Category: Pentecost/Shavuot

Feast of Weeks — Shavuot in Hebrew for “sevens” and Pentecost in Greek for “50th”

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Appointments With God Discussions Pentecost/Shavuot Tabernacles The Eighth Day

Spirit-filled connections between Shemini Atzeret (Eighth Day), Shavuot (Pentecost) and Sukkot (Tabernacles)

Palm branches are linked to Sukkot and Chanukah.
Palm branches are linked to Sukkot and Chanukah.

Shemini Atzeret (Convocation of the Eighth Day, Lev. 23:33–36, 39–43), the day following the seven days of Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles or Booths), and Shavuot (Pentecost) are “buddies.” The symbolism of one is mirrored in the other. What happened on Shavuot throughout the Bible is a “shadow,” a likeness, of what will happen on a Shemini Atzeret during the Day of the LORD.

Spirit beings need God’s breath, “water” from the God and the Tree of Life. We will experience seeing God face to face, and we will be able to keep His commandments without any hinderance. He will be our Father, and we will be His children in fullness. We will “look like” God, which was God’s intent all along.

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Appointments With God Discussions Pentecost/Shavuot

Shavuot teaches encountering God ‘in spirit and in truth’

This is a special time in God’s calendar. We have reached Shavuot, the “Feast of Sevens.” It’s also called Pentecost, which is Greek for 50th. This feast is, in a sense, a continuation of the fulfillment of the covenant God made with Abraham.

When human beings try to obey God in the flesh without a redeemed spirit, they will inevitably fail.

We lift up two loaves at Shavuot, one made of wheat and one of barley. Both are His, and we will give both back to Him. There is so much hope for mankind at this time, even for those who are “not of us.”

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Apostolic Writings Appointments With God Discussions Firstfruits Passover Pentecost/Shavuot Prophets and Writings Tabernacles The Eighth Day Torah Trumpets Unleavened Bread

God’s appointments with humankind gain meaning over time — not obsolescence

A rich, multi-layered slice of chocolate cake sits on a white plate, symbolizing depth and complexity. Above it, elegant script reads, "God’s Holy Days & Their Layers of Meaning," suggesting a comparison between the layers of the cake and the deeper spiritual significance of biblical holy days. The background is a warm, dark brown, complementing the theme. In the bottom right corner, a logo with the text "hallel.info" is visible.

A number of theologians have wondered publicly if the festivals of the LORD are relevant for today or are just historical or intellectual curiosities. Many dismiss Sukkot as either a harvest festival only applicable in the Land of Israel or only relevant with a standing temple. Let’s explore what the Bible says about the past, present and future layers of meaning in these annual appointments and how they teach us about the Messiah and ourselves.

We will look at the different layers of the festivals: past, present and future.

In a sense, they are like a wedding anniversary, on which the couple remembers all the experiences layered on top of one another since the cutting of that first wedding cake.

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Appointments With God Discussions Pentecost/Shavuot

God sows ‘mysteries’ of His kingdom in the hearts of His faithful

A serene illustration of a vineyard with lush green vines bearing ripe grapes. In the foreground, people dressed in robes are tending to the grapes, with one person picking grapes into a basket and another standing with arms raised. The scene is bathed in warm, golden light, symbolizing peace and abundance. Text overlay reads, "God sows 'mysteries' of His kingdom in the hearts of His faithful," with the website "hallel.info" in the bottom right corner.

The Feast of Weeks, called Shavu’ot in Hebrew and Pentecost in Greek, commemorates the harvest of the second crop of the year, wheat. It’s connected to the Firstfruits of the harvest at Passover time. Yeshua is called the firstfruit of the resurrection of the dead.

God loves the world but He shows His love in a different way than we might think. We must not hoard the mysteries of the kingdom of God all to ourselves.

Categories
Appointments With God Atonement Firstfruits Passover Pentecost/Shavuot Tabernacles The Eighth Day Trumpets Unleavened Bread

The First 10 Chapters of Genesis: A Blueprint for God’s Appointed Times

This graphic features a stylized, painterly scene inspired by Genesis, with lush greenery on either side of a river and a large, wooden ship on the right, suggesting Noah’s Ark. The sky has swirling, golden and blue colors that resemble a dramatic sunrise or sunset, casting warm light across the landscape. The title text reads, “Genesis 1-10: A Blueprint for God’s Appointed Times?” In the bottom left corner is a small logo for “hallel.info.”

Daniel explores foreshadowing of all seven ‘feasts to the LORD’ in Genesis 2–5. For example, hints of Passover are seen in Adam and Eve’s hiding from God in the garden; Firstfruits, in Eve’s dedicating her firstborn; Atonement, in God’s marking Cain to wander with vengeance taken against him.

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Appointments With God Pentecost/Shavuot

Shavu’ot: Firstfruits and the remnant of the crop left for the poor

A wide, cinematic biblical scene at sunset shows a golden wheat field stretching across the landscape. On the left, a farmer in ancient Near Eastern clothing scatters seed into freshly tilled soil, symbolizing the act of sowing. On the right, several poor gleaners gather grain from the edge of a mature wheat field, recalling the story of Ruth. Warm sunlight shines from the horizon between the two groups, illuminating a path that runs through the center of the image. Large text across the top reads, “God Is the True Sower and He Allows Everyone to Reap the Benefit.” Additional text explains that the sower plants in faith while the gatherer receives God’s kindness, emphasizing that both benefit from God's provision. The overall image conveys themes of divine generosity, stewardship, gratitude, and God's blessings shared with all people.

Shavu’ot is a holiday celebrated 50 days after the Feast of Firstfruits. By this time, most of the harvest is gathered, prepped and stored. But God told His people in Leviticus 23 that they were supposed to leave a remnant behind for the “poor and the stranger.”

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Appointments With God Discussions Pentecost/Shavuot Prophets and Writings

Book of Ruth and Shavu’ot: Return of and redemption for Israel and the nations

Ruth in Boaz's Field by Julius Schnorr von Carolsfeld (1828). Currently held by the National Gallery in London, UK. Wikimedia Commons.

Traditionally, the book of Ruth is studied during Shavu’ot in most Jewish congregations. We have studied the surface story of Ruth in the past, but this study will dig deeper. Ruth had no right to an inheritance from God. She disregarded her birth family and follows her mother-in-law, Naomi, and Naomi’s God for the rest of her life.