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See page 1

Vol. 2 No. 4 May-June 2009

Are all religious rituals equal? Does

God care how we...

Worship The
Lord!
All religions have their forms of
worship. Go to an assembly of
those who worship Allah, or any of
the gods of the Hindu pantheon. Or
the myriad worship forms within the
Counting to
Christian religion. Each is

PENTECOST
distinctive. Indeed the form of
worship is almost a "badge" which
sets each apart from one another.

Each has recognizable regalia - like

the Christian "dog-collar" or cross,
the Muslim crescent, the Buddhist
tonsure.
Each has its unique holy days. The
Muslim community, for example,
worships weekly on Fridays and
also on specific festival days - such
as during Ramadan. Christians
choose Sunday - and Easter,
Christmas etc., while in Judaism
there is the weekly seventh-day
Sabbath and various holy days
throughout the calendar year.
When does Pentecost occur? What day of the week? What day
of the year? Does it always occur on Sunday? In the history of
the Churches of God, controversy arose during the 70’s as to
whether the day should be observed on Monday or on
Sunday.
In Leviticus 23:15-21 it says "You shall count unto you from the morrow after the
Sabbath from the day that you brought the sheaf of the wave offering; seven
Sabbaths shall be complete: Even unto the morrow after the seventh Sabbath
shall you number fifty days; . . . And you shall proclaim on the selfsame day, that
it may be an holy convocation unto you: you shall do no servile work therein: it
shall be a statute forever in all your dwellings throughout your generations"

Worship can be defined as
"reverent homage or service paid to
God", the word deriving from the
root signifying worthiness. Surely,
the Creator of all that exist merits
devout worship. But does the
(Continued on page 7…)
At that time everything hinged on that word from in verse 15. When counting, do
you include Sunday or do you start with Monday. Whichever day you start out on
is the day you end up on. For example, if you start counting on Monday,
Pentecost will be Monday seven weeks later. If you start counting on Sunday,
Pentecost will be on Sunday, seven weeks later. So the question to answer was
do you count ‘inclusively' or ‘exclusively'?

