In Palestine there are two annual harvests. The
first, produced by the early rain, is the spring
harvest; the second, produced by the “latter
rain”, is the main harvest…the much GREATER fall
harvest. These annual harvests depict two separate
resurrections of human beings. The first harvest
represents those God calls during this age to
become His begotten children. The second harvest
represents those who have not been called during
this age but will come to the TRUTH at a much
later date, in another age.
If you will recall, Passover symbolized Christ’s
sacrifice for the remission of our sins and the
days of unleavened bread symbolized the putting
away of sin. So, what does PENTECOST represent?
Earlier in this series we stated that it is
impossible for human beings to develop the mind
and nature of God, in and of, themselves. We need
help! It was on this day God made that help available
to mankind. On this day the Holy Spirit FIRST came
to dwell within flesh, as prophesied in Joel 2:28.
Peter confirmed this on the Day of Pentecost by
saying, “But this is that which was spoken by the
prophet Joel; And it shall come to pass in the last
days, saith God, I will pour out of My Spirit upon
all flesh…”
“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as
some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to
us-ward, not willing that any should perish,
but that all should come to repentance.”
Remember, all have sinned and come short of the
glory of God. All must repent of their sins, and
accept the blood of Jesus Christ to cover those sins.
They must then embark on a Christian life of
overcoming sin and putting on the divine nature of
God. (II Peter 1:4).
But, God has a Plan. That Plan is to call certain
ones, at specific ages, to come to the knowledge of
the TRUTH. He does not intend to call everyone at
once. Paul explains this in I Cor. 15:20-24. “But
now is Christ risen form the dead, and become the
firstfruits of them that slept. For since by man
came death, by man came also the resurrection of the
dead. For as in Adam all die, even so
in Christ shall all be made alive. But every
man in his own order.
Christ the firstfruits, afterward they that are
Christ’s at his coming.
Then cometh the end…” Notice what John said in John
6:44, “No man can come to me, except the Father
which has sent me draw him: and I will raise him up
at the last day.” Paul full well understood this
concept and wrote to the Church in Corinth, “For ye
see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise
men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble,
are called…
” “Once you hear the word of TRUTH, the gospel of
your salvation: in whom also after that ye
believed,
ye were
sealed with that Holy Spirit
of promise, Which is the earnest (down payment) of
our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased
possession, unto the praise of his glory.” (Eph.
1:13-14).
James stated that God, “of his own will begat he us
with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of
firstfruits of his creatures.” (James 1:18). Those
called, who believe, who repent of their sins, are
baptized, have hands laid on them, and accept the
blood of Christ are begotten with the Holy Spirit.
“But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost (Spirit),
whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach
you all things, and bring all things to your
remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.”
(John 14:26). How plain! God will call a group of
people during this age and beget them with His Holy
Spirit. The Holy Spirit will give them the power
and ability to keep the Commandments of God and put
sin out of their lives. It is through the power of
the Holy Spirit that we can put on the Divine
Nature of God. Those that are Christ’s at His
coming will be changed into spirit beings and enter
the Family of God. (I Thess. 4:13-17; I Cor.
15:50-52).
Just as we saw the True Church of God continue
to observe the Passover and the Days of Unleavened
Bread, so they continued to observe Pentecost. Read
it in your Bible: I Cor. 16:8; Acts 20:16. Moses
was inspired to write in Lev. 23:2, “Speak unto
the children of Israel, and say unto them,
concerning the feasts of the Lord, which ye shall
proclaim to be holy convocations, even these are my
feasts.” Had they not been assembled in a HOLY
CONVOCATION on the first Pentecost we would never
have read in our Bibles the record of the second
chapter of Acts! Make no mistake; God’s Holy Days
are in effect TODAY! They are in effect because they
outline God’s Master Plan of Salvation. But that
Plan does not end with Pentecost. What is the next
step the Master Designer of the Universe has in
store for mankind? More is revealed through the fall
festivals of Trumpets and Atonement.