This issue of YAHSHUA'S WITNESS MAGAZINE
 was published for MAY-JUNE 2005

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Inside this issue:

From the Editor- That Prophet

Who is Eliyah the prophet?-by Jerry Healan

Feast of Firstfruits-Pentecost-by Elder Dave Ganton

Firstborn-Firstfruits-by author unknown

The Firstfruits-by Jerry Healan

Questions and Answers

.......

EDITOR
Jerry Healan

ASSOCIATE EDITOR
John McCarthy

PROOFREADERS
Frances Healan, Jerry Healan, & John McCarty

From the Editor- That Prophet

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Many churches and assemblies are looking for the coming of Elijah or EliYah the prophet in order to fulfill Yahweh’s promise in Mal. 4:5-6. Some men have laid claim to that title in the past and many are still laying claim to it today. What is the truth about EliYah? Is it possible for us to know who the real EliYah is and detect the false ones? Yes it is! The real EliYah is openly revealed in the pages of Scripture! This article will reveal him to you.

By Jerry Healan

Yahweh promises, “Behold, I will send you Eliyah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of Yahweh: And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse,” Mal. 4:5-6.

  I sat in a church for a little over eighteen years which had a pastor general who proclaimed, “I am the Elijah!” and he absolutely dared anyone to question his authority. While this work was important in many people’s lives, including my own, concerning the teaching of basic Biblical principles, the truth of the matter is that this man was claiming a position and authority that certainly did not belong to him.

  The problem is that there are other men on the world scene today who also want to claim this title and authority and many of these men may have a great deal of Biblical truths and understanding also, but if we allow the Scriptures to be our true guide, then we can be warned concerning these men and not allow them to exercise their misguided authority over us.

JOHN THE BAPTIST

 John the Baptist was raised up to do a special work in his day. The Jews of that day knew that they were living in important times. They understood that the One called the Messiah, or the One called That Prophet, or the One called EliYah was supposed to appear on the scene because of the prophecies of the Prophet Daniel

They sent priests and Levites to John questioning who he was, “And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, ‘Who art thou?’ And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, ‘I am not the Messiah.’ And they asked him, ‘What then? Art thou Eliyah?’ And he saith, ‘I am not.’ ‘Art thou that prophet?’ And he answered, ‘No’.” Jn. 1:19-21.

  Who did John say he was? “Then said they unto him, ‘Who art thou? That we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself?’ He said, ‘I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness. ‘Make straight the way of Yahweh,’ as said the prophet Isaiah,” vv. 22-23.

  What did Isaiah proclaim? “The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, ‘Prepare ye the way of Yahweh, make straight in the desert a highway for our Elohim. Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain: And the glory of Yahweh shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of Yahweh hath spoken it,” Isa. 40:3-5.

  Yahshua reveals that not only does Isa. 40:3-5 apply to John the Baptist, but that Mal. 3:1 applies to him also, “And as they departed, Yahshua began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, ‘What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind? But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? behold, they that wear soft clothing are in kings' houses. But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet. For this is he, of whom it is written, ‘Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee’,” Mt. 11:7-10.

  Malachi proclaimed, “Behold, I will send My messenger, and the Sovereign, Whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to His temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, He shall come, saith Yahweh of hosts,” Mal. 3:1.

  (NOTE: “the Sovereign” is rendered as ‘the Lord’ in the English versions. It is translated from the Hebrew ‘haAdon’ which is interpreted as ‘the Sovereign’, ‘the Master’ or even ‘the Lord.’ It is not the usual cover up utilized for Yahweh’ name.)

THE GLORY OF YAHWEH

  But let’s analyze both Isa. 40:3-5 and Mal. 3:1 along with a review of applicable New Testament Scriptures. Isaiah encourages to prepare a way for Yahweh our Elohim. When this is done, the glory of Yahweh would appear. What is said about this glory in the New Testament? “And the Word was made (became) flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth,” Jn. 1:14.

It is obvious from this scripture that Yahshua is the “glory of Yahweh.”

  “Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha. (It was that Mary which anointed the Sovereign (Hebrew would be HaAdon) with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.) Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Master, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick. When Yahshua heard that, he said, ‘This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of Yahweh, that the Son of Elohim might be glorified thereby...Yahshua therefore again groaning in himself cometh to the grave. It was a cave, and a stone lay upon it. Yahshua said, ‘Take ye away the stone.’ Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, ‘Master, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days.’ Yahshua saith unto her, ‘Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of Yahweh?’ Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Yahshua lifted up his eyes, and said, ‘Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me.’ And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, ‘Lazarus, come forth.’ And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. ‘Yahshua saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go’,” Jn. 11:1-4, 38-44.

