day after the Sabbath and Passover is a high day whether people want to believe that or not. Dwight Flemings Article: Joshua and the Israelites had crossed the Jordan River to take possession of the Promised Land. Their primary mission was to conquer the cities of the land. Settling down to raise crops was a few years away. Yet, if there was a day of victory as pictured by the wavesheaf offering, then it was the day that Jericho fell. All the inhabitants of Jericho were put to death with the exception of Rahab and her household. Thus, it was a day of victory over death for Rahab. She was not an Israelite in the flesh but in the spirit. She is even counted in the lineage of Jesus Christ. See Matthew 1:5. Laura writes: In Lev. 23:10 it clearly says when you come into the land ye shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest. Lev 23:10 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: So yes, they did do the wave sheaf offering that year on the 16th of Nisan the day after Passover just like scripture says. Passover was at even on the 14th of Nisan. At even means the end of the 14th as it was turning into the 15th. The 15th of Nisan is Passover and the First Day of Unleavened Bread. Nisan 16, the day after Passover is the day, they did the wave sheaf offering and started their harvest. Nisan 17 is when the manna ceased to come down anymore, so we know what year this was. It was the same year they entered the promised land. The promised land now belonged to them and anything that needed to be harvested in that land also now belonged to the Israelites whether they planted it or not. Jos 5:12 And the manna ceased on the morrow after they had eaten of the old corn of the land; neither had the children of Israel manna anymore; but they did eat of the fruit of the land of Canaan that year. |
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