Podcasts about First Fruits

A new MP3 sermon from Trinity Bible Church is now available on SermonAudio with the following details: Title: Firstfruits to Full Harvest Subtitle: Genesis Series Speaker: Dr. Greg Mazak Broadcaster: Trinity Bible Church Event: Sunday Service Date: 9/28/2025 Bible: Genesis 23 Length: 47 min.

Wednesday Oct. 1 2025, sundownEnding nightfall of Thursday Oct 2, 2025This morning we shall discuss the “Day of Atonement” or known as “Yom Kippur” [ Yom = the day, Kippur = ask for forgiveness].  Other words this is a special Feast in which you and I ask our Heavenly Father for all those sins which we may have overlooked throughout the past year.In recognition of Yahweh's Words, we are instructed to honor and respect His 7 Holy Feast periods. Check out Lev. 23 and Deut. 16. Now I realize that the conditions set forth by Yahweh differs from what He sets forth in the beginning. What caught my interest into these 7 Holy Feasts was the Prophetic Message contained within them. We find that within these 7, 4 are in the season of the spring, while the remaining 3 are in the fall or “harvest.  In studying the Prophecy aspect of Yahweh's Words, we realize and conclude that these 7 Holy Feasts play an important role in the Prophecy of Yahshua Messiah concerning the past and the present. Let's take a brief view of the first 4 Feasts:The Feast of Passover pointed to Yahshua's death on Calvary as “the Lamb of Yahweh, who taketh away the sin of the world”, John 1:29 The Feast of Unleavened Bread attested to the fact that Yahshua's body, unlike all others would not decay in the grave. The Son of Yahweh, in speaking with His Heavenly Father said, “for Thou wilt not leave My soul in hell, neither wilt Thou permit Thine Holy One to see corruption” Psalms 16:10 The Feast of Firstfruits proclaimed the certainty of His bodily resurrection. The acceptance by Yahweh of the Firstfruits [sheaf] of the spring barley harvest guaranteed a full harvest to follow. By virtue of the resurrection of Yahshua Messiah, He is the Firstfruit and guarantees that all the Saints within Him will one day rise from the grave. The Feast of Pentecost, which occurs exactly 50 days after Firstfruits [the resurrection of the Messiah] anticipated the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and the origin of the “Ek-kelsia”. We read in the Jewish Talmud, in the tractate of Sotah, foli #48 it reads in part “when Haggai, Zechariah and Malachi died, the Holy Spirit departed from Israel; nevertheless they made use of the Bath Kol.” [a divine voice from Heaven] These 4 events in the life of Yahshua Messiah, which the 4 spring feasts depicted, are history. We can look back at these events and they can be examined as historical facts. We can say that the first 4 set the foundation for the remaining 3. [As I think on this foundation, I think of the Tabernacle, which is to come, and when this Tabernacle comes, then all of His Elect come to dwell in the eternal] The fall Feasts have not yet occurred! They are yet future and predict with absolute certainty, events that will most assuredly unfold. As the 4 spring Feasts were fulfilled literally and right on schedule in connection with the Messiah's first coming, the 3 Fall Feasts will likewise be fulfilled literally and right on schedule in connection with His second coming. What about the future of the Day of Atonement? Read Hebrews 10:1; Hebrews 9:6-14 As we read last week on that Feast of Trumpets. We find in Rev. 11 those 2 witnesses, when they rose after those 3 ½ days. In verse 15 we read of that 7th trumpet being blown. From the time of that trumpet sound until that final cup of wrath is poured out, we have that opportunity to make atonement for our sins that took place during the tribulation period. Especially those that followed after that false messiah, thinking he was that true Messiah. What a sad sight, as some flee to the mountains praying for the rocks to fall on them, instead of making atonement. Have any questions? Feel free to email me, keitner2024@outlook.com 