Here was Yahshua, the glory of Yahweh, performing the glorious act of resurrection from the dead on behalf of Lazarus so that the people of His day might behold Him as Yahweh’s glory.

  “And now, O Father, glorify Thou Me with Thine own Self with the glory which I had with Thee before the world was,” Jn. 17:5.

According to Yahshua’s own words, He shared this glory with the Father before the world came into being.

  “But we speak the wisdom of Yahweh in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which Yahweh ordained before the world unto our glory: which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Sovereign of glory,” 1 Cor. 2:8.

Yahshua was the Sovereign (HaAdon, Master, Lord) of glory. The leaders of that world, both civil, political and ecclesiastical didn’t know nor understand who He was.

  “Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech: And not as Moses, which put a vail over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished: But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in the Messiah. But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart. Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Sovereign, the vail shall be taken away. Now the Sovereign (Yahshua) is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Sovereign is, there is liberty. But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Sovereign, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Sovereign,” 2 Cor. 3:12-18.

Those who are Yahshua’s true followers will eventually share in His glory.

  “Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not; But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of Yahweh deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of Yahweh. But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the elohim of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of the Messiah, who is the image of Yahweh, should shine unto them. For we preach not ourselves, but the Messiah Yahshua the Sovereign; and ourselves your servants for Yahshua’s sake. For Yahweh, Who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of Yahweh in the face of Yahshua the Messiah,” 2 Cor. 4:1-4.

  It is obvious from these and many, many other Scriptures that Yahshua was the glory of Yahweh. To see Yahshua and the glory that He revealed was to see the Heavenly Father and the glory that is in Him. John the Baptist came before, ahead of Yahshua, in order to prepare a way in the hearts and minds of the people so they could not only receive the Messiah, but see the glory of Yahweh.

ANALYZING MAL. 3:1

  Again, Mal. 3:1 states, “Behold, I will send My messenger, and he shall prepare the way before Me: and the Sovereign, Whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to His temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, He shall come, saith Yahweh of hosts.”

  The interesting thing about the name Malachi is that, in the Hebrew, it means “My messenger or messengers.” Malachi comes from the Hebrew word “malak” which is defined as, from an unused root meaning to despatch as a deputy; a messenger; specifically, of Elohim, i.e. an angel (also a prophet, priest or teacher). (Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance)

  Several messengers are dealt with in the book of Malachi. First there is the prophet Malachi who wrote the book. Then there are the priests (2:1). Notice in the definition that the priests were messengers (malak [im]). Then there is the messenger in 3:1 who prepares the way before the messenger of the covenant. Finally EliYah the prophet is spoken of in 4:5-6.

  John was the messenger of Mal. 3:1 according to Yahshua. John prepared the way for Yahshua and the work that He was to do. Notice that it says, “...he shall prepare the way before Me.” Who is this Me? He is the one inspiring the prophecy to be written as the last words of the verse indicate, “...saith Yahweh of hosts.”

  Furthermore, He is the Sovereign (haAdon) who is coming to His temple. Which temple is primarily being spoken of here? Wasn’t it the temple in Jerusalem? To Whom did the temple belong? Wasn’t it Yahweh?

  Finally, it says, “...even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in…” What covenant is he speaking of? Both Israel and Judah had transgressed the covenant that they had made with Yahweh in the wilderness. They were overthrown, destroyed and cast out of the land of promise. Yet, Yahweh had promised to make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah (Jer. 31:31-34).

  This is what the people of that day were looking for. Yahweh had given Israel and Judah into the power of the Gentile kingdoms. The Jews of that day were under the yoke of the Romans. They expected the Messiah to appear, the One Anointed to bring in a new covenant and restore Israel and Judah to world prominence, power and influence. They expected the kingdom to be restored to Judah and Israel at that time.

The Pharisees, Sadducees and Scribes were expecting that they would be the rulers along with this Messiah, this Anointed One as they were already exercising the power of religious government over the people.

  The truth of the matter is that John the Baptist was sent before the Salvation of Yahweh, or Yahweh the Savior (the meaning of the name Yahshua) to prepare a people who could receive Him. Yahshua, in essence, was Yahweh manifested in the flesh!

