Pentecost [Feast of the Firstfruits] or Whit Sunday?

Editor: Almost all of the sacred appointments proclaimed in the Holy Scriptures have lost their true significance to mundane activities practised in the western world. Man has sought to change time and the Holy Commandments that were given to him by his creator Yahweh.{{more}} Pentecost [The Feast of Weeks] is one of the three major Feasts of Yahweh during which True Worshippers are commanded to gather together in holy convocation to worship the Father in Heaven (Exodus 23:14-17). This weekend, some Vincentians will observe Whit Sunday, and others will focus on Whit Monday (a public holiday) or Fisherman’s Day. The spiritual meaning of this holiday is now being diluted by secular customs and activities. Let us briefly review the Biblical teachings associated with the Day of Pentecost.

The word Pentecost is found in the New Testament and comes from a Greek term which means “count fifty” or “fiftieth day.” In the Old Testament, however, this commanded feast was known by other names such as “Feast of Weeks” [Exodus 34:22, Deuteronomy 16:10-11], “Feast of Harvest” [Ex 23:16], “Day of Firstfruits” [Numbers 28:26]. The accurate method for arriving at the date for Pentecost can be found in Leviticus 23:9-21 – ‘count fifty from the day after the Sabbath during the Feast of Unleavened Bread.’ Pentecost is, therefore, always on a Sunday.

The Christian concept of Whit Sunday is indeed related to the idea of Pentecost and sometimes it falls on the accurate scriptural date. It is not acceptable, though, for the change of the name and for the changes in dates for its observance. It is for this reason that the original meaning of the Holy Day has been lost. There are different theories surrounding the etymology of the term Whitsunday, one of which is ‘whit’ from ‘White Sunday,’ deriving the name from the white garments worn by new converts to be baptized on that Sunday. The spiritual essence of the days has been replaced by secular traditional customs and in many countries ‘culture’ supersedes spirituality.

If you know and love Yahshua, you will keep his commandments (1 John 2:1-6). Yahshua kept his Father’s commandments perfectly and His Apostles received power from on high on the Feast of Weeks when they were gathered together in one accord to observe Yahweh’s Feast Day. [Acts 2]. Every year the members of the Assemblies of Yahweh observe the Day of Pentecost as an annual Sabbath. On this day we remember the ratification of the covenant that Yahweh made with Israel [Ex 19 and 24] and at the same time we recommit ourselves to keep the covenant that we made with Yahweh.

We praise and thank Yahweh for empowering us with the Holy Spirit and we strive to nurture the spirit by being obedient to Yahweh. Our ultimate goal is to be the Firstfruits of Yahweh and to enter the Kingdom of Yahweh when Yahshua returns.

Think about these things and return to the fundamentals of the Biblical way of life.

Ulrick Sutherland

Assemblies of Yahweh

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