In the Lord's Prayer, the petition “Your kingdom come” may initially seem strange because Christ has already inaugurated His kingdom through His life, death, and resurrection. He also rules from heaven after ascending to the right hand of God. Different theological perspectives interpret the kingdom differently. There are some who anticipate a progressive improvement of the world or a literal thousand-year reign, while others, like the Reformed “amillennial” view, see Christ's kingdom as a present spiritual reality with a future consummation. This view emphasizes that Christ reigns now, advances His kingdom progressively, and will ultimately bring it to completion, culminating in the fullness of His redemptive plan.Spiritual Reign and Church AdvancementThe Lord's Prayer reflects a desire for Christ's active rule in our lives. It asks for His domination over us, calling believers to deeper subjection and sanctification. It also expresses a longing for the growth and preservation of the Church, spreading the gospel to all nations, and the defeat of Satan's work and all opposition to God's Word. The kingdom is not merely a future event but is actively advancing as Christ works in the lives of individuals and the broader Church, progressively sanctifying believers and bringing more people into His fold.Resurrection as First Fruits and GuaranteePaul's teaching in 1 Corinthians 15 underscores the resurrection of Christ as central to the kingdom and the gospel. Christ's resurrection is the “first fruits,” consecrating the harvest and guaranteeing the resurrection of believers. It demonstrates victory over death, which is the ultimate enemy, and his resurrection ensures that Christians are set apart as God's people. The first fruits would set apart the whole harvest unto God. This connects the present spiritual reign of Christ to a future, visible consummation, reminding believers that their faith is grounded in a real, historic event and that the ultimate triumph over sin and death is secured.The Ultimate Consummation and HopeThough Christ reigns spiritually now, His kingdom will be fully consummated when all things are subjected to Him, death is defeated, and His redemptive plan is completed. The millennium and other biblical numbers symbolize this completion rather than a literal temporal period. For instance, are there literally 1000 hills, or is the Lord just emphasizing that he owns all the cattle? Clearly, the Lord is emphasizing the fullness and completeness of his providence when he mentions he owns the cattle on a 1000 hills. Believers are called to submit to Christ, engage in spiritual warfare against sin and evil, and cultivate concern for the lost. However, the true physical glory kingdom only comes when Christ publicly returns, bringing us into the new heavens and earth.Ultimately, praying “Your kingdom come” expresses longing for Christ's final triumph, the resurrection harvest, and the full enjoyment of God's glory in a consummated creation as we dwell in the heavenly city forever.

None of the claims of the Christian faith work unless Jesus resurrected. Scripture tells us that Jesus was the firstfruit of resurrection, which means resurrection is for all those who belong to him. This week, we study the Feast of Firstfruits, as we learn that worship looks like giving God your first and your best.

South Union Christian Church09/21/2025Jeremy ClarkSupport the show

Message from Kaidian Baird on September 19, 2025

Talking about money? It's really about the heart. From Leviticus 23's “firstfruits,” we'll see why God asks for our first and best—not our leftovers—and how prioritizing generosity declares He's our Provider and reflects Christ Himself.

Parsha "Ki Tavo" (Deuteronomy (26:1-29:8) is almost certainly the most famous, and foreboding, set of blessings and cursings in the Bible. But, notably, it begins with "when you have come into the land," and a set of instructions, such as the 'Bikkurim' or offerings of First Fruits, that are to take place there. But we remain in exile, have been "shalach"-ed for cause. So what does that mean about those curses? The Erev Shabbat reading begins there, and the specifics, to set the state: https://hebrewnationonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/SSM-9-12-25-Ki-Tavo-teaching-podcast-xxx.mp3 During the Sabbath Day midrash, Mark Call of Shabbat Shalom Mesa addresses exactly that question. But it begins with an observation: The plagues are certainly - undeniably - "well deserved," not just by the US, but the world. And many, at least, already seem to be in progress. Yet we are told, repeatedly, in Scripture, to "have no fellowship," with the unfruitful works of darkness. To "flee from idolatry." And not to 'keep company' with, or even eat with, the kind of people who commit the kind of perversions we routinely see promoted on CNN. Or taught in the public 'schools.' Mark argues that we have been told to "come out of her," to not participate with those sins, so as to - hopefully - avoid the promised plagues. The prophet Amos tells us that, unless they are agreed, it's difficult for two people to "walk together." And we saw this week there are, unquestionably, a large demonic army of people with whom reasoned dialogue, discourse, debate, and now arguably even peaceful coexistence have been demonstrated to be impossible. So, do those plagues in Deuteronomy 28 still apply? Or not? Isn't it relevant that the FIRST three plagues in Egypt hit everyone? But, during the fourth, of flies, YHVH "put a difference," made a distinction, between the pagan Egyptians and His people? The promised plagues are here, and we're already in exile. So what now? Ki Tavo: The Plagues are OPTIONAL https://hebrewnationonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/WT-CooH-9-13-25-Ki-Tavo-Plagues-are-OPTIONAL-podcast-xxxx.mp3 The combined two-part reading and Sabbath midrash:

If you’re truly saved, then you should anticipate Christ’s return, with patience, by living your life for the growth of His Kingdom Think about it: If you are saved, anticipating Christ return, what evidence is in your daily life that would affirm that about you?