A NEW BEGINNING

John the Baptist was born to a Levitical priest named Zechariah. The priesthood was divided into 24 courses which served for a specific period during the year. Zechariah was of the course of Abia (Lk. 1:5) which, according to Biblical commentaries, was the eighth course. His lot was to burn incense in the temple (v. 9).

The incense was burnt in conjunction with the offering of the morning and evening sacrifices, the trimming of the Menorah (in the morning), the lighting of the Menorah (in the even) and the hour of prayer (See Ex. 29:38-41; 30:1-8; Acts 3:1; Mt. 27:46; Mk. 15:33-34; Lk. 23:44-46).

An angel appeared to Zechariah while the people were outside praying and he was performing his office of burning the incense. He announced that he was to have a son by his wife Elizabeth and that he should name the son John (Lk. 1:8-13).

John was to be filled with the Holy Spirit even while he was in his mother’s womb and he was to turn many of the people’s hearts to Yahweh their Elohim, going before Him (Yahweh) in the spirit and power of EliYah to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and make ready a people prepared for Yahweh. (vv. 15-17).

Yahweh had made a covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob  promising that He would cause their descendants to inherit the land of Canaan. During Moses’ life, Yahweh remembered His covenant with them (Ex. 2:24) bringing them out of bondage to Egypt and eventually delivering them into the land.

During their sojourn in the wilderness, Yahweh made a covenant with Israel that if they would obey Him, then He would greatly bless them, but if they disobeyed, then they would become accursed. (See Ex. 19-24; Dt. 28-29.)

Israel failed to fulfill their part of the covenant and eventually had to be cast out of the land, but Yahweh had promised to make a new covenant with the house of Israel and Judah through the Prophet Jeremiah (Jer. 31:31-34).

The amazing thing is that the names of Zechariah, his wife Elizabeth and their son John tell us an awesome truth. Zechariah means “Yahweh has remembered.”  Elizabeth means “the oath or promise of El.” John means that Yahweh has bent or stooped in kindness to an inferior. In other words, the real meaning of these names when placed together is “Yahweh El has remembered His promise to have favor, grace or mercy!”

Yahweh was beginning to bring about a new thing in the earth. John was of priestly lineage and had every right to serve in a priestly capacity in the temple of Yahweh. Yet, the scriptures reveal that when the word of Yahweh came to him to begin his mission, he didn’t go to the temple, but rather was in the wilderness and performed his ministry in the countryside.

Had a person sinned under the Levitical priesthood and the Old Covenant, he was to take his sin offering to the priests at the temple, make that offering and his sin would be forgiven. But John’s message was to repent and be baptized for the remission of sins.

John warned the Pharisees, Sadducees and Scribes that their system was going to be hewn down and cast into the fire, “In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea,

 2 And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

 3 For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of Yahweh, make his paths straight.

 4 And the same John had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey.

 5 Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan,

 6 And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.

 7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

 8 Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:

 9 And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that Yahweh is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.

 10 And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire,” Mt. 3:1-10.

The animal sacrifices and various offerings were no longer going to be acceptable. Neither was the Levitical priesthood to be the legitimate priesthood, nor the temple at Jerusalem Yahweh’s dwelling place on earth. John prophesied that they were going to be cast into the fire, and such is the case. The temple was destroyed by fire at the hand of the Roman army in 69-70 C.E. The Levitical priesthood was also destroyed as well as those who were in power.

The Book of Hebrews declares that the Levitical priesthood, tabernacle, appurtenances and sacrifices were only “figures” or “parables” for the time of their existence…. “in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience;

 10 Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation.

 11 But the Messiah being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;

 12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.

 13 For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh:

 14 How much more shall the blood of the Messiah, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to Yahweh, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living Elohim?

15 And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament (covenant), that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance,” Heb. 9:9-15.

“For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.

 2 For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins.

 3 But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year.

 4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins,” Heb. 10:1-4.

The Old Covenant with its Levitical priesthood, tabernacle, temple and sacrifices had become obsolete. Yahweh was bringing a New Covenant and New Priesthood  with new sacrifices, as well as a new dwelling place into existence, “In that He saith, ‘A new covenant,’ He hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away,” Heb. 8:13.

A new covenant, a new and living way was beginning to be initiated.

To be continued;…………………………….