1
To find this out, some leaders in the
Church, even went to the Jewish
community to enquire on how they
dealt with the word ‘from'. Does it
include the day they start with or does
it start the next day? Well, as it turned
out, they include the day. For example
if one started counting from the day
after the Sabbath, you would include
that next day, ‘Sunday' as the 1st day.
Up until that time the Church
observed Monday as Pentecost. It
always fell on Monday as the day the
church began counting from always
started out on ‘the morrow after the
Sabbath' counting from
(exclusively) and ended
up on Monday, fifty days
later. So when it was
discovered that the
Jewish community
counted ‘inclusively' the
Church changed from
observing Pentecost on
Monday to that of
keeping it on Sunday.
But which Sabbath?
Which Sabbath do you
start counting from. This
is also a big question.
The understanding back
then, as well as now
with most major
corporation ‘churches of
God' is that the Sabbath
you count from is the
weekly Sabbath that
falls within the week of
the ‘Days of Unleavened
Bread'.
This answer usually
settled it with most
members, although,
some continued to
question and have
doubts about that part.
In 2001 this writer observed some of
the confusion over this issue when the
1st Day of Unleavened Bread fell on
Sunday (April 8) and the 7th Day of
Unleavened Bread occurred on the
following weekly Sabbath (April 14). If
one uses the logic described above,
the church should have begun
counting from the Sunday following
April 14. That would have put
Pentecost on Sunday, June 3, but
most major corporation groups didn't.
Instead they started counting from
Sunday (April 8) which put Pentecost
on Sunday (May 27). Some groups
did, however, observe Pentecost on
June 3. (See Figure 1)
Was June 3 the correct day? Was
May 27 the correct one? Were either
one of them correct? Some claim you
must go to the land of Palestine to find
out when they begin the barley
harvest to know which Sabbath is the
closest and the one to begin counting
‘from'. Is that the way we must
proceed? Why all this confusion?
Does God expect us to sort of guess
when to keep these days or figure it
out the most logical way we see it. Is
this something he leaves up to us?
In 1 Corinthians 14:33 it says "God is
not the author of confusion", therefore
there must be an explanation. If God
would have us keep His Holy Days,
which he commands as sacred
assemblies to be kept year by year,
forever, would he leave it to chance?
Not likely. To this writer there are sure
principles, sure guidelines, that the
scriptures give to assure accuracy on
this issue. It is not a chance thing and
one can have full confidence in it
being correct.
One other thing, as our pioneers in
our church taught us the principle in
Bible study-if one starts off to prove
something true or false, one must not
begin on an assumed premise. One
must first start off on firm solid ground
with that beginning premise rooted
and provable beyond
question. Else, any
conclusion following
will have questions
surrounding it and
more than likely be a
wrong one. To this
writer this teaching is
still valid and correct
today.
Sure guideline
number one is that
Christ came to fulfill
the prophecies written
about him. Notice
what he said in
Matthew 5:17. "Think
not that I am come to
destroy the law or the
prophets: I am not
come to destroy, but
to fulfill."
In the past as well as
presently, the Church
has used this verse to
show God's
commandments are
as much in force
today as when he
gave them. This is
true, but sometimes
do we consider the second part of this
sentence as much as we should? He
says he didn't come to destroy the law
or the prophets. This is not meaning
the prophets themselves, but what the
prophets wrote. He said he didn't
come to undo that, but to ‘fulfill' it.
(Mat. 5:17)
Therefore if Jesus fulfilled the
prophecies of himself as written down
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by Moses and the other prophets, he
fulfilled them exactly at the right times.
So we must first start with the Old
Testament Scriptures for the basis of
when and how we are to do things.
When we do it this way we can see
how he fulfilled them perfectly, and if
we follow them as he did we will be on
track and will not go astray.
The second sure guideline is given in
Mat. 23:1-3. "Then spoke Jesus to the
multitude, and to his disciples saying,
‘The Scribes and Pharisees sit in
Moses' seat: All therefore whatsoever
they bid you observe, that observe
and do. . ."
All of the things Moses wrote about,
concerning the Passover, Pentecost
and the other Holy Days, he says the
Scribes and Pharisees were doing
correctly. Jesus went on to say "but
do not you after their works". The
works that they were involved with or
what they were doing was a totally
different thing.
Notice what Eerdman’s Bible
Dictionary says under the heading
‘Pharisees'. (Emphasis mine)
“PHARISEES (Gk. Pharisaioi) One of
the parties or movements within
Judaism of the late Second Temple
period (ca. 150 B.C. - A.D. 70). The
Pharisees were noted most for their
exact observance, of the Jewish
religion, their accurate exposition of
the law, their handing down of extra
biblical customs and traditions, their
moderate position with regard to the
interplay of fate and free will, and their
belief in the coming resurrection and
in angels…
During the time of Jesus and the first
generation of the Church, the temple
was essentially controlled by the
Sadducean aristocracy and was the
center of the religious life of the Jews.
But through Pharisaic scribes the
synagogues often became points of
Pharisaic influence on the common
people. Still the enduring significance
of the Pharisees for Judaism lies less
in the direct impact on Second
Temple Judaism than in their survival
as the most viable leadership after the
destruction of the temple. Almost all
forms of modern Judaism trace
their lineage through the Pharisees.
..
In the Gospels "Pharisees" has
become one of the generalized
designations for the opponents of
Jesus (e.g., Mat. 27:62; John 7:32;
18;3) This negative view of the
Pharisees can obscure the
fundamental agreement of Jesus
with them on a number of points,
including resurrection (cf. Matt. 22:23-
33) and the validity of the Pharisees
interpretation of the precepts of the
Torah although it is likely that the
points on which Jesus and the
Pharisees agreed are those held in
common by all Jews. . .
The conflict appears not to have been
carried over into the period of the
Church's history covered by the book
of Acts. Pharisees appear as
defenders of the Church (Acts 5:34-
39; 23;6-9) and as conservative
members of the Church (15:5). When
Paul speaks of his background as a
Pharisee, he does not denigrate
Pharisaism per se, even as he
regards his former life focused on the
fulfillment of the precepts of the law as
replaced by his life as apostle to the
Gentiles. . ."
Again as stated above, the
Sadducees were the Aristocracy but it
was the Pharisees that really
prevailed as the teachers and had
sway among the common people.
Notice what Eerdman's says:
“Most members of the Sanhedrin, the
central judicial authority of Jewish
people, were Sadducees. Thus the
Sadducees were the party of those
with political power, those allied with
the Herodian and Roman rulers, but
they were not a group with
influence among the people
themselves. The views of the
Pharisees prevailed among the
common people, so that even though
the two groups differed with regard to
items in the laws of purity and details
of temple procedure during the feasts,
the Sadducean priests were
compelled to operate according to
the Pharisees' views".
Eerdman's Bible Dictionary says this
about the "Scribes"
“Scribes (Heb. Soper; Gk.
Grammateus). Interpreters and
teachers of the Mosaic law. . . The
model for the teachers of the law was
Ezra. His designation as Heb. Soper
"secretary, scribe, learned person"
(Ezra 7:6) became the standard
Hebrew designation for the teachers
of the Torah. In the New Testament
these teachers are called primarily
Gk. Grammateus "scribe, one learned
in the Scriptures," but also
nomodidaskalos "teacher of the law"
and nomikos "lawyer." . . .
Most of the scribes were adherents
of the Pharisees' interpretation of
the Torah. It was the Pharisees, as
opposed to the Sadducees, whose
concept of "oral Torah" gave the
greatest respect of the development
of legal traditions in the teachings of
the scribes.
So with these two broad principles in
mind we can proceed to see how
Pentecost as well as the other Holy
Days were observed. Again, Jesus
was a Jew. He came from the lineage
of Judah, (Heb. 7:14) and during his
young life growing up, followed the
teachings of his parents, observed the
Passover (Luke 2:41 & 51) and kept
all the teachings of the Scribes &
Pharisees of the law was passed
down from Moses and the Prophets.
Jesus had no conflict with that at all.
So when did Jesus observe
Pentecost? Well, he observed it the
same time as his countrymen did.
Which followed the instruction laid
down in the Old Testament scriptures,
particularly Leviticus 23. Therefore,
let's look closely at the verse.
"And you shall count unto you from
the morrow after the Sabbath from
the day that you brought the sheaf of
the wave offering;seven Sabbaths
shall be complete: Even unto the
morrow after the seventh Sabbath
shall you number fifty days;"
When were they to bring the sheaf of
the wave offering? What Sabbath is
the verse referring to? This is the big
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question. There are at least two
schools of thought on this issue. That
of the Pharisee's interpretation and
that of the Sadducees. Notice what
Eerdman's Bible Dictionary says
under the heading ‘Weeks - Feast of'.
"The determination of a precise date
for the beginning of the festival has
remained a matter of long standing
debate in rabbinic writings. The crucial
phrase ‘The morrow after the
Sabbath' (mimmah rat hassabbat;
Lev. 23:15) has been subjected to two
major interpretations: That of the
Sadducees, who understood the
Sabbath as a normal weekly one
and began counting the seven weeks
the day after (thus the counting could
begin anytime during the passover
week, depending upon where the
normal Sabbath fell after the first day
of Passover), and that of the
Pharisees, who interpreted the
Sabbath of Lev. 23:15 in a more
restrictive sense as the first day of
the Passover Feast, whereby the
counting of the seven weeks always
began on the second day of
Passover. (Emphasis mine
throughout)
The New Catholic Encyclopedia says
this under the heading "Date of
Pentecost".
“There was fixed, in Lev. 23:11,15-16,
a period of 50 days from "the day after
the Sabbath" of the massot, counting
7 weeks to "the day after the seventh
week" on which the Pentecostal feast
was to be observed. Later, the
Pharisees identified the Sabbath of
the Feast of Unleavened Bread with
the feast-day itself on the 15th of the
1st month (Nisan) and, computing the
50-day period from the 16th, they
celebrated Pentecost on the 6th day
of the 3rd month. The Boethuseans
(a sect of the Sadducees), interpreting
the Sabbath as the ordinary Sabbath
that fell during the week of the
massot between the 15th and 21st
day of Nisan, kept Pentecost on the
Sunday following the 7th Sabbath."
The Jewish Encyclopedia states
basically the same thing as the other
two sources above with some
additional insight.
"Shavuot (Heb., "weeks," Pentecost,
"the 50th day"), the festival celebrated
on the sixth of Sivan (and also on the
seventh outside Israel). The biblical
names for the festival are "Hag
Shavuot" ("Feast of Weeks," Ex.
34:22; Deut. 16:10); "Yom ha-
Bikkurim" ("The Day of the Firstfruits,"
Num. 28:26), and "Hag ha-Kazir"
("The Harvest Feast," Ex. 23:16). The
rabbinic name is "Azeret" (RH 1,2
Hag.2,4). . .
This Feast, one of the three "pilgrim
festivals (Deut. 16:16), marked the
end of the barley and beginning of the
wheat harvest. . . It is stated in
Leviticus: "From the day after the
Sabbath, the day that you bring the
sheaf of wave-offering you shall count
(until) seven full weeks have elapsed:
you shall count fifty days, until the day
after the seventh week: then you
shall bring an offering of new grain to
the Lord: (Lev. 23:15-16 and to 21).
Leviticus 23:11 states that the sheaf
was waved on the day after the
Sabbath on the festival of Passover.
Thus Shavuot falls 50 days after this
day. The "Sadducees (and later the
Karaites) understood the term
"Sabbath" in these verses literally,
hence, for them Shavuot always falls
on a Sunday. The Pharisees,
however, interpreted "Sabbath" as the
first day of Passover (which was a
Sabbath, "day of rest") so that, for
them Shavuot always falls on the
51st day from the first day of
Passover. (Sifra Emor Perek 12;
Men. 65a-66a). . .”
It is possible the Pharisees insisted
the Shavuot be observed on a fixed
day because they wished to affirm
that the festival commemorated the
Sinaitic theophany which occurred on
the 50th day after the Exodus
(following the general Pharisaic belief
in the oral Torah reaching back to
Moses which the Sadducees
denied)."
Continuing on in Leviticus 23:15 it
says "from the day that you brought
the sheaf of the wave offering; seven
sabbaths shall be complete: Even
unto the morrow after the seventh
Sabbath shall you number fifty days; "
...
The word Sabbath here can also be
rendered ‘week' or ‘weeks'. Notice
Numbers 28:26. "Also in the day of
firstfruits, when you bring a new meat
offering unto the Lord, after your
weeks be out. . ."
In Deuteronomy 16:16 it says, "three
times in a year shall all your males
appear before the Lord your God. In
the place which he shall choose; in
the feast of unleavened bread, in the
feast of weeks, in the feast of
tabernacles: . . ."
In Exodus 34:22 it says, "And you
shall observe the feast of weeks . . ."
The Hebrew word for weeks here in
all three places is ‘Shabua' meaning
‘A seven, a week'. (Young's
Concordance)
Throughout the Old Testament the
festival is known as the ‘Feast of
Weeks' and in the New Testament it is
called ‘Pentecost'. Young's
Concordance says this, "Pentecost -
Feast on fiftieth day after Passover".
The festival represents the end of a
period of time known as the first-fruit
harvest. It celebrates the end of that
harvest. Therefore the Pharisaic view
of this term ‘Sabbath' in Leviticus
23:15 is more appropriately rendered
week instead of Sabbath.
Reading it this way is as follows: "And
you shall count unto you from the
morrow after the sabbath" (the first
day of unleavened bread), "from the
day that you brought the sheaf of the
wave offering; seven weeks shall be
complete: Even unto the morrow after
the seventh week shall you number
fifty days…"
Pentecost in the New Testament
The Acts account of the first
Pentecost after Jesus' resurrection
says a great deal more when we
consider some of the foregone
discussion. That particular Pentecost
was looked forward to with great
anticipation by Jesus disciples.
However, this anticipation was
4
probably occurring in more than the
disciples only.
Jesus' resurrection was an event that
caused a great deal of excitement and
interest. No doubt, word of it reached
far and wide, including the secular
world. It's quite possible that the word
of others being resurrected at the
same time was ‘noised' abroad as
well. It's quite likely then, that many
were beginning to take notice what
was happening, particularly the
scattered Israelites in
the northern regions of
Asia Minor.
So when Pentecost
occurred that year in
31 A.D. it seems to
indicate that a great
deal of interest was
also there. It says,
"there were dwelling at
Jerusalem Jews,
devout men, out of
every nation under
heaven" (Acts 2:5)
Were these people
there just because
they lived there, or
were they there to
keep this festival? It
doesn't say.
Let's read the account
in Acts 2. "And when
the day of Pentecost
was fully come, they
were all with one
accord in one place. .
." Now it doesn't say
that this pertained only
to the disciples, but
from the amounts of
people that are talked
about later, indications
are that there was a
multitude of people in the area.
If they were all there mainly to
observe the day of Pentecost, how
was it that they were all there at the
same time? Pentecost was not a hit
and miss thing. People were not
observing it at different times. They
were all there at the very same time
under the same understanding of
when it should occur. Notice again
Acts 2:5. "They were all with one
accord in one place".
The only answer appears to be that
people at that time were not in a
quandary as to when Pentecost was
to be observed. Everyone knew. As
stated above under the inserted article
titled ‘Pharisees', the common people
all knew and followed the established
teaching on this subject. And with
Jesus' own support (Matt. 23:2-3) it
lent greater credence.
Notice again when Jesus said the
words in Matthew 23:2-3, it says he
spoke these words to the multitude as
well as his disciples. Sometimes
Jesus spoke in parables or he spoke
to his disciples in private but not this
time. "Then spoke Jesus to the
multitude, and to his disciples,
Saying, The Scribes and Pharisees
sit in Moses' seat: All therefore
whatsoever they bid you observe, that
observe and do;" It's quite evident,
here at least, Jesus intent was to
show who was following the correct
teaching. It was not something hidden
or intended only for his disciples, as
was the case in some instances. This
was for everyone to know.
After his resurrection, Jesus' words no
doubt took on a greater level of
importance and maybe explain why
the Pharisee's teaching survived after
the destruction of the 2nd Temple in
70 AD, as Eerdman's Bible Dictionary
says.
Pentecost in the
Church Today
Most Church of God
groups count to
‘Pentecost' according to
the way the Sadducees
did at the time of Christ.
They observed the
‘wave sheaf offering' as
occurring on the day
after the weekly
Sabbath, that fell within
the days of Unleavened
Bread, and not the way
the Pharisees did. They
observed this event to
take place immediately
following the 1st Day of
Unleavened Bread,
which was also a
Sabbath. (See Figure
2)
The Church today takes
its cue from John's
account, where Jesus
told Mary, "touch me not
for I am not yet
ascended to my Father;
. . ."(John 20:17) Today
the Church leadership
assumes Jesus is
fulfilling the ‘wave sheaf offering' at
that time, when he did it the year he
died and was resurrected. But is this
assumption correct? Was that Sunday
morning the proof that we are now to
begin counting to ‘Pentecost' from that
day?
If so, then he changed the day. But
that can't happen because he said he
did not come to "destroy. . . the
prophets" (Matt. 5:17) and he
5
followed the teaching of when the
Scribes and Pharisees observed
these things. (Matt. 23:2-3) So what's
the answer?
The only answer that can be is the
same as what happened with the
Passover the year of Jesus’ death.
Most present day ‘Church of God'
groups believe Jesus changed the
observance of this event from the end
of the 14th, as outlined in the Old
Testament, to the beginning of the
14th in the New Testament. They take
their words from what the apostle Paul
said in 1st Corinthians 11:23. "For I
have received of the Lord that which
also I delivered unto you, that the Lord
Jesus the same night in which he
was betrayed took bread; . . ."
Yes, Jesus delivered the symbols of
the bread and wine the night before
the actual Passover. But that's the
point. Jesus, that year fulfilled the
meaning of the 1st Passover in
Exodus. That year he was killed at the
very same time as all the other Jews
were slaughtering their lambs. He
could not, in the same way observe
this event with all his countrymen, as
he had done prior to that time. That
year he would fulfill it's meaning
exactly and perfectly as it had been
foretold centuries before.
He had to deliver the symbols at some
time prior to that time and he chose
the night before. In 1 Corinthians
11:23 it is simply a statement of when
Jesus delivered the symbolism of the
bread and wine. It does not say he
changed the Passover observance to
that time, a day earlier than the
Scribes and Pharisees were teaching
it.
The same is true with the ‘wave sheaf
offering', that year. Jesus couldn't
possibly ascend to the Father on the
day after the 1st Day of Unleavened
Bread, as he was still in the grave. But
again, like the Passover, that was a
unique year. But does it mean he was
not accepted of the Father on the
proper time, fulfilling the scripture?
Jesus physical life on this earth was a
perfect example of how we should all
live. He obeyed the will of his Father
in everything and submitted himself
totally even to the point of dying a
hideous death. Notice the words of
John 19:28, "Jesus knowing that all
things were now accomplished that
the scripture might be fulfilled, said,
I thirst. . . when Jesus therefore had
received the vinegar he said it is
finished."
Notice again the words, "all things…
accomplished… scripture… fulfilled…
it is finished". It's done. It's completed.
Jesus' mission to this earth was over.
He finished the job his Father gave
him. His Father said of him when he
was baptized, "This is my beloved
Son in whom I am well pleased."
(Matt. 3:17) Jesus said, "And he that
sent me is with me: the Father hath
not left me alone; for I do always
those things that please him." (John
8:29)
Do we think for a moment his
acceptance as the ‘wave sheaf' was
not assured? Was it necessary in his
fulfilling the ‘wave sheaf offering' to be
able to ascend to his Father? To this
writer his acceptance did not depend
on that. He was accepted the moment
he died. His acceptance was a sure
thing.
It's true, Jesus may have ascended to
the Father on the day after his
resurrection. But it only shows his
complete determination to follow
through to the very completeness that
he did. But it no way says here that
was the day the ‘wave sheaf offering'
was now to be reckoned. No indeed,
Jesus did fulfill the Scripture, and for
us to assume this is now the day we
are to start counting to Pentecost is to
say he changed the day from what the
Old Testament scriptures say and
from what the Scribes and Pharisees
were teaching.
Conclusion
So there you have it. From the Bible
and other sources we can distinguish
the difference between the way the
Sadducees and Pharisees counted to
Pentecost. The Sadducees method
counted from where the ordinary
Sabbath fell during the 7 days of
Unleavened Bread, whereas the
Pharisees method always started
counting on the second day of the
Feast of Unleavened Bread. Which is
correct? If we are to follow the advice
of Jesus we need to observe the day
the Scribes and Pharisees started
counting. He said they are the ones
who sit in ‘Moses seat'. They
were the teachers of the Law (Torah)
at that time. Nowhere does he say the
Sadducees sit in ‘Moses seat'.
When we look at all the evidence,
both from Scripture and other secular
sources, we can see the ‘sure
guidelines' mentioned in the beginning
of this study, stand up to the test, (1)
Jesus fulfilled what the prophets wrote
(2) The Scribes and Pharisees were
observing the proper times when it all
occurred.
But to see it all in it's proper
perspective we must view it as how
Jesus fulfilled the scriptures. We
must first read and follow the Old
Testament directions, for they are
exactly as Jesus did. But if we start
with the New Testament, on the
surface it appears Jesus changed the
date of the Passover as well as the
‘wave sheaf offering'.
Doing it this way is like putting the cart
before the horse and it doesn't work.
You cannot take the time frames of
Jesus observance of the Passover
symbolism and his ascension to the
Father and make it fit into the Old
Testament Scriptures. It just doesn't
work that way, but it works perfectly
when we see how Jesus actually
fulfilled all the things written about
him. The important thing is to believe
what Moses wrote about Jesus. If we
do this we will see how he
fulfilled the scriptures and will be more
inclined to believe what he said.
Notice what he said in John 5:46-47,
"For had you believed Moses, you
would have believed me: for he wrote
of me. But if you believe not his
writings, how shall you believe my
words?"
So where does all this study on the
subject leave us? To this writer it
indicates we should make the
necessary corrections as we are led
to understand. God looks at each
6
heart. He does not condemn us or
judge us on the basis of what we don't
know. But Pentecost, like all other
subjects ought to be studied by each
person individually. Like it was
commonly said by church leaders in
the early going, "Don't believe me just
because I said it, read it for yourself,
check it out, prove it, and then believe
it."
The purpose of this study was not to
learn ‘some new thing' or to seek to
divide any of the brethren in any way.
And it is our hope that it will only lead
to a better understanding of the Old
and New Testaments and how they fit
together. Many brethren may see
things differently than what is
presented here, and if one sincerely
has points of disagreement and would
like to discuss them, we of this
newsletter, encourage your response.
If proof can be presented to the
contrary of what this study shows, we
also must be ready to make the
necessary changes. by Arlan Weight
(Bismarck, North Dakota)