Yeshua's parable ends with a question mark: will you step into the Father's joy or stay outside? This message, The Firstfruits Declaration, explores how God trains our hearts to choose blessing, trust, and celebration. Watch now and step into the story. Link: https://restoration.subspla.sh/s854g44#thehappyrabbi #restorationseattle #JewishinSeattle 

Join as we discuss why its so important to be full of joy. Join the WhatsApp group for our new Selichot podcast: https://chat.whatsapp.com/DZkfSrCujZA26owBhxOJvx?mode=ems_wa_cSend any questions, comments, or critiques to podcasts@torahinmotion.orgIf you would like to partner with us to create more thoughtful and accessible jewish content, visit torahinmotion.org/donate, or email us at info@torahinmotion.org.You can find more thoughtful Jewish content at torahinmotion.org 

In this week's episode, we explore the mitzvah of bringing the first fruits and the deeper spiritual meaning hidden within it. The Maor VaShemesh teaches that the practice is not only about gratitude, but about desire itself—how we meet our strongest cravings and transform them into offerings of the heart. Along the way, he weaves the story of Laban, Egypt, and the gathering of holy sparks into a map for spiritual life, reminding us that every act of restraint, every pause before pleasure, can help repair something ancient. What does it mean today to dedicate our “first fruits”—our first energy, first thoughts, first creativity—to the sacred?

9/7/2025 Acts 2:1-21 Peters Great Sermon On The Last Days Intro: Pentecost was one of the three major Jewish festivals; the other two are the Passover and the Feast of Tabernacles. From the Greek word for “fifty,” Pentecost was so named because it fell on the fiftieth day after the Sabbath of the Passover. Pentecost was also known as “the Feast of Weeks,” “the Firstfruits of the Wheat Harvest,” and “the Day of Firstfruits.” Ironically it occurred fifty days after Jesus was crucified. Remember they had to hurry up and kill Jesus on Friday because the Passover was on Saturday. During this harvest celebration, the Jews brought to God the firstfruits of their harvest in thanksgiving, expecting that God would give the rest of the harvest as His blessing. This particular Day of Pentecost was the day of firstfruits of Christ's church, the beginning of the great harvest of souls who would come to know Christ and be joined together through the work of the Holy Spirit.

Feasts of Israel - Feast of First Fruits

The Bible doesn't merely describe ancient agricultural rituals—it reveals God's precise timeline for redemption through the Feast of Firstfruits. While many Christians focus solely on personal salvation, Scripture demands both individual and national fruit-bearing, challenging us to recognize that God judges not only the grapes of our personal character but also the figs of our national witness in a divine harvest that cannot be postponed.

Pastor Philip D. Derber

Listen to Chuck Pierce speak on "First Fruits Celebration for the Month of Elul - Troops Arise: Know Your Camp!"