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Yahweh commanded Israel to observe His feast days, “And Yahweh spake unto Moses, saying,

 2 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, Concerning the feasts of Yahweh, which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations, even these are my feasts.

 3 Six days shall work be done: but the seventh day is the sabbath of rest, an holy convocation; ye shall do no work therein: it is the sabbath of Yahweh in all your dwellings.

 4 These are the feasts of Yahweh, even holy convocations, which ye shall proclaim in their seasons,” Lev. 23:1-4.

  The Sabbath, of course, was a weekly observance, which takes place every seventh day as a memorial of the creative works of Yahweh spoken of in Gen. Chapters one and two. But the feasts, which are to be proclaimed in their seasons, are annual feasts, which are tied in with the cycles of the moon, sun and stars. They were agricultural feasts, which Yahweh commanded Israel to observe so that they would remember Who controlled the heavenly cycles and also Who it was that provided their sustenance.

  The first month of the year which also contained the first feast was called the month of Abib, “Three times thou shalt keep a feast unto me in the year.

 15 Thou shalt keep the feast of unleavened bread: (thou shalt eat unleavened bread seven days, as I commanded thee, in the time appointed of the month Abib; for in it thou camest out from Egypt: and none shall appear before me empty:)

 16 And the feast of harvest, the firstfruits of thy labours, which thou hast sown in the field: and the feast of ingathering, which is in the end of the year, when thou hast gathered in thy labours out of the field,” Ex. 23:14-16. “Observe the month of Abib, and keep the passover unto Yahweh thy Elohim: for in the month of Abib Yahweh thy Elohim brought thee forth out of Egypt by night.

 2 Thou shalt therefore sacrifice the passover unto Yahweh thy Elohim, of the flock and the herd, in the place which Yahweh shall choose to place his name there.

 3 Thou shalt eat no leavened bread with it; seven days shalt thou eat unleavened bread therewith, even the bread of affliction; for thou camest forth out of the land of Egypt in haste: that thou mayest remember the day when thou camest forth out of the land of Egypt all the days of thy life,” Dt. 16:1-3.

ABIB – GREEN EARS  

  The term “Abib” will designate to us what month that Yahweh was originally speaking of. “Abib” is defined as, “from an unused root (meaning to be tender); green, i.e. a young ear of grain; hence, the name of the month Abib or Nisan (Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance, Hebrew Lexicon, #24). The New Brown-Driver-Briggs-Gesenius Hebrew-English Lexicon defines it as, 1. Fresh, young ears of barley Ex. 9. 2. Month of ear-forming, or growing green. Abib, month of Exodus and Passover….1st month.

  It is a fact that the first grain to ripen in the spring was the barley. Yahweh commanded, “Seven weeks shalt thou number unto thee: begin to number the seven weeks from such time as thou beginnest to put the sickle to the corn.

 10 And thou shalt keep the feast of weeks unto Yahweh thy Elohim with a tribute of a freewill offering of thine hand, which thou shalt give unto Yahweh thy Elohim, according as Yahweh thy Elohim hath blessed thee:

 11 And thou shalt rejoice before Yahweh thy Elohim, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy manservant, and thy maidservant, and the Levite that is within thy gates, and the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, that are among you, in the place which Yahweh thy Elohim hath chosen to place his name there.

 12 And thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in Egypt: and thou shalt observe and do these statutes,” Dt. 16:9-12.

  While the statement in verse 9, “begin to number the seven weeks from such time as thou beginnest to put the sickle to the corn” could be taken as ambiguous concerning which grain is spoken of, whether barley or wheat, the simple fact of the matter is that, as stated, the first grain (corn) to ripen in Israel is barley. It doesn’t take much research into Jewish works such as the Encyclopedia Judaica or the Jewish Encyclopedia and other works to deduct the fact that the first month of the year “Abib” which contained the Passover, days of Unleavened Bread and the beginning of the count to Pentecost was associated with the barley grain.

THE WAVESHEAF (BEGINN-ING)

  Concerning this harvest, Yahweh commanded Israel, “Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye be come into the land which I give unto you, and shall reap the harvest thereof, then ye shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest unto the priest:

 11 And he shall wave the sheaf before Yahweh, to be accepted for you: on the morrow after the sabbath the priest shall wave it.

 12 And ye shall offer that day when ye wave the sheaf an he lamb without blemish of the first year for a burnt offering unto Yahweh.

