Passover, Pentecost & the RaptureA study by Lori Bango www.loribango.com

Leviticus 23:2 “Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘The feasts of the Lord, which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations, these are My feasts.”

Colossians 2:15-17 Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it. So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ.

The seven Feasts of Moses are not only serve as remembrance of God’s mercy and grace during the formation of Israel, they also tell a prophetic story of the first and second coming of Jesus Christ and the formation of His church and its destiny.

The first three feasts occur in the Spring at the beginning of the wheat harvest, and are predictive of the First Coming of Jesus, His death and resurrection. The wheat harvest is very significant as it relates to Pentecost. What is a harvest?

Matthew 3:12 “His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”

The last three feasts occur in the Fall, pointing to His second coming and are yet to be fulfilled. The second coming of Christ will occur at the end of the Feast of Tabernacles when Christ will touch his foot down on Mount of Olives with great power and glory.

Zech. 14:4,5 "And in that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, which faces Jerusalem on the east. And the Mount of Olives shall be split in two, from east to west, making a very large valley; half of the mountain shall move towards the north and half of it towards the south…Thus the Lord my God will come, and all the saints with You.”

The Lord Jesus will come with His saints, who are already with Him at the Second Coming. Colossians 3:4 "When Christ, who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory"

Jude 14,15 "Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of His saints, to execute judgement on all.”

Shavuot (Pentecost) falls directly in the middle of these feasts and represents the Church age. On some menorahs, the middle candle is placed higher than the other candles on each side to illustrate the significance of the middle candle, the middle event between the feasts. There are some really fascinating dots to connect about this feast day as it relates to the harpazo, the catching up, the rapture of the Church.

Looking for the Blessed Hope and Glorious AppearingThe Scripture is very clear that we are to look up in anticipation of His coming and those who keep their eyes on heavenly things, and not earthly things, receive a crown for watching and discerning the times.

Titus 2:11-15 “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.

Luke 12:37 “Blessed are those servants whom the master, when he comes, will find watching.

Hebrews 10:25 “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.”

2 Tim 4:8 “Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.”

Matthew 24:32-36 “Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near—at the doors! Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away. But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.”

“It is the glory of God to conceal a matter; to search out a matter is the glory of kings.” Proverbs 25:2

For the naysayers, it’s safe to say, our Lord Jesus Christ wants us to be looking for His coming and to be ready! Should we be holding on to our earthly desires or looking at heavenly things and the coming of the Lord?

1 John 15:15-16 “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world.”

Holy Week 2020“A complete lockdown and increased enforcement will begin on Passover Eve from Wednesday at 6 p.m. until Thursday at 7 a.m. Citizens will be required to remain in their homes amid fears that going to someone else’s house for the Seder or during Passover’s intermediate days could lead to the spread of coronavirus." https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/coronavirus-8611-israelis-have-disease-141-in-serious-condition-623716 For the second time in human history the Jewish people are confined to their homes during Passover, and so are the Gentiles.

The Ninth Plague: Darkness Exodus 10:21-23 “Then the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand toward heaven, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, darkness which may even be felt.”  So Moses stretched out his hand toward heaven, and there was thick darkness in all the land of Egypt three days. They did not see one another; nor did anyone rise from his place for three days. But all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings.

Wednesday, April 8: On the day before Passover, clean out your house of any leaven, symbolizing repentance of sin. 1 Corinthians 5:7-8  “Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us. Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.”

Thursday, April 9: Pesach (Passover) The Passover represents salvation and deliverance through the sacrificial Lamb by the blood covering the doorpost. Jesus Christ is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. Exodus 12 ‘For I will pass through the land of Egypt on that night, and will strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the Lord. 13 Now the blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you; and the plague shall not be on you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt.

‘So this day shall be to you a memorial; and you shall keep it as a feast to the Lord throughout your generations. You shall keep it as a feast by an everlasting ordinance.

Friday, April 10: Feast of Unleavened Bread (Good Friday) Jesus, the sinless Lamb of God was sacrificed for the sin of the world on Thursday afternoon the 14th of Nisan, beginning the three days of darkness.

Sunday, April 12: Offering of First Fruits (Resurrection Sunday) The resurrection of Jesus Christ occurred on the same day (Nisan 17) the Jewish people were commanded to bring their omer of barley to the Temple as a wave offering of their first fruits.  

1 Cor 15:20-21 “But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the First Fruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead.”

As commanded by the Torah, the Jewish people are to count seven weeks (7x7=49 days) from the time of the wave offering until the evening of the festival of Shavuot (Pentecost). Seven represents the number of completion and perfection.

According to the Torah and Jewish tradition, the following Biblical events also occurred on Nisan 17: - Noah’s flood ended (Exodus 12:2)- Hebrews entered Egypt (Exo 12:40-41) 430 years before deliverance.- Israel crossed the Red Sea (Exodus 3:18)- Israel entered and ate the first fruit of the Promised Land (Joshua 5:10-12)- Queen Esther saved the Jews and Haman was hanged (Esther 3:12) - Jesus the Messiah resurrected

Nisan 17 = April 11/12, 2020

Wednesday, April 29: Yom Ha’atzmaut (Israel Independence Day 1948) - The year 2020 marks the 72nd Anniversary of Israel became a Jewish state in 1948 - - 72 disciples were sent out by Jesus- 72 races resulting from Noah- 72 languages confused to the Tower of Babel

Monday, May 25: Pesach Sheni

The Second Passover The day represents the “second chance” achieved by teshuvah, the power of repentance and “return.” It marks the day when someone who was unable to participate in the Passover offering in the proper time would observe the mitzvah exactly one month later.)