From Page 1... spontaneously religious at times of crisis!

Worship The Lord! Why? Why this seeming irrational urge to look to
supreme God - the God revealed in the Bible - accept all "Someone" beyond our own world? And why such diversity
forms of homage? Is He equally pleased with worship on of belief? Does the belief in a Being beyond us - who can
any day of the week, any time of year? Are Ramadan or comfort us, intervene for us, give life a purpose - simply
Christmas and Easter or the Hindu Divali festivals all stem from human insecurity?
acceptable to the Creator?
The concept of a weekly rest day - common in many The Bible, of course, gives a firm
The Bible claims that the God who ancient civilizations - is supernaturally revealed. It response: we worship because we
inspired it is "jealous". Indeed His cuts across all time frames set by the sun or moon. were created as "sons of God"
jealousy not infrequently flamed For example, it is not based on a quarter of the
out in anger in the matter of month, which has twenty-nine or thirty days,
- mankind is a direct creation of the
worship! In this Lesson we will astronomically.
one God who created all things by
examine the reasons for this and
Jesus Christ ... Genesis 2:4-7,
see what He requires of His people.
Colossians 1:13-17, Luke 3:38
Why Worship?
- the earliest human records depict man as a
Worship is joyful and stems worshipping being ... Genesis 4:4
Fewer than ten percent of the British nation, it from a heart thankful to the
has been estimated, ever darkens the door of sovereign God,for all His - God, as Creator of mankind and of all things,
a church. But around the world religious abundant mercies to us. But is sovereign. He commands. He reigns. He
worship is at the heart of daily life of the vast it is foolish to perceive God intervenes in human affairs to further His plans
majority of mankind. Indeed it has been as a Being we can worship for us ... Genesis 2:16, Daniel 4:25, Genesis
suggested by psychologists that the "urge to lightly and without due 6
worship" is in the hearts of all of us. It has respect for His awesome
been described as "humankind's natural majesty! I Chronicles
religiosity". - as such He commands and deserves our
29:10-13
worship ... Psalm 95:1-7, Psalm 100
Even in the former communist nations - supposedly
atheistic - the trappings of religion were evident, though Diverse Worship
secular on the surface. And when
the restraints on religion were "In man's relation to God the act of zeal The diversity of religious form is a
eased, millions flocked to the [KJV=jealousy] is more positively viewed as the vast worldwide "tourist attraction"!
churches. In Britain whose advancement of God and His glory over against The colorful spectacle of religious
philosophers, scientists - even substitutes.... His holiness does not tolerate parades in Ceylon or Bali or China
religionists - have over the last competitors" Vine: Expository Dictionary draws millions. But are all doing
hundred and fifty years spawned obeisance to the same God? Is the
irreligion, the urge to worship has One God pleased with such
not been totally eliminated. Instead, worship has largely diversity"
been perverted into consumerism - the worship of inanimate
objects, like cars, homes. Indeed even religious nations like - The Scriptures reveal God as "jealous" ... Exodus 20:5,
the United States are consumed 34:14, Deuteronomy 4:24, 5:9,
with the material! Others turn to 6:15
philosophies or to "fringe" religions These heavenly bodies are for signs (e.g., Jeremiah
or to "cults". And everyone is 10:2, Acts 2:19), for seasons (Heb. moed = festivals -
Leviticus 23:2) and for days and years - i.e., to
determine the calendar. 7
- His jealousy includes the way we worship Him. Through - Abraham was diligent to observe all that God had
Moses, God expressed to His selected nation of Israel His revealed, even to being known as God's friend ... Genesis
uncompromising insistence that He alone must be 26:5, James 2:23
worshipped, and in His way ... Deuteronomy 32:12; 12:29-
32 - through his son Isaac and his
King Jeroboam I moved the existing descendants, the knowledge of God
- but Israel "lightly esteemed the Rock autumn festival from the seventh month to was preserved after the Flood and in
of his salvation" and turned to other the eighth month. In Israel ever after, times of apostasy from God's known
beings which, though called "gods" heinous sin, especially idolatry, was often and revealed way ... Galatians 4:28
were not so. In fact, the gods of the described as "after the way of Jeroboam
surrounding nations were "devils" ... who caused Israel to sin" ...I Kings 22:51- - Israel, however, strayed from the way
Deut. 12:15-20, I Corinthians 10:20 53, II Kings 3:1-3 of God

- no matter how superficially attractive - within months of their deliverance from Egypt under
the religious display, unless it reflects God's revealed form it Moses, they reverted to idolatrous worship ... Exodus
is the worship of demonic powers. 32:1f, Acts 7:40

God Doesn't Change - through centuries of luke-warm adherence to

The inspired writers God's way, the nation finally divided in two after
It's a relief to know that the Creator God is time-and-again echoed the death of Solomon - and became known as
constant in all His ways. We can depend on His the warning of Jesus the House of Judah and the House of Israel.
enduring love for all mankind. We can depend himself, that we must Judah remained faithful for another four hundred
on Him to be unchanging in character, to be constantly be on guard years while Israel immediately rejected God's
consistent in how we will attain salvation. His against destructive specified time for worship ... I Kings 12:25-32
constancy also holds in the form and times for heresies in the church.
His worship! Unless a vital doctrine - this action usurped God's prerogative to set
can be explained from the times for His worship ... Daniel 7:25, 2:21
- when God had created everything and the Scriptures it is to be
pronounced it "good" He set apart a time for rejected. Later traditions - the result of Judah's later desecration of the
man to rest, to recuperate weekly from his daily must reflect the Bible Sabbaths was a captivity of seventy years in
activities and to communicate with his Creator in teaching. Babylon ... II Chronicles 36:24-31, Ezekiel
a "holy assembly" ... Genesis 2:1-3, Exodus 20:12-26, 39
20:8-11, Leviticus 23:3, Deuteronomy 5:12-15
Love For God And Man
- we also find that, before the creation of man, He
established astronomical laws which were geared to His
Written by God, into Israel's Constitution was the document
worship plan ... Genesis 1:14-18
we know as The Ten Commandments. This, originally
carved in stone by God's own hand, outlines human
- God set the earth, sun and moon into orbits which would relationships with God (the
sustain life on earth. They first four) and with man (the
also would serve to mark the vast majority of us are "born into" our religion - Hindu, Muslim, last six commandments)
out the times when He Methodist, Roman Catholic, etc. For most Christians, the teachings of
asked for formal annual their church are simply accepted without any investigation of the Exodus 20:1 God said to
worship ... Acts 2:14 source of Christianity - the Bible. Are your core beliefs mere tradition
the people of Israel: I am
or can you provide evidence for them from Scripture? ... Mark 7:6-9
the LORD your God, the
- the divinely-appointed one who brought you out of
times for worship have from earliest civilizations been linked Egypt where you were slaves.
to the harvest seasons. This seasonal plan is a pattern for
the unchanging purpose which God has for mankind. Some
details of this plan will unfold in the next lesson. The Ten Commandments