Friday, 29 August 2025   The queen of the South will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and indeed a greater than Solomon is here. Matthew 12:42   “Queen, south, she will arise in the judgment with this generation and she will sentence it, for she came from the extremities of the land to hear Solomon's wisdom. And you behold! Solomon's greater is here” (CG).   In the previous verse, Jesus referred to the account of Jonah's preaching and how Nineveh repented at it. He then noted that a greater than Jonah was there with them. He now reiterates this general thought, beginning with, “Queen, south.”   The queen of the south is identified in 1 Kings 10:1 –   “Now when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the Lord, she came to test him with hard questions.”   This woman came to discover if the reports of Solomon's wisdom were true. She was, in essence, a woman in search of discovery greater than silver or gold. Rather, she was looking for wisdom and truth concerning the human condition in relation to their Creator. As such, it says, “concerning the name of the Lord.”   One can see her mind asking, “Is Israel's God the true God?” It reflects the search of those in humanity who truly want to know if the knowledge of the Most High can be ascertained or not. As it says several times in various ways in Scripture –   “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” Proverbs 9:10   Sheba is probably in the area of Saudi Arabia today. This can be discerned from Isaiah 60:6, which refers to other known areas in that general location. This woman traveled from this location specifically to obtain wisdom. It can be deduced from Jesus' words that she found it because it says that “she will arise in the judgment with this generation and she will sentence it.”   It is the same thought as in the previous verse concerning the men of Nineveh. Whereas the men of Nineveh would rise in judgment against those of Israel whom Jesus came to reveal Himself to because they reconsidered at the proclamation of Jonah, this queen would do so, “for she came from the extremities of the land to hear Solomon's wisdom.”   A new word, peras, an extremity, is used. It is from an obsolete derivative of peiro, to pierce. Like the proverbial Starship Enterprise, one can think of a trek piercing the unknown, even until the end of the trek.   This woman came from an area lying at the extremity of Israel's knowledge of the inhabited world to simply hear Solomon's wisdom in relation to the Lord God of Israel. Understanding this, Jesus finishes with, “And you behold! Solomon's greater is here.”   What is it that Jesus has done, both with the previous verse and this one? He has made an implicit claim to deity. Jesus first spoke of the “proclamation of Jonah” and then that “Jonah's greater” was there. Here, He refers to “Solomon's wisdom” and then says that “Solomon's greater” was there.   Jonah's proclamation was the proclamation of the Lord. Jesus is actually not referring to Jonah the man, but his position as the Lord's prophet. As it is said in Jonah 1:1, “Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah.” Of Solomon's wisdom, it says, “behold, I have done according to your words; see, I have given you a wise and understanding heart, so that there has not been anyone like you before you, nor shall any like you arise after you” (1 Kings 3:12).   Jesus claims a proclamation greater than that of Jonah. But Jonah's proclamation was that of the Lord, albeit indirectly. Jesus claims a wisdom greater than Solomon's, but it was the Lord who gave Solomon that wisdom. The meaning is that Jesus claims to be the Source of wisdom itself. He is the Lord God.   The men of Nineveh discerned this. The queen of the south discerned this. However, the men of Israel, representative of that generation, were unable to do so. Thus, those who received and accepted the word and wisdom of the Lord from Nineveh and the south would be there at the judgment of Israel, condemning them for their total lack of discernment.   The very people of the Lord, and who possessed the oracles of God, were to be cast into outer darkness (Matthew 22:13) for failing to see who Jesus is.   Note: As promised in a previous commentary, after this commentary, the timeline of Jesus' Passion will be provided. Keep it handy, as it is something people around the world continue to misunderstand to this day.   Life application: In both the previous verse and this one, there is no article before the subject. It simply says, “Men, Nineveh” and “Queen, south.” Saying it this way provides emphasis to His statements. But why would Jesus refer to them this way? The answer lies in who His audience is.   Jesus is speaking to the scribes and Pharisees of Israel. They have the law. They are the religious elite of the “chosen people.” By making His declarations, He is essentially saying, “The Gentiles immediately and completely perceived what you are unable to discern.”   To this day, the people of Israel have the exact same information that the Gentile peoples of the world possess in order to discover if Jesus is God or not. They, however, have rejected that information and refuse to acknowledge their Lord.   They are determined to shun Him, rebuild a temple for worship that rejects Him, and attempt to find justification through their own merits by observing a law that only pointed to Him, awaiting His fulfillment of it.   The book of Hebrews clearly and unambiguously tells what the penalty for such a crime against Him is –   “For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. 28 Anyone who has rejected Moses' law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace?” Hebrews 10:26-29   Pray for Israel. They need Jesus.   Lord God, You have patiently waited for Israel to turn to You for salvation. Many have begun to do so in recent years, but the nation is still fighting against Your truth. We pray that the good news will spread greatly before the rapture comes, and Israel must endure the trial that lies ahead. Amen.   TIMELINE OF JESUS' WEEK OF PASSION   Misconceptions -   1) Sign of Jonah / Three days and three nights. Matthew 12:40 –   a: The sign of Jonah is not the Lord's time in the belly of the great fish. It is the message He preached and which will be rejected. Jonah cried out, “Yet forty days and Nineveh will be destroyed.” As is consistent in the Bible, it was a warning, a day for a year. Israel would be destroyed in 40 years.   With a cursory look at Jesus' words in Matthew, the sign seems to be His death and resurrection. But Luke leaves out both the time frame and the entire account of the fish. When he does this, he clears up the context – that the sign of Jonah is his preaching, and what that preaching stated… that destruction was decreed in 40 days. The preaching to the Ninevites was the sign.   When Israel disobeyed in the wilderness, they were given a day for a year punishment for every day that the spies were gone. It was 40 days, and thus 40 years of punishment. In Ezekiel chapter 4, he was told to lie on his right side for 40 days, signifying a day for a year of punishment for Judah. He was told to do the same for his left side, but for 390 days. It was a day for a year for the house of Israel. Together, they form the prophetic basis for the return of Israel in 1948.   