 13 And the meat offering thereof shall be two tenth deals of fine flour mingled with oil, an offering made by fire unto Yahweh for a sweet savour: and the drink offering thereof shall be of wine, the fourth part of an hin.

 14 And ye shall eat neither bread, nor parched corn, nor green ears, until the selfsame day that ye have brought an offering unto your Elohim: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations in all your dwellings.

 15 And ye shall count unto you from the morrow after the sabbath, from the day that ye brought the sheaf of the wave offering; seven sabbaths shall be complete:

 16 Even unto the morrow after the seventh sabbath shall ye number fifty days; and ye shall offer a new meat offering unto Yahweh.

 17 Ye shall bring out of your habitations two wave loaves of two tenth deals: they shall be of fine flour; they shall be baken with leaven; they are the firstfruits unto Yahweh.

 18 And ye shall offer with the bread seven lambs without blemish of the first year, and one young bullock, and two rams: they shall be for a burnt offering unto Yahweh, with their meat offering, and their drink offerings, even an offering made by fire, of sweet savour unto Yahweh.

 19 Then ye shall sacrifice one kid of the goats for a sin offering, and two lambs of the first year for a sacrifice of peace offerings.

 20 And the priest shall wave them with the bread of the firstfruits for a wave offering before Yahweh, with the two lambs: they shall be holy to Yahweh for the priest.

 21 And ye shall proclaim on the selfsame day, that it may be an holy convocation unto you: ye shall do no servile work therein: it shall be a statute for ever in all your dwellings throughout your generations,” Lev. 12:10-21.

  Notice that this is called a “sheaf of firstfruits” and also a “sheaf of a wave offering.” The Hebrew word for “firstfruits” is “tySar  (re'shiyth).” It is defined as, the first, in place, time, order or rank (specifically, a firstfruit), and is generally translated as “beginning.” This wavesheaf or sheaf of firstfruits was a type of Yahshua the Messiah.

  Paul writes that he and the other apostles spoke the wisdom of Yahweh in a mystery which is hidden and ordained so from the foundation of the world (1 Cor. 2:7). Yahshua came speaking in parables in order to keep the mysteries of the kingdom of Elohim hidden (Mt. 13:10-17). Furthermore, Yahshua told the people of His day that Moses wrote of Him (Jn. 5:39-47).

  Paul, writing concerning the mystery of Yahshua declared, “And he is the head of the body, the assembly: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence,” Col. 1:18. If we convert the word “beginning” to Hebrew, the word would be tySar  (re'shiyth).

  When John wrote “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with Elohim, and the Word was Elohim.

 2 The same was in the beginning with Elohim,” (Jn. 1:1-2), again the principal Hebrew word would be tySar  (re'shiyth). When He wrote, “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;

 2 (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;)

 3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Yahshua the Messiah,” 1 Jn. 1:1-2, again, the Hebrew word would be tySar  (re'shiyth).

  Yahshua is the beginning “tySar  (re'shiyth)!” John reveals that He is the One Who created all things, “All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made… He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not,” Jn. 1:3, 10.

  Going back to Genesis chapter one, we read, “In the beginning Elohim created the heaven and the earth,” (v. 1). The Hebrew for “in the beginning” is tySarb  (b’re'shiyth). A beit (b [B]) is added to tySar  (re'shiyth) to give us the words “in the.”

  Yahshua is the beginning “tySar  (re'shiyth)! He began the creation! He began the New Covenant process that we read of in the New Testament (Covenant)! John says that He is not only Elohim (Jn. 1:1-3), but that He is eternal life (1 Jn. 1:1-2).

  The sheaf of first fruits “tySar  (re'shiyth)” was a type of Him. It began the count-down to Pentecost, the feast of weeks, feast of firstfruits. Yahshua was offered up as the firstfruits (tySar  [re'shiyth]), the wavesheaf from the dead (Col. 1:18) so that the count-down could begin to the pouring out of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost, feast of weeks, feast of firstfruits, that we read of in Acts chapter two!

THE SHEAF OF BARLEY

  Why is barley the grain associated with the month Abib, Passover, the days of Unleavened Bread and the sheaf of firstfruits? Barley was the first grain to ripen (already alluded to). It was the first grain to head into green ears (Ex. 9). It was the grain associated with the first month (moon) of the year. The sheaf of barley was offered during this time in order to count to Pentecost. It typified Yahshua as the firstfruits/firstborn from the dead.