In sum, there is a pattern for worship which God initiated
before man set foot on the planet. Decadent forms of it are
detectable in the worship of ancient nations - even among
the Canaanites whom Israel succeeded in Palestine. But it
is among the descendants of the patriarchs Shem and
Abraham that the true worship was preserved.
1. Do not worship any god except me.
2. Do not make idols that look like anything in the sky
or on earth or in the ocean under the earth. Don't
bow down and worship idols. I am the LORD your
God, and I demand all your love. If you reject me, I
will punish your families for three or four
generations. But if you love me and obey my laws, I
will be kind to your families for thousands of
generations.
8
 3. Do not misuse my name. I am - the church of God in apostolic times
the LORD your God, and I will "In the interval between the days of the contended with those Paul called
punish anyone who misuses apostles and the conversion of Constantine "false apostles". These men came into
my name. [ca. 325 A.D.] the Christian commonwealth the church "under cover" or became
4. Remember that the Sabbath changed its aspect ... Rites and ceremonies of themselves deceived. They peddled
Day belongs to me. You have which neither Paul nor Peter ever heard crept their false teachings under the guise
six days when you can do into use then claimed the rank of divine of enlightenment, or "new truth", often
your work, but the seventh institutions" [Dr. Killen: The Ancient Church] claiming apostolic authority ... Acts
day of each week belongs to 20:28-31, 1 John 3:1-3, Revelation
me, your God. No one is to 2:2
work on that day--not you, your children, your
slaves, your animals, or the foreigners who live in - a subtle deception was to distort the truth but call it by the
your towns. In six days I made the sky, the earth, accepted name. An example is falsifying the meaning of
the oceans, and everything in them, but on the "soul" [see Lesson 4]. Paul warns about such deception,
seventh day I rested. That's why I made the stating that Satan and his servants - angelic and human -
Sabbath a special day that belongs to me. present themselves as being guardians of truth ... II
5. Respect your father and your mother, and you will Corinthians 4:13-15
live a long time in the land I am giving you.
6. Do not murder. 6000 Years of Christianity!
7. Be faithful in marriage.
It's a fallacy to imagine that Jesus Christ was the founder of
8. Do not steal.
some new religion! He was
9. Do not tell lies about others.
descended from Judah - i.e., a "Jew" -
10. Do not want anything that The New Testament names for believers were brought up in a Jewish home and
belongs to someone else. saints and followers of The Way. The term embedded in a Jewish culture. In him
Don't want anyone's house, Christian was applied to them by unbelievers were fulfilled the prophecies of a
wife or husband, slaves, and used by the apostles ... Acts 24:14, 11:26, coming Deliverer - a Messiah [see
oxen, donkeys or anything 1 Peter 4:16 Lesson 3]. It was not his function to do
else.
away with the ancient faith, but to
restore it and to demonstrate how to fulfill its requirements
- Jesus, quoting from the Old Testament, told his hearers not only physically but spiritually
that the first four of the ten taught us how to love God, the
remainder how to love neighbor ... Leviticus 19:18,
- Jesus attended the synagogue on the Sabbath, observed
Deuteronomy 6:5, Luke 10:27
the commandments, took part in the annual round of
religious observances along with the other religious Jews ...
- love for neighbor, as summed up in these last six Luke 4:16, 31; John 7:2, 14, Matthew 5:17-20
commands, is a concept shared by all the major religions
and even by humanists and atheists.
- if transported back in time as a
It is largely practical common sense,
contemporary of Abraham they would
discoverable from experience As the implications of the death of Jesus sank in, have recognized each other's faith
stemming from self-preservation! ... the disciples were led by the Spirit to understand and practice! ... Genesis 26:5,
Romans 2:14-15, 13:8-10 that the typology of the sacrifices were all
fulfilled in him, that circumcision was Romans 4
superseded by water baptism. The true faith was
- love for neighbor is but one aspect no longer for Jews only .... 4:22-24, Acts 10:28;
- but the apostasy which began in
of God's unchanging true religion, 15 apostolic times distorted the "faith
and does not by itself define it. There once delivered to the saints", to the
are millions of "good people"of all
extent that within a century or so of the death of Jesus
religious persuasions, but most reject the religious aspect of Christianity appeared as virtually a new religion ... Jude 3,
the one revealed faith - the "one way" Revelation 2, 3

- love for God, however, summed up by the first four of the

It was to this ancient religion that Jesus and the apostles
Ten Commandments, is supernaturally revealed by the one
called new disciples - a religion free from the traditions
and only supreme God in the writings of the Bible. All other
which then had a stranglehold on Judaism
faiths are at best humanly devised. At worst they are
counterfeit religions devised by Satan as a part of his plans
for world dominion - the church began on the Festival of Pentecost, some fifty
days after the resurrection of Jesus. The momentous
outpouring of God's Spirit took place at the heart of
- he works to achieve this by deception and by introducing Judaism, in Jerusalem ... Acts 2
false doctrines even among believers ... Revelation 12:9, 1
Corinthians 4:14, 1 Timothy 4:1, 1 John 5:19

9
- on that and the following days many thousands became A Seasonal Plan
followers of the Way ... Acts 2:41, 4:4
The divinely revealed festival year reflects the annual
- these converts were comprised entirely by Jews from seasonal harvest times. Since the Great Flood of Noah the
many nations, even many of the priests accepted Jesus as earth has had regular growing seasons - spring, summer,
the Messiah ... Acts 2:5, 6:7 autumn ... Genesis 8:22
The seven annual Holy Day Sabbaths are:
- the significant difference was that Unleavened Bread - first and last day; Pentecost - the Biblical Holy Days relate to
they now recognized Jesus as the (Firstfruits, Weeks); Trumpets; Atonement; these three seasons ... Exodus
promised Messiah, through whose Tabernacles (Booths) - first day; Closing Day 23:15-17, 34:22
death and resurrection they had
forgiveness of sin, and salvation. Otherwise, their religious - these festivals were called Unleavened Bread (spring),
practice remained unchanged. Firstfruits (summer - also known as Pentecost and Feast
of Weeks), Ingathering (autumn - includes Trumpets,
- what's important here is that the first to accept the faith of Atonement, Tabernacles and the Closing Day) ... Leviticus
Christ were men and women who already followed the form 23
of the true revealed faith. As devout Jews they were diligent
to observe all the Biblical customs of Judaism. They - the dates to observe the festivals were specified by God.
continued Temple and synagogue worship, sacrifices, These were according to a calendar that was based on the
circumcision, festivals, etc ... Acts 2:46, 21:20-27, 28:17, interaction of sun and moon orbits, and subject to certain
20:6, 16 priestly requirements, the details of which, were preserved
by the authorities in Israel. The weekly Sabbath and the
At its beginning, then, Christianity appeared to be "reformed three Holy Day seasons were a part of the original
Judaism". It was a continuation of the faith of the patriarchs Covenant made between God and Israel at Sinai ... Exodus
- with the added understanding that 19:5 to 24:8
Messiah had come and restored the
old paths. The implication of Jesus' "On the venerable day of the sun, let the - note well that at this time, Israel
ethical teaching was, however, magistrates and people residing in cities rest and let continued the sacrifice of animals
"new wine". It required repentance, all workshops be closed." Edict of Constantine, 321 after the pattern was known from
faith, baptism, the addition of God's A.D. the time of the expulsion from Eden.
mind - the Holy Spirit. It was a However, the formal regulation of
"narrow way" which few would choose, said Jesus ... sacrifices attached to the annual Holy Days was not added
Matthew 7:13-14, Galatians 3:8, Hebrews 4:2 until Israel had chosen to reject the Covenant. This they did
at Sinai "before the ink was dry" on the Covenant ...
What Happened Next Genesis 4:4, Exodus 24:5-6, ch.32, Psalm 106:13-26
The apostasy (falling away) from the true faith swelled as
the centuries rolled by. After its initial burst of power, the
- the sacrificial system was established, about nine months
pulls of the flesh, worldly cares, persecution from Jew and
after the Covenant, when Moses set up the Tabernacle and
Gentile, the lust for power all conspired to dilute the all its fittings. Spectacularly, the Lord sent His Presence to
numbers of followers of The Way. In the fourth century A.D., abide in the Tabernacle - visible as a pillar of cloud and fire
the state, headed by Emperor Constantine, made this ... Exodus 40:17-38
apostate Christianity the state religion. "Christianity" had
arrived. But the true faith was
marginalized and driven "into the A Divine Pattern
wilderness" The festivals are times of rejoicing called by God
"festivals of the Lord" and "My festivals". It has These three Holy Day seasons
been erroneously assumed that they are national contain a remarkable symmetrical
- Constantine, in a manner,
holidays dreamed up by Moses! ... Leviticus 23:2, pattern based on the number seven
repeated the "sins of Jeroboam,
who made Israel to sin". In his Numbers 10:10
desire to regularize Christianity, he - there are within the three seasons
imposed the doctrines of the apostate church on all seven annual Sabbaths. These are festival days which were
Christians. These included the requirement to change the designated by God as holy convocations and subject to the
weekly rest day to Sunday. His edict formalized a trend to restriction that no work should be done on them. Apart from
Sunday worship that had developed in the preceding the Day of Atonement these annual Sabbaths were days for
centuries material feasting. All were opportunities for rejoicing, for
instruction in God's Word, for fellowship with fellow
- this "exile" in the "wilderness" by the faithful church has Israelites and with the Lord ... Leviticus 23:2, Nehemiah
been seen as a fulfillment of the prophecy given to John ... 8:1-12
Revelation 12:6
- there are two sets of seven-day festivals, each succeeded
by an annual Holy Day
10
- in the spring is Unleavened Bread, the first and last days
of which are annual Holy Day Sabbaths, followed within fifty
days by the annual Holy Day Sabbath of Pentecost
- in autumn is Tabernacles, the first day of which is an
annual Sabbath, followed by the annual Sabbath of the
Closing Day (sometimes called the Eighth Day).
There are further patterns of seven:
The weekly Sabbaths and annual Festivals were God's
chosen way for His people to worship Him. Time and again
God expresses His outrage that other forms of worship - all
"idolatry" - were practiced by Israel. He waited patiently for
nearly three centuries for the northern House of Israel to
repent. They didn't, and were expelled from the Land, the
vast majority never to return. The House of Judah, too,
profaned God's Holy Days and they, too, were exiled - for
seventy years.