Forty years after Jesus' words, for a day, Israel was destroyed and carried away into exile. The Romans came in and did what Nineveh was spared of. God's judgment fell heavily upon them for failing to repent, receive their long-awaited Messiah, and conform to the will of God, which is found in the finished work of Jesus Christ.   b: “For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” Matthew 12:40   This is an idiomatic expression. It does not mean literally three days and three nights. This is a misunderstanding of the phrase as it relates to Biblical time. It's important to note that this verse is from Matthew and is directed to the Jewish people, Jesus as King.   Hebrew idioms would have been understood and not needed any clarification or verbal amending. To the audience, Matthew was writing that any part of a day is considered to be inclusive of the whole day. It's no different from the terminology we use today. If I arrive in Florida on a plane at 11:30 pm on 11 April, during a later conversation, I would still say I was in Florida on that day.   The biblical pattern of “evening and morning” being a day goes back to the first chapter of the Bible and includes an entire day, regardless of what part of a day one is referring to. If you want to understand the term day and night as an idiomatic expression, simply type “day and night” into your Bible search engine and see how many times, throughout the Bible, the term is used in this way. It goes on and on. Jeremiah does a great job of using it in this way. Study!   The same verse, as recorded in Luke, says, “And while the crowds were thickly gathered together, He began to say,    “This is an evil generation. It seeks a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah the prophet. 30 For as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so also the Son of Man will be to this generation. 31 The queen of the South will rise up in the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and indeed a greater than Solomon is here. 32 The men of Nineveh will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and indeed a greater than Jonah is here.”  Luke 11:29-32   As you can see, Jesus explicitly states that the sign is the preaching of Jonah. In this instance, Luke was not writing only to Jewish people, but predominantly to non-Jewish people – Jesus as the Son of Man. Therefore, the terminology is amended to avoid confusion. This occurs many times in the gospels, and therefore, the addressees (or the background of the writers themselves) need to be identified to understand proper terminology.   The same phrase is given in Esther 4:16 –   “Go, gather all the Jews who are present in Shushan, and fast for me; neither eat nor drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will fast likewise. And so I will go to the king, which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish!”   This is then explained in Esther 5:1 –   “Now it happened on the third day (b'yom ha'shelishi) that Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the king's palace, across from the king's house, while the king sat on his royal throne in the royal house, facing the entrance of the house.”   As you can see, what she said in verse 4:16 is explained as an idiomatic expression in verse 5:1. This same phrase is exactly repeated in the NT 13 times – “On the third day,” not “After the third day.”   2) High Sabbath. John 19:31 –   “Therefore, because it was the Preparation Day, that the bodies should not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.”   The second issue to be resolved is that some scholars claim that John “appears” to place the crucifixion on a different date than the other writers. Because of this, an attempt was made to insert a second type of Passover meal, or a second Sabbath, into the Bible. This supposedly helps the Bible out of an apparent problem.   However, no such meal, or Sabbath, is identified in the Bible at any time. Nor is it necessary to make something erroneous like this up. The Bible identifies the timing of the entire Passion Week, dispelling the problem. The terminology for “Preparation Day” used in all four gospel accounts absolutely clears this up and will be noted as we go on.   The terminology "high Sabbath" is pointing to the fact that the Sabbath (there is only one Sabbath, Saturday) coincided with the beginning of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, a "holy convocation" according to Exodus 12:16 and Leviticus 23:7. There are only six times in the Bible that something is called a Shabbath Shabaton, or “Sabbath of complete rest.” Four of them speak of the Seventh Day Sabbath, one concerns the Day of Atonement, and the last speaks of the seventh-year Sabbath rest for the land.   Thus, there is no second Sabbath. A holy convocation is not a Sabbath. On a Sabbath, meals could not be prepared. However, Exodus 12:16 says –   “On the first day there shall be a holy convocation, and on the seventh day there shall be a holy convocation for you. No manner of work shall be done on them; but that which everyone must eat—that only may be prepared by you.”    3) Four days. Exodus 12:3 –   “Speak to all the congregation of Israel, saying: ‘On the tenth of this month every man shall take for himself a lamb, according to the house of his father, a lamb for a household.'”   This requirement has nothing to do with the Passover at Jesus' time. Nothing in Scripture can be used to justify what is commonly taught, saying that the Passover lamb was selected each year to test it for defects. The opposite is true. The lamb was selected because it had no defects. Thus, this has nothing to do with Palm Sunday and the subsequent days leading up to Passover. Rather, this animal was selected early to ensure that every household had a lamb before the plague of darkness that fell on Egypt. It is never mandated again. People bought their lambs in Jerusalem from keepers of the flock who had already inspected them. Further, they did it within a day of the Passover.   There are four things that occurred at the first Passover that are not required in the annual celebration found in Leviticus 23 –   The eating of the lamb in their houses was dispersed through Goshen. Taking the lamb on the tenth day. The striking of its blood on the doorposts and lintels of their houses. And, Eating it in haste.   The four-day requirement never occurred again. There is no biblical support for it. People have picked and chosen selected verses, without following through on the study, to come to an incorrect conclusion on this.   Chronology of the Events –   1) The easiest way to identify the day of Passover from the gospels is by reviewing the term “Preparation Day.” It is in all four gospels, and it exactingly identifies the day of the Passover –   Matthew 27:62 – “The next day, the one after the Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate.” This was the day after the crucifixion. Matthew says it is the day “after Preparation Day.” After this is recorded the day after the Sabbath (Matt 28:1, the first day of the week).   