  The amount of barley and its estimation is very important and critical to know and understand in order to learn more lessons of the mystery of Elohim as they apply to Yahshua the Messiah. Therefore, we must learn what a “sheaf” is. When we think of a sheaf, we think of grain that is bound into a bundle. But the Hebrew word for “sheaf” is “omer.” The “omer” was a measure. In Exodus 16 we read, “Now an omer is the tenth part of an ephah,” v. 36.

  What is an “ephah?” “Ye shall have just balances, and a just ephah, and a just bath.

 11 The ephah and the bath shall be of one measure, that the bath may contain the tenth part of an homer, and the ephah the tenth part of an homer: the measure thereof shall be after the homer,” Ez. 45:10-11.

  The homer was the overall measure employed by the Israelites just like in today’s world the bushel is our overall measure of grain. An ephah was a tenth of an homer while an omer was a tenth part of an ephah. In other words, the omer was a tithe of a tithe. When Israel harvested their grain, they measured it in homers. They would then tithe a tenth of the homer (an ephah) to the Levites. The Levites, in turn, would tithe a tenth of the ephah (an omer) to the High Priest. (Num. 18:25-29) The tithe of the tithe belonged to the High Priest who was a type of Yahshua in his role as High Priest after the order of Melchizedek. Thus, we have one type of Yahshua, the High Priest, receiving another type of Yahshua the tithe of the tithe or the omer of the grain.

  The sheaf of barley was an omer. It was to be green ears (Abib) beaten out and placed into a container that was an omer in measure. This was to be waved before Yahweh as the firstfruits from the dead.

  Another most important thing to understand is the estimation of the barley. “And if a man shall sanctify unto Yahweh some part of a field of his possession, then thy estimation shall be according to the seed thereof: an homer of barley seed shall be valued at fifty shekels of silver,” Lev. 27:16. If an homer of barley is estimated at fifty shekels of silver, then an ephah (one tenth of an homer) would be estimated at five shekels and an omer (one tenth of an ephah) would be estimated at one half shekel. The half shekel was the amount assigned as ransom money for the sons of Israel, “And Yahweh spake unto Moses, saying,

 12 When thou takest the sum of the children of Israel after their number, then shall they give every man a ransom for his soul unto Yahweh, when thou numberest them; that there be no plague among them, when thou numberest them.

 13 This they shall give, every one that passeth among them that are numbered, half a shekel after the shekel of the sanctuary: (a shekel is twenty gerahs:) an half shekel shall be the offering of Yahweh.

 14 Every one that passeth among them that are numbered, from twenty years old and above, shall give an offering unto Yahweh.

 15 The rich shall not give more, and the poor shall not give less than half a shekel, when they give an offering unto Yahweh, to make an atonement for your souls.

 16 And thou shalt take the atonement money of the children of Israel, and shalt appoint it for the service of the tabernacle of the congregation; that it may be a memorial unto the children of Israel before Yahweh, to make an atonement for your souls (Ex. 30:11-16),” Ex. 30:11-16.

  The omer of barley, a type of Yahshua, was valued at one half shekel of silver which was the ransom and atonement required for the sons of Israel. Paul declares, “And not only so, but we also joy in Yahweh through our Sovereign Yahshua the Messiah, by Whom we have now received the atonement,” Ro. 5:11.

THE OMER OF MANNA

  There was another omer, which is important to focus on at time. About a month after Israel went out of Egypt and came into the wilderness they had expended all of their bread stuffs and began to complain to  Moses and Aaron because they had no bread to eat. (Ex. 16:1-3) Yahweh told Moses that He would rain bread from heaven for them to eat and that they were to gather a certain rate each day for their eating (v. 4).  Some gathered more than others, but they measured it with an omer so that everyone had an equal amount (Ex. 16:17-18).

  Israel was sustained for forty years by each man’s omer of manna. They gathered manna every morning for six mornings. On the sixth morning, they gathered two omers so that they could prepare the extra omer of manna for the Sabbath day’s rest. A golden pot was even filled with an omer of manna to be kept as a witness in the tabernacle of Yahweh (Ex. 16:33-36).

  Yahshua told the people of His day that He was the true bread from heaven (Jn. 6:27-58). The manna had only been another type, another mystery of Elohim which pointed us to Him. The omer itself was a type of Yahshua. The omer of barley and the omer of manna were both types of Him. He informed us that we should ask the Father to give us each day our daily bread (Mt. 6:11). We should be asking for the true daily bread each day, which is Yahshua the Messiah.

