I’m confused, why is Shavuot also called the Feast of Weeks? Why multiple names?
Shavuot, Feast of Weeks, and Pentecost, are all names for the same Feast. All three names describe the count between the wave sheaf, occurring on the Sunday within the Feast of Unleavened Bread, and Pentecost. This count consists of seven complete weeks or 49 days, plus one additional day, making 50 days in total. In Hebrew, Shavuot mean, “weeks.” In Greek, Pentecost means, “fifty.” Both these names, along with the “Feast of Weeks,” describe this count from different perspectives.
As a side note, it’s not uncommon for Feast days to have multiple names. Below are a few examples:
The Feast of Unleavened is also called “Chag Ha-Matzot.”
The Feast of Trumpets is also called “Yom Teruah.”
The Day of Atonement is also called “Yom Kippur” or “the Fast.”
The Feast of Tabernacles is also called “Feast of Ingathering” and “Chag Ha-Sukkot”
Who will the saints be ruling over in the Millennium?
The Bible shows that a certain percentage of mankind will survive the Great Tribulation. It will be these people who survived the Great Tribulation, but who were not found in the First Resurrection, who the saints will rule over in the Millennium.
Isaiah 30:21 provides a glimpse of this future role: “And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.”
During the Millennium, the saints or elect will literally speak to those who may not know Yahweh’s Word. Again, this would be those who survived the Great Tribulation, but who were not found worthy as saints in the First Resurrection.
Because the saints will be educating others in Yahweh’s ways, it only stands to reason that they would be obeying His laws today, especially His Sabbaths and Feasts, which will be mandated at this time. An example of this is found in Zechariah 14:16-19. There Scripture confirms that all nations will observe the Feast of Tabernacles and those who resist will receive the plague of drought. We see similar examples in Isaiah 66:23; Ezekiel 45:21-25; and 46:1-4.
Yahweh’s Restoration Ministry is raising funds to help with the current relief effort for Hurricane Harvey. Brethren from several assemblies, including from Reach for Yahweh International Ministries, Shalom Assembly of Yahweh, Assembly of Yahweh (7th Day), and Yahweh’s Restoration Ministry are currently assisting victims in the Houston area. We are in need of additional funding for supplies. Please consider donating to this important effort!
Tabernacles, as well as the other Feasts and Sabbaths, points the way to salvation. Those who do not keep Yahweh’smoedim do not really know Him. When an apostate Israel repented and returned to Yahweh, they immediately went back to keeping His Holy Days, Nehemiah 8:2, 14, 18. Obeying Him brings us closer to Him and results in His blessings, Deuteronomy 28:1-14. Obey your Father—and be blessed accordingly!
Considered the holiest day of the year in Judaism, the Day of Atonement is the only observance on which we are commanded to “afflict our souls.” What this means and what lessons this day presents to the True Worshiper today are an important part of the salvation plan.
This last week, Yahweh’s Restoration Ministry hit a major milestone on our YouTube channel. We surpassed 20,000 subscribers. With our recent transition from national TV to on-demand videos, building our YouTube presence has been a major goal for the Ministry. Since the start of our YouTube channel, we’ve had more than 2.8 million views with over 7.5 million watched minutes. YouTube has been a tremendous blessing to the Ministry and those who have benefited from the many videos available for viewing. If you have not yet subscribed to or visited our YouTube channel, we encourage you to do so.
What is the difference between sanctification and justification?
These two terms are critically important to rightly comprehend the Bible and our relationship with Yahweh. Justification derives from the Greek dikaiosis. Strong’s defines it as an acquittal, i.e., an exoneration or release from sin. Sanctification derives from the Greek hagiasmos and means, “…purification, i.e. (the state) purity; concretely (by Hebraism) a purifier.”
In essence, justification is when we are redeemed or cleansed of our sins and sanctification is a living a life set apart to our Heavenly Father according to His standards, which implies obedience to His commandments.
It’s important to understand that justification is not earned or received on one’s own merits. Paul explains that justification is not of deeds or works.
“Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law,” Romans 3:28.
“What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before Elohim. For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed Elohim, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the wicked, his faith is counted for righteousness,” Romans 4:1-5.
In these examples, Paul confirms that a man is justified through faith apart from debt or good works. Therefore, Scripture is clear that justification or redemption is something we do not earn by obedience. It is an expression of Yahweh’s grace or unmerited favor. As Paul verifies in the fourth chapter of Romans, even Abraham was found righteous or justified, through his faith.
However, once a person is justified they have an obligation to live a sanctified life by obeying the commandments, which is the standard of Yahweh’s righteousness. Even though Abraham was justified or found righteous through faith, he later obeyed and followed the commandments: “And I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these countries; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws,” Genesis 26:4-5.
Even though Abraham was justified by faith, this passage confirms that he and his seed were blessed because he obeyed the commandments. As a side note, this also verifies that the law was known before Moses.