Mark 15:42 – “It was Preparation Day (that is, the day before the Sabbath). So as evening approached...” This is the day of the crucifixion. Mark says, “It was Preparation Day.” Mark 14 ends on the night of Christ's time in the Garden of Gethsemane. Mark 15:1 then identifies that it is “immediately, in the morning,” meaning Preparation Day.   Luke 23:54 – “It was Preparation Day, and the Sabbath was about to begin.” This is the day of the crucifixion. Luke says, “It was Preparation Day.” Luke 23:56 then says that they rested on the Sabbath, and then He was raised on the day after the Sabbath, Sunday, the Lord's Day, the first day of the week (Luke 24:1).   John 19:14 – “Now it was Preparation Day of the Passover.” This is the day of the crucifixion. John says, “It was Preparation Day.” This definitively, and without any chance of coming to any other conclusion, identifies the day as Friday, followed by the Saturday Sabbath. As sad as it is that this is denied by many, it is what the Bible actually teaches.. The four gospels are harmonious in this, and it is… irrefutable. However, the rest of the Passion week identifies this as well.   And so, let's break all this down. Here's what you need to know:   Paul plainly states that the Feast of Firstfruits is a picture of the resurrection:   “But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.”  1 Corinthians 15:20   The feast of Firstfruits was a Sunday according to Leviticus 23:15 – “From the day after the Sabbath, the day you brought the sheaf of the wave offering, count off seven full weeks.” Note: the Sabbath referred to here is a Saturday. We don't need to go any further there to know this is correct and that Christ rose on a Sunday.     Here is the math from the gospel accounts. It's all there in black and white and very easy to look up –   **“Six days before the Passover, Jesus arrived at Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead.”  John 12:1 This would have been a Sabbath day (Saturday).   **“The next day, the great crowd that had come for the Feast heard that Jesus was on His way to Jerusalem.”  John 12:12 This would have been 5 days before the Passover, meaning Sunday (Palm Sunday), as the Passover would have started Thursday night at sundown and run until Friday night at sundown (remember biblical days start at sundown).     The account couldn't be clearer that the next day after the Passover was a Sabbath. This is indicated several times. As I said, some people have attempted to use the terminology in John (it was a “high day” or a “special Sabbath”) to indicate that it could have been a day other than a Saturday. All special Sabbaths are specified in Leviticus and don't necessarily fall on Saturdays. However, the term “Sabbath” as used in the other gospel accounts indicates a Saturday. There is nothing to support, anywhere in Scripture, that there were two Sabbaths in a row on this particular week. Further, the special Sabbaths in Leviticus do not apply here. As I said, one is the Day of Atonement, which occurs in the seventh month. The other is a Sabbath for the land every seventh year. Neither applies.   In fact, such an analysis does an injustice to the reading of the text. Therefore, the special Sabbath occurred on a regular Sabbath day (Saturday). As I said earlier, it was a great (high) Sabbath because it coincided with the holy convocation, which is the first day of Unleavened Bread. From this, we can give the entire week's schedule (refer to the cited verses in your own Bible to familiarize yourself with what's being said) –   Sabbath 6 before // John 12:1 - ...six days before the Passover.  Bethany/Lazarus. Sunday 5 before // John 12:12 & Mark 11:10 - The next day...  Palm Sunday/Riding the donkey. Monday 4 before // Mark 11:12 Now on the next day... Jesus cursed the fig tree. Tuesday 3 before // Mark 11:20 Now in the morning... The withered fig is identified. Wednesday 2 before // The gospels are silent on what occurred on this day. Thursday 1 before - Passover starts at Sundown //Mark 14:1 After two days it was the Passover... (this is the first timing mentioned since Mark 11:20, which was Tuesday). - Note:  Pay special attention to the fact that in the following accounts, Mark is using Jewish time (sunset to sunset and John is using Roman time – from midnight) –   Mark 14:12 - "Now on the first day of Unleavened Bread when they killed the Passover Lamb."  Here, Mark, like Luke, unites the Passover with the Feast of Unleavened Bread.   John 13:1 - "Now before the Feast of the Passover..."    Both Mark and John are speaking of the same day – The meal, washing of feet, Gethsemane, etc.    ***Christ was crucified during this same 24-hour period, but it was obviously after the final night at Gethsemane and then the illegal trial.  Mark is speaking of this event from sundown, John is speaking of it in Roman time (this is obvious because they use different terminology for the same meal where Judas left to betray the Lord… can't miss this point and get it right).   6 days before – Saturday 5 days before – Sunday 4 days before – Monday 3 days before – Tuesday 2 days before – Wednesday 1 day before – Thursday The Day – Friday   The problem with people believing that John was speaking of a different day (as mentioned above) is that they miss the fact that the terminology for the day is different based on the author. To clear up any misunderstanding here, one needs only to compare the uses of the term “Preparation Day.” Once one does this, there are no discrepancies in the accounts. Go back and review what I said about that earlier. The timeline is set, it is irrefutable, and it is the only biblical option. Anything else inserts unbiblical information into the record.   Based on the biblical evidence,        1) There is no discrepancy between any of the accounts.     2) Jesus was crucified on a Friday.     3) Jesus rose on a Sunday.   Again, the Bible says 13 times that He was raised “on” the third day.  This is mentioned by Jesus Himself as well as the apostles. Therefore, it must have been Friday that Christ was crucified. --------------------------------------------------------------------   Finally, please don't believe (as some have claimed) that Christ rode the donkey into Jerusalem on a Saturday instead of a Sunday. This would have been the Sabbath. If He did, He would have violated the law –    “Observe the Sabbath day, to keep it holy, as the LORD your God commanded you. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your ox, nor your donkey, nor any of your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates, that your male servant and your female servant may rest as well as you.”  Deuteronomy 5:12-14   There is no need to make the assertion that it was a Saturday unless you simply wanted to finagle the dating. There is also no biblical provision for an exemption to the commandment prohibiting working a donkey.