THE COUNT

   The specific instructions to begin the count to Pentecost is given in Leviticus chapter 23:9-22. The omer of firstfruits was to be offered before Yahweh on the morrow after the regular Sabbath day (Lev. 23:11). They were to then count seven weeks or Sabbaths until the morrow after the seventh Sabbath (Lev. 23:15-16). This was to be a fifty day period, but one of the most important things is the forty nine days or the seven Sabbath cycles leading up to the fiftieth day. The Scriptures say that seven Sabbaths shall be complete (Lev. 23:15). The Hebrew word for complete is “tamiym.” “Tamiym” is defined as, entire (literally, figuratively or morally); also (as noun) integrity, truth. It is generally translated as, without blemish, complete, full, perfect, sincerely (-ity), sound, without spot, undefiled, upright(-ly), whole (Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance, Hebrew Lexicon, #8549.

  Why seven Sabbaths? What is the purpose for the Sabbath cycle? “Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.

 9 Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:

 10 But the seventh day is the sabbath of Yahweh thy Elohim: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:

 11 For in six days Yahweh made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore Yahweh blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it,” Ex. 20:8-11.

  The Sabbath week is a memorial to Yahweh’s creative powers! When we observe the Sabbath cycle we are following the example of our mighty Creator Yahweh. It reminds us that we are His creation and that even though the physical creation was finished, He is still in the process of bringing forth a more mighty and powerful creation! He is in the process of bringing forth a spiritual creation!

  The book of Hebrews explains the concept to us, “Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.

 2 For unto us was the evangel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.

 3 For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.

 4 For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And Elohim did rest the seventh day from all his works.

 5 And in this place again, If they shall enter into my rest.

 6 Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief:

 7 Again, he limiteth a (the) certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

 8 For if Yahshua had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day.

 9 There remaineth therefore a (the) rest (Sabbath) to the people of Elohim.

 10 For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as Elohim did from his.

 11 Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief,” Heb. 4:1-11.

  Notice verse 10 again, “For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as Elohim did from his.” We are following His example when we embrace the Sabbath cycle as He originally established, blessed and commanded.

  THE NUMBER SEVEN

  Seven is a most important number to Yahweh. Seven denotes rest. One of the Hebrew words for rest is “shabath.” It is #7623 in Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance. We find this word utilized in Ex. 23:12, “Six days thou shalt do thy work, and on the seventh day thou shalt rest (Heb. = shabath, #7623): that thine ox and thine ass may rest (Heb. = nuach, #5117), and the son of thy handmaid, and the stranger, may be refreshed.”

  Notice that this Sabbath rest (shabath) provides rest (nuach) for all and that they will be able to be refreshed. The Hebrew word for “refreshed” is “naphash” which is defined as, to breathe; passively, to be breathed upon, i.e. (figuratively) refreshed (as if by a current of air). Air, breath, is the Hebrew word “ruach” and the Greek word “pneuma.” Both words are also translated as “spirit.” Sabbath observance is for the purpose of being not only physically revived, physically rested, but spiritually as well! Those who truly receive His Spirit, turn from first day of the week observance to the seventh day Sabbath observance.

  In Lev. 23:3 we read, “Six days shall work be done: but the seventh day is the sabbath of rest, an holy convocation; ye shall do no work therein: it is the sabbath of Yahweh in all your dwellings.” The Hebrew word for “rest” in this verse is shabbaton. It is #7677 in Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance. It is defined as, a sabbatism or special holiday.

  The number seven not only has to do with rest, but it also has to do with an oath or the making of a sworn covenant as well as a witness, “And it came to pass at that time, that Abimelech and Phichol the chief captain of his host spake unto Abraham, saying, Elohim is with thee in all that thou doest:

 23 Now therefore swear unto me here by Elohim that thou wilt not deal falsely with me, nor with my son, nor with my son's son: but according to the kindness that I have done unto thee, thou shalt do unto me, and to the land wherein thou hast sojourned.

 24 And Abraham said, I will swear.

 25 And Abraham reproved Abimelech because of a well of water, which Abimelech's servants had violently taken away.

 26 And Abimelech said, I wot not who hath done this thing: neither didst thou tell me, neither yet heard I of it, but to day.