- every seven years there was a sabbath of rest for the land,
during which Israel's agricultural land remained fallow ...
Leviticus 25:1-7
All who claim to worship the God of the Bible must compare
the form of their worship with God's! James McBride, Church
of God Outreach Ministries

- every forty-ninth year (7 x 7) was followed by a special, Keep in mind that God's Word is also the text of the Old
50th, year known as the Jubilee (rejoicing) in which land Testament. These inspired Scriptures are the foundation for the
returned to its hereditary ownership ... Leviticus 25:8-13 teaching of Jesus and the apostles, and are "able to make you
wise unto salvation" ... II Timothy 3:15-17

- the symbolic seven thousand years of physical human

civilization ends with the Millennial sabbath rest of Christ's
reign on earth ... Rev. 20:4. This period of human life is
followed by the "sabbath rest" of eternity. This concept is
based on the seven-day week, each day of which
represents a thousand years of human civilization ... Psalm
90:4, II Peter 3:8

The House of 1000 Mirrors

Long ago in a small, far away village, there was a place known as the House of 1000 Mirrors. A small, happy little dog learned of this
place and decided to visit. When he arrived, he bounced happily up the stairs to the doorway of the house. He looked through the
doorway with his ears lifted high and his tail wagging as fast as it could. To his great surprise, he found himself staring at 1000
other happy little dogs with their tails wagging just as fast as his. He smiled a great smile, and was answered with 1000 great
smiles just as warm and friendly. As he left the house, he thought to himself, “This is a wonderful place. I will come back and visit
it often.”

In this same village, another little dog, who was not quite as happy as the first one, decided to visit the house. He slowly climbed
the stairs and hung his head low as he looked into the door. When he saw the 1000 unfriendly looking dogs staring back at him, he
growled at them and was horrified to see 1000 little dogs growling back at him. As he left, he thought to himself, “That is a
horrible place, and I will never go back there again.”

All the faces in the world are mirrors. What kind of reflections do you see in the faces of the people you meet?

I often visit newcomers in town and find them to be church shopping. They want to know what they can get out of church.
Churches are one more consumer commodity. Worship services are not a place for us to serve God and neighbor but a place
where people expect to purchase the best: Inspiring worship, good music, moving sermons, quality child care. As if we buy
God and not vice versa. Arthur Boers in The Other Side.

11
 ANG BAGONG TIPAN
Nagbigay Wakas Ba o Sumira Sa Kautusan At Ng Mga
Propeta?
Maraming mangangaral ng
Salita ng Diyos o Bibliya sa “Kinalulugdan ng Panginoon dahil sa
kasalukuyan ang nagdadala ng kanyang katuwiran, na dakilain ang
katuruan na ang pagdating ni Kautusan at gawing marangal.”
HesuKristo sa ating daigdig ay
may layuning ipawalang bisa ang Ito ay isang propesiya o pagpapahayag
mga Kautusan na ibinigay kay ng mga bagay na magaganap
Moises at ng mga propeta patungkol sa mga gawain na
kasama ang kabuuan ng gagampanan ni HesuKristo.
Sampung Utos, upang palitan ng
bagong mga Kautusan. Ang ibig sabihin ng salitang
dakilain (“megas” sa wikang Griyego)
sa wikang Ingles ay “to magnify” “to
Ang isa sa mga patibay na
enlarge” o “to make great.” Sa malinaw
ginagamit nila ay mula sa
na kahulugan sa salitang Filipino ay
Heb.8:13 doon ay sinasabi,
palawakin, pahalagahan o bigyan ng
kahalagahan. Maling
“isang Bagong Tipan, ay
pagpapakahulugan kung ang ating
niluma Niya ang una.
pagkaunawa sa salitang “ganapin” ay
Datapuwa’t ang nagiging
wakasan.
luma at tumatanda ay malapit nang lumipas.”
Suriin nating mabuti ang mga sumunod na
Ang isa pa na ginagamit na katibayan ay sa Roma
pagpapahayag ni HesuKristo.
6:14,
“Sapagkat katotohanang sinasabi ko sa inyo,
“Sapagkat ang kasalanan ay hindi makapaghahari
hanggang sa mangawala ang langit
sa inyo, sapagkat wala na kayo sa ilalim ng
at lupa, ang isang tuldok o isang kudlit, sa ano
Kautusan, kundi sa ilalim ng biyaya (grace).”
mang paraan ay hindi mawawala
sa Kautusan, hanggang sa maganap ang lahat ng
Bago natin talakayin ang mga patibay na wala nang
mga bagay” (Mateo 5:18).
bisa ang Lumang Tipan, ang mga Kautusan ni Moises at ng
mga propeta, kasama ang kabuuan ng Sampung Utos,
Malinaw ang sinasabi na mawawala ang langit at
alamin muna natin mula sa Banal na Kasulatan, kung ano
lupa sapagkat magkakaroon ng bagong langit at lupa. “…at
ang sinasabi ni HesuKristo tungkol sa mga Kautusan sa
sa bagong langit at lupa ay mananatili ang Kautusan.” (II
Lumang Tipan.
Pedro 3:10,13).
“Huwag ninyong isipin Ako’y naparito upang sirain
“Kaya’t sinumang sumuway sa isa sa kaliit-liitang
ang Kautusan o ang mga propeta, Ako’y naparito hindi
mga utos na ito, at ituro ang gayon sa mga tao ay
upang sirain, kundi upang ganapin” (Mateo 5:17).
tatawaging kaliit-liitan sa kaharian ng langit. Datapuwa’t ang
sino mang gumanap at ituro, ito ay tatawaging dakila sa
Kung sinabi ni HesuKristo na naparito Siya hindi
kaharian ng langit” (Mateo 5:19).
upang sirain o ipawalang bisa ang Kautusan, bakit marami
ang nagsasabi na pinawalang bisa Niya ito? Malinaw na
sinabi ni HesuKristo na naparito Siya upang tuparin hindi
Ang Mga Turo ni Pablo Ba Ay May
upang sirain. Pagkakasalungatan?