Pentecost Thursday, May 28th to Saturday May 30: Shavuot- Festival of Weeks (Pentecost) Shavuot has a double significance. It marks the all-important wheat harvest in Israel and it commemorates the anniversary of the day when God gave the Torah to Moses and the 12 Tribes of Israel at the foot of Mount Sinai. The Israelites heard the actual voice of God. On the day of Pentecost, 10 days after Jesus ascended into Heaven, the 12 disciples were gathered together in one room on Mount Zion praying when the Holy Spirit came with a mighty rushing wind and tongues of fire.

Acts 2:2-4 “When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”

Old Testament• 40 days after the Israelites left Egypt on Passover, the arrived at Mount Sinai, where

Moses ascended the mountain to meet God. “Now Mount Sinai was completely in smoke, because the Lord descended upon it in fire.” Ex 19:18

• 10 days later, Moses came down with the Torah to find the Israelites broke the covenant by worshipping the golden calf and 3,000 people were slain.

• 50 days after sacrificing the Passover Lamb, the Israelites received a covenant from God and the Nation of Israel was born

New Testament • 40 days after the resurrection of Jesus, He ascended into Heaven from the Mount of

Olives.  • 10 days later, the Holy Spirit came down as tongues of fire and 3,000 people were

saved on Pentecost • 50 days after sacrificing Jesus, our Passover Lamb, believers received the Holy

Spirit and the Church was born

Jewish tradition holds that Enoch was born on the 6th of Sivan and was taken up 365 years later on the 6th of Sivan. 40 days after the death of Enoch’s son Methuselah, marked the beginning of the Great Flood.

The 6th of Sivan is May 29, 2020 - Pentecost

Hebrews 11:5-7 “By faith Enoch was taken so as not to see death, and he was not found because God took him. For before he was taken, he was commended as pleasing to God. 6 Now without faith it is impossible to please God. For the one who comes to God must believe that He exists and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.

By faith Noah, when warned about events not yet seen, in holy fear prepared an ark for the safety of his household. Through faith he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.”

This festival represents the marriage ceremony between Yahweh and Israel.The Jewish celebration of Shavuot/Pentecost begins by staying up all night to read Torah emphasizing on the Ten Commandments, and because of the wheat harvest, the they also read the Book of Ruth, a foretelling of Jesus marriage to His church.

Matthew 3:12 His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”

No One Knows the Day or HourMatthew 24:36-44 “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only. But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left. Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”

Because the feast of Pentecost is based on counting seven weeks following the Feast of First Fruits (Resurrection Sunday), and the Jewish calendar is based upon the appearance of a new moon, Pentecost is the only feast day that “wanders” and may fall on the fifth, sixth or seventh of Sivan.

Our Blessed HopeTitus 2:11-13 “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.”

Jesus could come back at any time for His church, which includes all believers in Christ from Pentecost to the present age. Those who have died will be raised, and believers living on earth will be changed in the twinkling of an eye as we are “caught up” or “harpazo’d” to meet the Lord in the air.

1. Enoch was harpazo’d before the flood of judgement Hebrews 11:5-7 “By faith Enoch was taken so as not to see death, and he was not found because God took him. For before he was taken, he was commended as pleasing to God.

2. Philip is harpazo’d from the presence of the Ethiopian Eunuch to a different location miles away. Acts 8:38-39  Now when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, so that the eunuch saw him no more; and he went on his way rejoicing.

3. Paul is harpazo’d from the Earth to the Third Heaven. 2 Corinthians 12:2,4 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago—whether in the body I do not know, or whether out of the body I do not know, God knows—such a one was caught up to the third heaven. How he was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.

4. Jesus Christ is harpazo’d from the Mount of Olives to His Throne in Heaven Luke 24:51 “Now it came to pass, while He blessed them, that He was parted from them and carried up into heaven.” Acts 1:9 “Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.” Revelation 12:5 “She bore a male Child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron, and her Child was caught up to God and His throne.”

5. The Church, believers in Christ are harpazo’d from the Earth to meet the Lord. 1 Thessalonians 4:17 “Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.”

1 Corinthians 15:51-52 “Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed—in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.”

1 Thessalonians 5:2-11 “But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation. For God did not

appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him. Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.

Recognize the Lateness of the HourOur ever merciful, gracious long-suffering and patient Father God has shut down the world and allowed this appointed time as one last wake up call. Never in human history since the flood of Noah has something like this affected the whole entire world. It’s time to board the Ark, who is Jesus Christ, to repent and be ready.

Matthew 24:37-39 “But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.”

Luke 21:11 “There will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and pestilences. And there will be terrors and great signs from heaven.

Leviticus 26:25 And I will bring a sword upon you, that shall execute vengeance for the covenant. And if you gather within your cities, I will send pestilence among you, and you shall be delivered into the hand of the enemy.

2 Chronicles 7:13 When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command the locust to devour the land, or send pestilence among my people.

How Then Should We Live- Fast, pray and worship as the disciples did awaiting the coming of the Holy Spirit in the upper room at Pentecost. Ask the Lord God how He would have you fast during this time as we prepare for Holy Week and through Pentecost.

- Get your affairs in order with God. Now is the time to repent and dedicate your life to Jesus believing in the power of His blood to protect the doorpost of your heart and soul. Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and no one comes to the Father except though Him. 2 Cor 6:2 “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation."

- Eagerly look for His appearing, and love not the world or the things in it, but keep your eyes focused on the Lord and His promise of transforming us in a twinkling of an eye.

- Boldly tell others about Jesus and be not ashamed of the Gospel.  1 Peter 3:15 “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear.

Jesus Final Words to the Church of Laodicea - Our current Church AgeRevelation 3:14-22  “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.

Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked— I counsel you to buy from Me gold, refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.

As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent.

Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”