 27 And Abraham took sheep and oxen, and gave them unto Abimelech; and both of them made a covenant.

 28 And Abraham set seven ewe lambs of the flock by themselves.

 29 And Abimelech said unto Abraham, What mean these seven ewe lambs which thou hast set by themselves?

 30 And he said, For these seven ewe lambs shalt thou take of my hand, that they may be a witness unto me, that I have digged this well.

 31 Wherefore he called that place Beersheba; because there they sware both of them.

 32 Thus they made a covenant at Beersheba: then Abimelech rose up, and Phichol the chief captain of his host, and they returned into the land of the Philistines,” Gen. 21:22-32.

  The Hebrew word for “swear” is “shaba/sheba.” “Shaba” is #7650 in Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance and is defined as, a primitive root; propr. to be complete, but used only as a denominative from 7651; to seven oneself, i.e. swear (as if by repeating a declaration seven times). “Sheba” is #7651 which is defined as, or (masculine) shibrah {shib-aw'}; from 7650; a primitive cardinal number; seven (as the sacred full one); also (adverbially) seven times; by implication, a week; by extension, an indefinite number.

  We find, therefore, that the seven day weekly Sabbath cycle has many various meanings. It has to do with rest. It has to do with being a memorial to Yahweh’s creative efforts. It is a sign that Yahweh is our Elohim, Who sanctifies us and we are His people (Ex. 31:13-17). It has to do with Yahweh’s oath to bring in a one thousand year period of rest. It is a witness of Yahweh’s covenant, etc. When we count seven complete, perfect weekly Sabbath cycles, then we are placing ourselves under Yahweh’s oath, His promise. We are repeating this declaration seven times! Seven times the seven day creative weekly cycle would be that cycle multiplied by itself, which would typify bringing forth a new creation, a new rest! The day after this seven times seven weekly cycle would bring us to the number fifty which is the number for jubilee, freedom, liberty, deliverance, restoration and refreshing!

  It was upon the Messiah Yahshua’s resurrection and ascension into heaven on the first day of the week (the day after the weekly Sabbath) that the count-down began to the feast of weeks, the feast of Sabbaths, the day of Pentecost wherein Yahweh poured out His Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Liberty upon Yahshua’s disciples, thereby raising up those who began to proclaim vociferously A NEW AND LIVING WAY! (Acts 2; Heb. 10:20).

THE NEW FIRSTFRUITS

    With the perfect count of seven times seven sabbaths having been completed, on the morrow of the seventh sabbath (the fiftieth day) a new meat (food, meal) offering was to be brought forth, “Even unto the morrow after the seventh sabbath shall ye number fifty days; and ye shall offer a new meat offering unto Yahweh.

 17 Ye shall bring out of your habitations two wave loaves of two tenth deals: they shall be of fine flour; they shall be baken with leaven; they are the firstfruits unto Yahweh,” Lev. 23:16-17.

  The Hebrew word for these firstfruits is “bikkuwrim.” This word (bikkuwrim) is #1061 of the Hebrew lexicon of Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance being defined as, from 1069; the first-fruits of the crop. As noted, it comes from another Hebrew word, which is #1069, which is the word “bakar.” “Bakar” is defined as, a primitive root; properly, to burst the womb, i.e. (causatively) bear or make early fruit (of woman or tree); also (as denominative from 1061) to give the birthright.

  Two tenth deals is simply another way to say “two omers.” The one omer offered during unleavened bread has become two omers. This grain also consists of the firstfruits of the wheat harvest. These two omers are a type of the 144,000 who are shown to be sealed in the book of Revelation chapter seven and fourteen.

  They consist of twelve thousand of twelve of the tribes of Israel (Rev. 7:1-8). These are the first to be redeemed from among men (Rev. 14:4), thus the leaven in the loaves of bread. We all are the offspring of Adam. Because we are his offspring, we have a law of sin in the flesh (Ro. 7:21-23). Leaven is a type of sin.

  These firstfruits are Zion. They will be the upper echelons of Yahweh’s government which will rule the world under the power of the Lamb, “And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Zion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads,” Rev. 14:1.

  Once these firstfruits are resurrected and become reality, then the earth can be reaped of its wheat harvest, “After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands,” Rev. 7:9. “And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting evangel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,

 7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear Yahweh, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters….

 14 And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle.

 15 And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe.

 16 And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped,” Rev. 14:6-7, 14-16.

  The salvation of the earth now rests on the manifestation of these firstfruits. May Yahweh speed that day.  Jerry Healan

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