Ang salitang “tuparin” ay “to fulfill” sa wikang
Ingles. Sa wikang Tagalog ang tuparin ay gawin o ganapin,
at sa wikang Griyego ay “pleroo”. Hindi ibig sabihin ng
salitang “ganapin” ay magbigay wakas. Ang pakahulugang
ito ay sinasangayonan sa Isaias 42:21:
“Ano nga ang ating sasabihin, magpapatuloy ba
tayo sa pagkakasala (breaking the law) upang ang biyaya
ay makapanagana? Huwag nawang mangyari. Tayo’y mga
patay na sa pagkakasala (dahil sa paglabag sa Kautusan).
12
Papaano pa tayong mabubuhay nga roon?” (Basahin ang
Roma 6:1-21).
Ang isang tunay na nagbalik-loob sa Panginoong
Diyos ay kinakailangan na hindi muling lumabag sa
Kautusan. Samakatuwid ang Kautusan ay hindi nagwakas
sa kamatayan ni HesuKristo. Kung ang Kautusan ay
lumipas na noong mga nakaraang panahon at hindi na
kailangn pa sa mga mananampalataya sa Bagong Tipan,
bakit sinabi ni Pablo na, “Kaya nga ang Kautusan ay banal
at ang mga utos ay banal, at matuwid at mabuti” (Roma
7:12) at “ang Kautusan ay espiritual” (v.14). Pansinin na
ang tinutukoy ni Pablo ay ang Lumang Tipan.
Ano ang Lumang Tipan (Old Covenant)?
Ang sabi ni Pablo tungkol sa kasulatan ng Lumang
Tipan, “Doon sa sinasabi Niya, isang Bagong tipan, ay
niluma Niya ang una. Datapuwa’t ang nagiging luma ay
tumatanda at malapit nang lumipas” (Hebreo 8:13).
Bakit si HesuKristo ay dumating bilang Kinatawan
(Messenger) ng Bagong Tipan? Ano ang mga pagkakamali
sa Unang Tipan? Ito ba ay may depekto o kasiraan? May
pagkakamali ba ang Panginoong Diyos? Ang lumang Tipan
ba ay mabagsik, malupit o napakahigpit? Ang mga
salansang batas nito ba ay magulo o masalimuot na
napakahirap na pasanin lalo na sa mga mahihirap?
Ang “tipan” (contract) ayon sa ating talatinigan
(dictionary) ay [1] kasunduan (compact) sa pagitan ng
dalawang tao o mga grupo tungkol sa mga dapat gawin na
mga bagay. [2] batas (law), maayos na kasunduan na
naaayon o alinsunod sa batas lalo na kung ito ay may legal
na tatak o seal.
Ang tipan ba ay batas? Ang tipan ay kasunduan at
hindi batas. Ang Panginoong Diyos ay nag-alok o
nagmungkahi sa pagitan ng kanyang sarili at ng
sangkatauhan. Ang tipan ay isang kasunduan tungkol sa
isang tungkulin o pananagutan na dapat gawin o ‘di dapat
gawin. Ang tipan ay isang maayos na kasunduan tungkol sa
mga pagsasagawa o pagtupad at hindi batas. Ang Lumang
Tipan ay may dalawang bahagi, ang pag-aalok at pagsang-
ayon. Kung ang tao ay sumang-ayon, ang Panginoong
Diyos ay tutupad, kung ang tao ay lumabag sa kasunduan,
ang Panginoong Diyos ay walang sagutin o pananagutan.
Nakapaloob sa Kasunduang (Tipan) ito ay ang mga biyaya
at sumpa.
Ang Sampung Kautusan ang bumubuo ng batayan
o saligan ng Kasunduan (Tipan). Ang mga Kautusan na
bahagi ng kasunduan na dapat tuparin ng Israel ay
mababasa sa Deuteronomio 5:6, 15 at ang mga pangako
ay sa Deuteronomio 28:1-14. Ang mga sumpa sa hindi
pagtupad sa kasunduan ay mababasa sa Deuteronomio
28:15-44. Sa bawat karanasan na masama na ating ginawa
ay may mga bagay na pinagbatayan sa pag-sira o paglabag
sa Kautusan.
Ang Tipan Na Walang Hanggan
Ang tipan sa Exo.19:5-6 na pinaiingatan sa
pagiging bayan (‘banal na bayan’) ng Panginoong Diyos ay
ang Tipan na Walang Hanggan na nagmula pa kay
Abraham. “At aking pagtitibayin ang Aking Tipan sa iyo at
sa iyong binhi pagkamatay mo, sa buong kalahian nila na
Tipang walang hanggan na Ako’y iyong magiging Diyos at
ng iyong binhi pagkamatay mo. At ibibigay Ko sa iyo at sa
iyong binhi pagkamatay mo ang mga lupaing iyong
pinaglakbayan. Ang buong lupain ng Canaan, para sa pag-
aaring walang hanggan at Ako ang magiging Diyos nila”
(Genesis 17:7-8).
Ang tipan na ginawa sa lugar ng Horeb ay bukod sa
tipan na ginawa sa Moab (Deuteronomio 29:1).
Apatnapung taon (v.5) ang nakaraan mula nang pumasok
sila sa tipan ng mga handog (Exodo 24:4-8) sa paanan ng
bundok Sinai. Pagkatapos na masakop nila ang kaharian ni
Sehon at ni Og (Deuteronomio 29:7-8), sila ay pumasok sa
isa na namang tipan sa lupain ng Moab, upang mula sa
araw na iyo ay itatatag sila na bayan ng Banal na Diyos at
Siya ang kanilang Panginoong Diyos, gaya ng isinumpa
Niya kay Abraham (Deuteronomio 29:12-13).
Maraming tipan ang ginawa noon ng Banal na
Diyos sa Israel. “Na pawang mga Israelita; na sa kanila ang
pagkukupkop at ang kaluwalhatian at ang mga tipan at ang
pagbigay ng mga Kautusan at ang paglilingkod sa Diyos at
mga kapangakuan” (Roma 9:4). Ang mga Tipan na
ginamitan ng dugo ng hayop (Exodo 24:4-7), kasama na
rito ang iba pang handog na harina (pagkain) na ginamitan
ng asin ay tinatawag din na tipan. Sa Levitico 2:13, ito ay
tinatawag na ‘asin ng tipan’. (“And every sacrifice will be
seasoned with salt”. –Marcos 9:49; Ezekiel 43:24).
Ang mga naganap sa unang pagdating ng Mesiyas
ay pinagtibay Niya ang Tipan na Bago sa pamamagitan ng
Kanyang dugo. “Sapagkat ito ang Aking dugo ng Tipan na
nabubuhos dahil sa marami at ikapapatawad ng
kasalanan.”(Mateo 26:28) “at sa kalahati ng sanglinggo
Kanyang ipatitigil ang handog at iaalay” (Daniel 9:27) Bakit
? Sapagkat ayaw na ng Panginoong Diyos ng mga handog
patungkol sa kasalanan at pinalitan ng handog ni
HesuKristo. Ang Tipan na mga handog na hayop ang
siyang malinaw na pinalitan ng Bagong Tipan na pinagtibay
ng dugo ni HesuKristo (Hebreo 10:4-7).
“Inyong susundin ang Aking tinig at inyong
isasagawa ayon sa lahat ng iniuutos Ko sa inyo, sa gayo’y
magiging bayan Ko kayo at Ako’y inyong magiging Diyos”
(Jeremias 11:4).
Hindi sapat na sabihing “Ang Panginoon ang aking
Diyos” kundi mayroon kang batas na susundin bilang
katunayan na Siya nga ang iyong Panginoong Diyos at
kikilalanin ka rin Niya.
“Ang sino mang nananahan sa Kanya (Diyos) ay
hindi nagkakasala ay hindi nakakita sa Kanya ni hindi man
nakakilala sa Kanya” (I Juan 3:6).
Ang pagkakaroon ng ibang mga diyos ay pagsira sa
Tipan. (Jeremias 11:10) “Sapagkat ang sino mang
13
gumanap ng buong Kautusan at gayon man ay natisod o
nadapa (stumbled) sa isa ay nagiging makasalanan (guilty)
sa lahat.” (Santiago 2:10).
Ang lupa naman ay nadumhan sa ilalim ng mga
nananahan doon; sapagkat kanilang sinalansang ang
Kautusan at Tipan. (Isaias 24:5)
Ang Sampung Utos ay bahagi ng walang hanggang
Tipan. Ito ay upang maingatan ang Tipan na walang
hanggan at ang relasyon na walang hanggan na ang
Panginoon ang kanilang Diyos at ang mga tao ang Kanyang
Bayan.
“At narinig ko ang isang malakas na tinig mula sa
luklukan na nagsasabi, narito, ang Tabernakulo ng Diyos ay
nasa mga tao at Siya’y mananahan sa kanila at sila’y bayan
Niya, at ang Diyos din ay nasa kanila at magiging Diyos
nila” (Pahayag 21:3, Deuteronomio 26:17-19,
Deuteronomio 29:12-13).
Ang Unang Tipan At Ang Bagong Tipan
Sa Lumang Tipan o Unang Tipan ang sistema ng
pagsamba ay pisikal. Sa pisikal na tabernakulo ay may
dalang mga handog o hain na dugo ng hayop. Sa unang
tabernakulo ay may alituntunin tungkol sa laman at ang
mga tumutupad sa mga katungkulan ay mga Saserdote.
Subalit sa ikalawang tabernakulo ay pumapasok na nag-iisa
ang Dakilang Saserdote, minsan isang taon na may dalang
dugo na inihahandog na patungkol sa Kanyang sarili at sa
kamalian ng mga bayan (Hebreo 9:1-10).
“Ngunit pagdating ni Kristo na higit na Dakilang
Saserdote ng mabubuting bagay na darating sa
pamamagitan ng lalong malaki at lalong sakdal na
tabernakulo, na hindi gawa ng mga kamay, samakatuwid
baga’y hindi sa paglalang na ito” (Hebreo 9:11). “Si Kristo
ang Tagapamagitan ng Bagong Tipan” (Hebreo 9:15).
Ang Unang Tipan ang naging luma. “Doon sa
sinasabi Niya, isang Bagong Tipan, niluma Niya ang una.
Datapuwa’t ang nagiging luma at tumatanda ay malapit
nang lumipas” (Hebreo 8:13). Kaya’t ang una mang tipan
ay hindi itinalaga nang walang dugo. Sapagkat nang salitain
ni Moises ang bawat utos sa buong bayan ayon sa
Kautusan, ay kumuha siya ng dugo ng mga bulong baka at
ng mga kambing at may tubig at balahibong mapula ng
tupa, isopo at winisikan ang aklat at gayon din ang buong
bayan, na sinasabi, “ito ang dugo ng tipan na iniutos ng
Diyos tungkol sa inyo” (Hebreo 9:18-20, Exodo 24:4,6-8).
Sa Bagong Tipan ang pagsamba ay espiritual na.
“Ang ating mga katawan ang ating ihaharap na haing buhay
sa pamamagitan ng ‘di pakikiayon sa sanlibutang ito o
lipunan at magbago ng pag-iisip at tuwina ay magsuri sa
sarili” (Roma 12:1-3).
“Sambahin ang Diyos sa espiritu sapagkat ang
Diyos ay Espiritu” (Juan 4:24).
Nagkaroon ng ikalawang tipan o Bagong Tipan sapagkat
nagkaroon ng kakulangan sa mga tao dahil sa mga
paglabag (Hebreo 8:7-8). Dahil sa mga paglabag, ang dugo
ng mga baka at ng mga kambing ay hindi makapag-aalis ng
kasalanan. Ang mga hain na ito ay ginagawa lamang bilang
pag-alaala sa mga kasalanan taun-taon. Ito ay isang uri ng
pagdidisiplina (Hebreo 10:3-4). Ang mga Kautusan sa
paghahandog ay mabigat gawin sa araw-araw at taun-taon
(I Samuel 1:3).
“Subalit ang pagsunod sa Kautusan (Sampung
Utos) ay tanglaw at liwanag” (Kawikaan 6:23). Ito ay hindi
mabigat o mahirap (I Juan 5:3). Ito ay kaaaliwan (Mga Awit
119:77). Ang mga Kautusan sa paghahandog ay idinagdag
(added law) dahil sa paglabag sa mga Kautusan (Sampung
Utos) at nagsisilbing tagapagturo (ang mga handog) sa tao
upang ihatid sila kay HesuKristo.
Ang tunay na Handog ay katawan ni HesuKristo
para sa katubusan ng mga kasalanan ng tao (Galacia
3:19,24). Ang pagtuturo sa katubusan sa mga kasalanan ay
sa pamamagitan ba ng mga handog na hayop?
“At dahil dito’y Siya ang Tagapamagitan ng Bagong
Tipan upang sa pamamagitan ng isang kamatayan na ukol
sa ikatutubos ng mga pagsalangsang na nasa ilalim ng
Unang Tipan, ang mga tinawag ay magsitanggap ng
pangako na manang walang hanggan” (Hebreo 9:15).
“Upang matubos Niya (Kristo) ang mga nasa ilalim
ng Kautusan, upang matanggap natin ang pagkukupkop
bilang mga anak” (Galacia 4:5).
”Sapagkat ang kasalanan ay hindi makapaghahari
sa inyo sapagkat wala na kayo sa ilalim ng Kautusan, kundi
sa ilalim ng biyaya” (Roma 6:14).
Ang pagtubos ni HesuKristo sa mga tao sa
kasalanan ang nagpawala sa tao sa ilalim ng Kautusan.
Hindi sinabi na wala na tayo sa Kautusan, kundi wala na
tayo sa ilalim ng Kautusan. Wala rin sinabi na wala na ang
Kautusan.
“Sa sumpa ng Kautusan ay tinubos tayo ni Kristo,
na naging sumpa sa ganang atin; sapagkat nasusulat,
sinusumpa ang bawat binibitay sa punong kahoy” (Galacia
3:13).
“Sapagkat ang lahat na sa mga gawang ayon sa
Kautusan ay nasa ilalim ng sumpa, sapagkat nasusulat;
sinusumpa ang bawat hindi nananatili sa lahat ng mga
bagay na nasusulat sa aklat ng Kautusan upang gawin nila”
(Galacia 3:10).
Tinubos tayo ni HesuKristo sa lahat ng mga
kasamaan at walang kabuluhang paraan ng pamumuhay
(Titus 2:14; I Pedro 1:18-19). Ang mga tradisyon at salit-
saling sabi ay paglabag sa Kautusan at nasa ilalim ng
sumpa ng Kautusan (Mateo 15:3,6).
Ang pagtubos ay biyaya ng Panginoong Diyos; “na
hindi dahil sa mga gawa sa katuwiran na sarili nating gawa,
kundi ayon sa kanyang kaawaan ay Kanyang iniligtas tayo,
sa pamamagitan ng paghuhugas sa muling kapanganakan
at pagbabago ng Espiritu Santo” (Titus 3:5).
14