For decades, eagle-eyed prophecy aficionados have scoured the headlines and the Scriptures hoping to find clues as to where we're at on God's prophetic timeline and how much longer we'll have to wait before the glorious return of our Master, Yeshua. But does the Bible really predict Apache helicopters, Patriot missiles, the Chernobyl disaster, and nuclear weapons? In this, the first of a multi-part series on the end times, this podcast episode features a discussion with D. Thomas Lancaster, author of the forthcoming End of Days Torah Club study track. Jacob and Daniel explore some of the apocalyptic imagery in the Bible to find out what's really going on behind the veil.

From 88 Reasons for 1988 to the Thief in the Night films and the Left Behind franchise, the sudden disappearance of the church immediately before a seven-year tribulation has been a popular belief among Evangelicals. But is this idea truly biblical? Will the church be raptured? If so, will it happen pre-trib, mid-trib, or post-trib? Who exactly will be left behind? On this episode of Messiah Podcast, the third in our multi-part series on the End of Days with D. Thomas Lancaster, we delve into the prophets of Israel to discover the true source for the Rapture, the blast of the shofar, and the ingathering of the exiles. Join us as we uncover how it all fits together in a Jewish reading of biblical prophecy.

Listen to Chuck Pierce & Martin and Norma Sarvis speak on "Firstfruits Celebration for the Month of Av: Mixing Faith into Our Promise!"