Also, as we see in the tenth chapter of Hebrews, once we come to the Truth we must not willfully transgress: “For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. He that despised Moses’ law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye shall he be thought worthy who hath trodden under foot the Son of Elohim, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?” verses 26-29.
It’s important here to understand sin. According to 1John 3:4, sin is the transgression of the law or commandments. Therefore, once we are justified and come to the knowledge of Truth, we must live a sanctified life by obeying the commandments. Since Yahweh’s law reflects His own ethics and morals, it’s essential that we comply with the commandments after being justified and enlightened with His Word.
The New Testament provides many examples that the commandments are still obligatory for believers today. Consider the following:
“Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven,” Matthew 5:17-19.
“And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, Elohim: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments,” Matthew 19:17.
“If ye love me, keep my commandments,” John 14:15.
“Do we then make void the law through faith? Certainly not: yea, we establish the law,” Romans 3:31.
“Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth? …Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good,” Romans 7:1, 12.
“And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of Yahweh, and have the testimony of Yahshua Messiah,” Revelation 12:17.
“Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of Yahweh, and the faith of Yahshua,” Revelation 14:12.
“Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city,” Revelation 22:14.
Based on the above New Testament passages, there should be no debate whether obedience and the keeping of the commandments are required for believers today. Yahshua in the fifth chapter of Matthew confirmed that it was not His intent to destroy or abolish the commandments.
In summary, justification is the act of being washed or redeemed from one’s sins, while sanctification is living a set-apart or righteous life by obeying the commandments. While we do not earn salvation through good works, we can lose it by living a life of sin or transgressing Yahweh’s commandments
Yahweh’s Restoration Ministry is partnering with Reach for Yahweh International Ministries in providing support for the victims of Hurricane Harvey. Brethren from several assemblies will be traveling to the Houston area early next week to offer assistance.They will be taking boats, tools, and other equipment in their relief effort. If you would like to help, donations can be provided @ http://www.reachforyahweh.org/give-serve-change/give.
The trumpet was an important instrument in ancient Israel, and even Yahweh’s presence at Sinai was accompanied by a sharp trumpet sound. What can this Feast teach us about Yahweh and coming events? Let us find out.
Being that we are all saved by grace, why do we need to keep the Feasts?
We also believe that we are saved by grace through faith. However, grace does not give license to sin or to ignore our Father’s commandments. Paul in Romans 6:14-15 states, “…for ye are not under the law, but under grace. What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? Certainly not.” In this case, it’s important to remember how Scripture defines sin. First John 3:4 states, “Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.” From these passages, we learn that grace does not permit or justify sin, i.e., the breaking of the law. This would include the Feast days.
Additionally, here are a few facts on grace:
Grace is first found in the Old Testament, Genesis 6:5 and not in the New Testament
Grace is to bring us to repentance and justification (Romans 2:4; 5:15-21), while the law provides a way to live a sanctified or set-apart life, Romans 3:20.
We are not to use grace to justify lasciviousness or sin, Judge 4.
Regarding the Feast days, there are several reasons why these days remain crucial to proper worship. They were commandments by Yahweh in the Old Testament, e.g. Leviticus 23. They were observed by Yahshua and apostles in the New Testament, e.g. Mark 14:1; John 7:2, 37; Acts 2:1; 12:3; Acts 20:6, 16; and 1Corinthians 5:7-8. They will be observed in the millennial Kingdom by all peoples and nations, Isaiah 66:23, Ezekiel 44; 46; and Zechariah 14:16-19. And they foreshadow our Father’s plan of salvation.
The fact that the Feast days were observed in the Old Testament, in the New Testament, and will be in the millennial Kingdom, confirms that we should be observing them now. Also, the fact that Yahshua the Messiah, our example, observed them is critically important to recognize.
I’m confused, why is Shavuot also called the Feast of Weeks? Why multiple names?
Shavuot, Feast of Weeks, and Pentecost, are all names for the same Feast. All three names describe the count between the wave sheaf, occurring on the Sunday within the Feast of Unleavened Bread, and Pentecost. This count consists of seven complete weeks or 49 days, plus one additional day, making 50 days in total. In Hebrew, Shavuot mean, “weeks.” In Greek, Pentecost means, “fifty.” Both these names, along with the “Feast of Weeks,” describe this count from different perspectives.
Being that we are all saved by grace, why do we need to keep the Feasts?
We also believe that we are saved by grace through faith. However, grace does not give license to sin or to ignore our Father’s commandments. Paul in Romans 6:14-15 states, “…for ye are not under the law, but under grace. What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? Certainly not.” In this case, it’s important to remember how Scripture defines sin. First John 3:4 states, “Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.” From these passages, we learn that grace does not permit or justify sin, i.e., the breaking of the law. This would include the Feast days.