Ang pagtubos ng Banal na Diyos ay dahil sa
Kanyang habag at awa, hindi dahil sa mga mabuti nating
gawa. Ang katubusan ay sa sumpang kamatayan,
samakatuwid baga’y nasa ilalim na nga biyaya.
Si HesuKristo ay naging lingkod ng mga Hudyo
upang ipakilala na tapat ang Panginoong Diyos sa Kanyang
mga pangako sa mga patriyarka. At ang mga Hentil nama’y
magpuri sa Panginoong Diyos dahil sa Kanyang habag
(Roma 15:7-12).
Ang mga Hentil na nakapasok sa Bagong Tipan na
sumasampalataya kay HesuKristo ay isinanib sa mabuting
puno ng olibo [Israel na sumasampalataya, idinugtong ang
sanga ng olibong ligaw (Hentil)] upang makabahagi sa
dagta ng punong kumakandili. Ang Kautusan para sa Israel
at ng Hentil ay iisa (Roma 11:17, 24-25).
Pag-ibig, Pagtupad Sa Kautusan
Ang una hanggang sa ika-apat na Kautusan ay
nauukol sa pag-ibig sa Panginoong Diyos. Ang lima
hanggang sampu ay ang pag-ibig sa kapuwa.
“At sinabi sa kanila, ibigin mo ang Panginoon mong
Diyos, nang buong puso mo at nang buong kaluluwa mo at
nang buong pag-iisip mo. Ito ang dakila at pangunahing
Utos. At ang pangalawang katulad ay ito, ibigin mo ang
iyong kapuwa na gaya ng iyong sarili. Sa dalawang Utos na
ito’y nauuwi ang buong Kautusan at ng mga propeta”
(Mateo 22:37,40).
Ang salitang nauuwi ay “hang” sa King James
Version na ang ganap na kahulugan ay nananangan,
nananatili o nakahawak. Sa unang dakila at pangunahing
Kautusan, at sa pangalawang Kautusan, at sa pangalawang
Kautusan ay nananangan, nananatili o nakahawak ang
buong Kautusan. At ang pag-ibig ay mahalagang sangkap
sa pagtupad sa Kautusan. Malinaw na ang pag-ibig ay hindi
pangpalit sa Kautusan.
Paano ipinahayag ni HesuKristo ang turo tungkol sa
pag-ibig sa Panginoong Diyos? “Ang may taglay ng Aking
mga Utos at tinutupad ang mga iyon ay siyang umiibig sa
Akin. At ang umiibig sa Akin ay iibigin ng Aking Ama at
siya’y iibigin Ko at Ako’y magpapakilala sa kanya” (Juan
14:21).
Ang pag-ibig kay HesuKristo ay pagtupad sa
Kanyang Utos. Ganyan din ang pag-ibig sa Panginoong
Diyos ay pagtupad sa Kanyang mga Utos.
”Sapagkat ito ang pag-ibig sa Diyos na ating tuparin
ang Kanyang mga Utos at ang Kanyang mga Utos ay hindi
mabibigat” (1 Juan 5:3).
Mababasa sa Deuteronomio 30:16 na ang pag-
ibig sa Panginoon mong Diyos ay hindi lamang ang
pagsunod sa Kanyang mga Utos (commandments). May
mga nakasabit pa na batas (statutes) at may mga kahatulan
na bahagi rin ng Kautusan na lumakad sa Kanyang mga
1
daan (Deuteronomio 32:4; Pahayag 15:3; 2 Samuel
22:3). Ang mga batas (statutes) na tinutukoy ay
matatagpuan sa kabuuan ng Levitico 18:1-30. Ang
tinutukoy na “kahubaran” sa Levitico 18 ay “nakedness” sa
wikang Ingles. Ang malinaw na kahulugan nito ay
pagsisiping, pakikipagtalik o seksuwal na relasyon.
(Basahin ang “Magandang Balita Biblia” ukol sa malinaw na
paliwanag o pagpapahayag.)
Ang halimbawa ng pagpapahayag ay ganito sa
“Aking Biblia”: “Ang kahubaran ng iyong ama o ang
kahubaran ng iyong ina ay huwag mong ililitaw;siya’y iyong
ina;huwag mong ililitaw ang kahubaran niya” (Levitico
18:7).
Sa “Magandang Balita Bibliya” ay ganito ang
pagkasalin: “Huwag mong sisipingan ang iyong ina, iyan ay
pagyurak o pagpupugay sa puri ng iyong ama. Ang iyong
ina ay di mo dapat halayin” Levitico 18:7).
Ang iba pang mga alituntunin ay matatagpuan sa
Levitico 19:11-18; Deuteronomio 19;9-16 at
Deuteronomio 22:1-30. Ang mga kahulugan ay
matatagpuan sa Deuteronomio 13:11-10; Deuteronomio
24:1-4; Roma 6:23 at Pahayag 20:14.
Paano Naman Ang Pag-ibig Sa Kapuwa
Tulad Sa Iyong Sarili?
“Huwag kayong magkaka-utang ng ano pa man
kanino man, maliban na sa mangag-ibigan kayo; sapagkat
ang umiibig sa kanyang kapuwa’y nakaganap na ng
Kautusan. Ang mga Utos gaya ng Huwag kang
mangangalunya, Huwag kang papatay, Huwag Kang
magnanakaw, Huwag kang mananangkin (maling
paghangad) at kung mayroon pang ibang Utos ay nauuwi
sa salitang ito, samakatuwid baga’y ibigin mo ang iyong
kapuwa na tulad ng iyong sarili. Ang pag-ibig ay hindi
gumagawa ng masama sa kanyang kapuwa. Ang pagibig
nga ay ang siyang katuparan ng Kautusan” (Roma 13:8-10;
Levitico 19:18; Galacia 5:14).
“Ang hindi umiibig ay nananahan sa kamatayan.
Ang sino mang napopoot sa kanyang kapatid ay
mamamatay tao at nalalaman ninyong sino mang
mamamatay tao ay hindi pinanahanan ng buhay na walang
hanggan” (I Juan 3:14,15).
Ang pag-ibig sa kapuwa maging sa kaaway ay hindi
naghihintay ng ano mang kapalit (Lucas 6:31-36). Ang pag-
ibig sa kapuwa ay hindi nagkukunsinti. Ang isang tao na
ayaw gumawa ay huwag magsikain (2 Tesalonica 3:6-10).
“At kapag gagapas kayo ng mga uhay sa inyong
lupain ay huwag ninyong pagagapas ang mga sulok ng
inyong bukid, ‘ni huwag ninyong pamulutan ang inyong
lupang ginapasan. At huwag ninyong sisimutin ang inyong
ubasan, ‘ni huwag ninyong pupulutin ang bungang nahulog
sa inyong ubasan; sa dukha at sa mga taga ibang bayan,
pabayaan ninyo: Ako ang Panginoon ninyong Diyos”
(Levitico 19:9-10, Ruth 2:15,16)
15

Bakit pa iiwan at hindi na lang anihin o ipaani ng
may-ari ng lupa at ibigay sa mga mahihirap? Bakit ang mga
nangangailangan pa ang kailangang pumulot? Sapagkat isa
sa mga bahagi ng batas (statutes) at kahatulan ay ang
huwag maging tamad.
”Balang araw ang masikap ang mamamahala,
ngunit ang tamad ay mananatiling alila” (Kawikaan 12:24).
Ano sa madaling salita ang pag-ibig sa kapwa na
tulad ng iyong sarili? “At kung ano ang gusto ninyong sa
inyo’y gawin ng mga tao, gayon din ang gawin ninyo sa
kanila” (Lucas 6:31). (Basahin ang kabuuan ng Lucas
6:27-36) Ang pagpapahiram at hindi umaasa ng ano mang
kabayaran (v.35).
“Ang pag-ibig sa kapuwa ay matiyaga o mapagtiis,
matulungin, magandang loob, hindi nananaghili o naiinggit,
hindi nagmamapuri sa kanyang sariling kalagayan o hindi
mayabang, hindi mapagmataas sa sariling kalagayan, may
galang sa kapuwa, hindi bastos o magaspang ang pag-
uugali, hindi maramot o hindi sakim, hindi madaling magalit,
hindi nagtatanim ng galit sa sarili at ng galit sa kapuwa,
hindi ikinatutuwa ang gawang masama ngunit nagagalak sa
katotohanan. Ang pag-ibig ay mapagbata, mapagtiwala,
puno ng pag-asa at nagtitiyaga hanggang wakes.”
(Basahin ang kabuuan ng I Mga Taga-Corinto 1-
7). Ang pag-ibig ang siyang katuparan ng Kautusan (Roma
13:10).
Ano Ang Layunin Ng Bagong Tipan?
Pagtitibayin ni HesuKristo sa loob ng Bagong Tipan
ang banal na tipan, ang sumpa na isinumpa niya kay
Abraham (Lucas 1:72-73; Roma 15:8). Si HesuKristo rin
ang naging Tagapamagitan sa pagsuway sa mga
kasalanan na nasa ilalim ng Unang Tipan upang
magsitanggap ng pangakong manang walang hanggan,
pangakong unang ibinigay kay Abraham (Hebreo 9:15).
Ang sumpa ang naging bunga ng paglabag sa
Sampung Utos o salita ng Tipan (Jeremias 11:13;
Deuteronomio 29:21). Si HesuKristo ang katubusan sa
sumpa ng Kautusan (Galacia 11:14). Sa pamamagitan ng
kamatayan ni HesuKristo, nabuong muli ang kaugnayan ng
Panginoong Diyos sa Israel.
Upang mapatawad ang mga makasalanan, dapat
magsisi at magbago ang kaisipan, at lumakad ayon sa mga
Kautusan (Roma 5:10). Ang mga pangako sa pag-iingat sa
tipan na walang hanggan ay nakapaloob (contained,
embodied) din sa Bagong Tipan (Genesis 17:7-8; I Pedro
2:9; Ezekiel 37:24-28; Hebreo 11:8-10,16, 39-40).
Ang Tipan na walang hanggan ay napagtibay sa
pamamagitan ng kamatayan ni Hesukristo. Ang kaugnayan
ng Banal na Diyos sa tao ay pinagtibay na ang Banal na
Diyos ang magiging Panginoon ng mga tao at sila’y
magiging bayan ng Panginoong Diyos. Ang katuparan nito
ay sa pamamagitan ng pakikinig at pagsunod sa salita ng
Tipan o “Sampung Utos” (Jeremias 11:14; Hebreo 8:10;
10:16).
Ang salita ng Tipan ay ang Sampung Utos (Exodo
34:28). Ang salita ng Tipan o Sampung Utos ay bahagi o
nasa loob ng Tipan na walang hanggan. Samakatuwid ang
mga ito’y patuloy pa ring umiiral ngayon.