First Things First: First Fruits The weekly “message” podcast from Connection Community Church in Middletown Delaware is posted on Sundays. For more information about our church, visit our website at JustShowUp.church or, for sermon notes, visit Messages.JustShowUp.church.

Pastor Harley Snode - 3. Firstfruits

Pastor Greg begins by grounding Acts 2 in Israel's Festival calendar: Jesus was crucified on Passover, laid in the tomb during Unleavened Bread, raised on Firstfruits, and fifty days later—the Feast of Pentecost—the promised Holy Spirit was poured out. He highlights that Jesus told His disciples to “wait” in unified, prayerful expectation for this power from on high.When Pentecost “fully came,” they experienced the sound of a rushing wind and saw tongues of fire resting on each believer, enabling them to speak in languages they'd never learned. Pastor Greg teaches that spiritual gifts—especially tongues—are given for personal strengthening and for building up the body in love, not for selfish display, and that corporate gatherings must be marked by unity, order, and mutual consideration.Finally, Peter stands filled with the Spirit, quotes Joel's prophecy (Joel 2:28–32) to explain what's happening, and calls the crowd to repentance with these words: “Whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” The sermon closes with an invitation to receive Christ's finished work and the empowering presence of the Holy Spirit. Packinghouse's Sunday morning worship service from July 20, 2025. - Greg Opean - Sunday, July 20, 2025

Pastor Greg begins by grounding Acts 2 in Israel's Festival calendar: Jesus was crucified on Passover, laid in the tomb during Unleavened Bread, raised on Firstfruits, and fifty days later—the Feast of Pentecost—the promised Holy Spirit was poured out. He highlights that Jesus told His disciples to “wait” in unified, prayerful expectation for this power from on high.When Pentecost “fully came,” they experienced the sound of a rushing wind and saw tongues of fire resting on each believer, enabling them to speak in languages they'd never learned. Pastor Greg teaches that spiritual gifts—especially tongues—are given for personal strengthening and for building up the body in love, not for selfish display, and that corporate gatherings must be marked by unity, order, and mutual consideration.Finally, Peter stands filled with the Spirit, quotes Joel's prophecy (Joel 2:28–32) to explain what's happening, and calls the crowd to repentance with these words: “Whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” The sermon closes with an invitation to receive Christ's finished work and the empowering presence of the Holy Spirit. Packinghouse's Sunday morning worship service from July 20, 2025. - Greg Opean - Sunday, July 20, 2025

Lev. 23:9-14; Prov. 3:9-10; Matt. 6:33; Mal. 3:10; 1 Cor. 15:20-23 Offer the First Fruits of Your Time Offer the First Fruits of Your Talent Offer the First Fruits of Your Treasure Offer First Fruits as the Father Offered His First Fruits Speaker: Pastor Dale Evrist You can also listen to the Walking Through The Word Podcast and Walking Through The Word Podcast 4 Kids at https://www.lifereachresources.com/podcasts. You can get your CORE4 and CORE4Kids discipleship resources at https://www.lifereachresources.com/core4. Find out more about becoming a Disciple-Maker at https://www.lifereachresources.com/disciplemakingteam.

Christ's resurrection is just the beginning of a total and complete cosmic restoration, where every wound is healed, every enemy is defeated, and creation is made whole in the presence of God.

This title comes from 1 Corinthians 15:20 and is a title filled with hope and love. SHOWNOTES:here's our INSTA follow amelia!!!!follow ella!!!!listen to us on SPOTIFYlisten to us on APPLEcheck out our new website :)))cover art by Sarah Hawke!!xoxo,ella + amelia