God's Holyday Plan reflects ...

The Principle of `SEVEN'

To the modern Christian ear -
accustomed to Christmas, Easter etc -
the Biblical festivals have a strange
ring. Yet the ancient celebrations
follow a simple and logical pattern,
and contain truths that have
application to this day.
The divinely-inspired `feasts of the
Lord' (not Moses! See Leviticus 23:1)
follow a regular pattern of sevens,
beginning with the seven-day week -
which is based on the Biblical week of
creation (Genesis 1, Exodus 20:10-
11).
The Bible calendar is `lunar-solar'
using both moon and sun for its
calculation, the first month - sensibly -
beginning in spring. (Did you ever
wonder why September, which means
"seventh month", is our ninth month?
That's because our calendar used to
begin in March!)
The first seven months of the Bible
calendar contain all the festival `high
days' of which there are seven.
Sevens Within Sevens
The first of festival is called
Unleavened Bread - a seven-day
festival in the first month of Abib (=
green ears). This month is also call
Nisan (=marching). The first and
seventh day of Unleavened Bread are
the first two annual high days.
Beginning with the Sabbath nearest to
the initial ripening of the grain harvest
(the Wave-sheaf) in spring, a period
of seven weeks are marked off
leading to the annual Feast of
Firstfruits ('Pentecost'). It occurs fifty
days after the Wavesheaf - seven
times seven days plus one day - and
16
marks the closing of the spring
festivals. [Pentecost = fiftieth]
On the first day of each month a
trumpet was blown. At the start of the
seventh month, Ethanim or Tishri, is a
special Feast of Trumpets. This is
observed by Jews as the start of their
civil year, Rosh Hashana. On the tenth
day of the seventh month is the Day of
Atonement - Yom Kippur (a day of
fasting). later in the month is the seven-
day Festival of Tabernacles and a
final closing festival, "The Last Great
Day".
Notice there's a further pattern in this:
the seven-day spring festival plus one
day - Pentecost - at the beginning of
the year. Then in the autumn a seven-
day festival - Tabernacles - plus one
day.
But that isn't the end of the sevens!
Every seven years there's a 'year of
release' which is a Sabbath of the
land (Leviticus 25:1-7). And we see the
pattern repeat yet again, for after
seven release years (7x7) there's
another 'plus one' - the fiftieth year
being a Jubilee year (vv. 8-13).
To this we can add the grand sweep
of prophetic history. God has
allocated man a symbolic prophetic
week - each day a 'thousand years'
long (2 Peter 3:8). Mankind has six
'days' to 'work out his own salvation'. It
will be followed by a seventh
thousand years of divine rule over
human affairs, the Millennium - to
restore the original divine plan (Rev.
20:6).
Each of these inspired times is of
exciting significance, and embrace all
the high points of the Biblical Christian
year. James F. McBride Church of God,
UK.

Biblical Evidence in Support of

a Sivan 6 Pentecost
There was an event that took place on Pentecost both in the hz Zeh (zeh); , Strong #: 2088
Old Testament and the New Testament. The events were
when the Children of Israel received the law on Mount Sinai 1. this, this one, here, which, this...that, the one...the other,
and when the Holy Spirit was given that we would be able another, such
to keep that law. Read Exodus 19, paying very close
attention to the following verses: a. (alone)

Exodus 19:1 In the third month, when the children of 1. this one
Israel were gone forth out of the land of Egypt, the same
day came they into the wilderness of Sinai. 2. this...that, the one...the other, another

Exodus 19:10 And the Lord said unto Moses, Go unto the b. (appos to subst) 1. this
people, and sanctify them to day and to morrow, and let
them wash their clothes, c. (as predicate) 1. this, such
Exodus 19:16 And it came to pass on the third day in the d. (enclitically)
morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a
thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet
1. then
exceeding loud; so that all the people that was in the camp
trembled.
2. who, whom
If one reads Exodus 19:1 in many versions of the Bible, it
becomes apparent that there is mass confusion on what to 3. how now, what now
do with the phrase "the same day". Some indicate it is
talking about the day they came out of Egypt (Nelson Study 4. what now
Bible footnotes), and some say the first day of the 3rd
month (Catholic Bible), some ignore it, and some say 3 5. wherefore now
months to the day after they left Egypt.
6. behold here
So, then if you go to Strongs and look up the word "same"
as used in this verse, the meaning is as follows: 7. just now
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 8. now, now already
e. (poetry) 1. wherein, which, those who
f. (with prefixes)
1. in this (place) here, then
2. on these conditions, herewith, thus provided, by,
through this, for this cause, in this matter
3. thus and thus
4. as follows, things such as these, accordingly, to
that effect, in like manner, thus and thus
5. from here, hence, on one side...on the other side
6. on this account
7. in spite of this, which, whence, how
If you look up the word accordingly in a dictionary, it says
the following: 1. In agreement with what has preceded;
correspondingly. 2. therefore (Websters New World
Dictionary--College Edition)
The word same in Strongs with the meaning of #2088, lists
the following verses as having the same usage. They are as
follows: Gen. 7:11, Exd. 12:6, Exd. 19:1, Lev. 23:6, Jos.
6:15, I Sam. 17:30, Neh. 6:4, and Psalms 75:8.
#1--Genesis 7:11 In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, in
the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, the
same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken
up, and the windows of heaven were opened.
Same day here refers back to seventeenth day.
#2--Exodus 12:6 And ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth
day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the
congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening.
Same month here refers back to: Exodus 12:2 This month
shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the
first month of the year to you.
#3--Leviticus 23:6 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.
Same month here refers back to: Leviticus 23:5 In the
fourteenth day of the first month at even is the Lord's
passover.
#4--Joshua 6:15 And it came to pass on the seventh day,
that they rose early about the dawning of the day, and
compassed the city after the same manner seven times:
only on that day they compassed the city seven times.
Same manner here means in the same way they did it
previously: Joshua 6:14 And the second day they
compassed the city once, and returned into the camp: so
they did six days.
#5--1 Samuel 17:30 And he turned from him toward
another, and spake after the same manner: and the people
answered him again after the former manner.
Same manner here refers to how David previously spoke.
#6--Nehemiah 6:4 Yet they sent unto me four times after
this sort; and I answered them after the same manner.
Same manner here means as previously answered the 4
times before.
#7--Psalms 75:8 For in the hand of the Lord there is a cup,
and the wine is red; it is full of mixture; and he poureth
out of the same: but the dregs thereof, all the wicked of the
earth shall wring them out, and drink them.
The same here refers back to the red wine mixture in the
cup.
Now we come to Exodus 19:1
Exodus 19:1 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.
What does "the same day" refer back to?
If we say it refers to the 1st day of the 3rd month as some
claim, you have the law being received on the 3rd or 4th of
Sivan. Doesn't hold water, because your count will be under
50 days.
If we say it refers to when they left Egypt and allowing for
differing beliefs on that subject, one could have them
receiving the law anytime from the 14th of Sivan to the end
of Sivan. Doesn't hold water because then your count is way
over 50 days.
Since it clearly says day, it does not refer to the word
month, so the only thing left for "the same day" to refer
back to is the word third. The verse could just as well have
read as follows:
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Exodus 19:1 In the third month, when the children of Israel
were gone forth out of the land of Egypt, on the third day
came they into the wilderness of Sinai.
The time line would be as follows:
#1--They arrived at Mount Sinai on Sivan 3. (Exd. 19:1)
#2--They had 2 days of preparation, Sivan 4 & 5. (Exd.
19:10)
#3--They were to be prepared for the 3rd day, Sivan 6, on
which they received the law. (Exd. 19:15-16)
division among God's people. We are presenting these
proofs to get you, God's people, to dig deeper into your own
Bibles. No one will ever work out your Salvation for you. If
you do not do it yourself, it will not get done. Biblical
evidence always takes precedence above what men say and
we find there is enough Biblical evidence here to prove that
Sivan 6 was always Pentecost. After all this is a time period
way before the time of Christ.
Philippians 2:12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always
obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in
my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and
trembling.

Over time, we have presented much proof in support of the
Hebrew Calendar and the Holy Day Dates which are on that
calendar. This is only one more proof in support of the
Hebrew Calendar. We are not presenting this proof to cause
Acts 17:11 These were more noble than those in
Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all
readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily,
whether those things were so. by Laura Lee (Bismarck, North
Dakota)

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is to be within the framework of the Commission set forth to His believers and followers to "go and make disciples of all
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"The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field, which indeed is the least of all the seeds; but when it is grown
it is greater than the herbs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches."
Matthew 13:31-32

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