Firstfruits/Shavuot

[MyLittleWonders]

Okay, this is really bugging me ... can someone give me a definitive ( ;) ) on when Firstfruits was and what day of counting the omer we are on, and what day(s) Shavuot falls on this year? We are so confused ... this is our first year celebrating the feasts. We thought today (Sunday, May 1) was Firstfruits and 1 Omer ... but I know others thought Monday was or was it last Sunday? For some reason, I thought Shavuot always fell on a Sunday (the first day of the week), which meant that Firstfruits would have to fall on a Sunday, but now I'm all confused. :confused: :scratch: :confused: I'd love some help!

[plum]

haha I' confused too. I know that since there are "two passovers" because of two ways of dating it... but I guess right now I'm participating in the Passover starting April 24th... anywho, according to a Jewish source I have:
http://www.jerusalemchabad.com/holidays/sefirah/omer-count.asp
Today is 9 days of the Omer. But then again, I don't think modern Jews calculate the First Fruits as the start of the Omer count.

when is First Fruits? ah, i do not know!! how ignorant I feel. too many arguments over dates...

[Tishri1]

There are 2 ways of counting the Pharisical and the Saddusaical. When I was new at this it was easier for me to go with the Pharisical way cause it was less confusing (all the calendars were set up that way) Now I like to go the Saddusaical way cause I believe (for now, with all the knowledge I have to walk in so far) that the counting occurs the day after the First Weekly Sabbath (Yesterday, May 1st)

http://www.ffoz.org/magazine/archives/category/holy_appointments/000034.shtml

this is a great article to read after you figure out which day to start on

[visionary]

First fruits comes in the spring the day after the first weekly Sabbath after the Passover. (Leviticus 23.9-14). The day after the first weekly Sabbath following Passover is also known as the Wave Sheaf. Jesus was resurrected on the Feast of First Fruits. This particular year, the Passover was on Thursday and Jesus was in the grave for the three days and three nights just as He said He would be.

Matthew 12:4 For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
This feast the Jews today do not observe the First Fruits or the Wave Sheaf even though commanded to by God because it deals with the resurrection. Until they are reconciled with the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ as their Messiah and the fulfillment of this spring time feast, they probably wont. It could easily be because of the death and resurrection of Jesus and their position that He was not the Messiah they had waited for, they have chosen to not observe it.

It was a spring harvest festival for the people of the land. The deadness of winter is past and the earth is once again putting forth new leaves and blooming. Since this was the beginning of the barley season, the Jews were expected to bring some sheaves of the green barley to the Temple as an offering and in anticipation of a bountiful harvest that fall. Since Jesus raises people instead of plants, His offering of first fruits to the Father was comprised of resurrected saints as seen in

Matthew 17:52-53.The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. 53 They came out of the tombs, and after Jesus' resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many people. This offering was the fulfillment of the festival, they were the first fruits of the bountiful harvest to come.

Rev. 1:5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,
Is He the first begotten of physical death?

Acts 26:22-23 Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come:23 That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should shew light unto the people, and to the Gentiles.


1 Peter 3:18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in (same word as by the spirit) the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit

Eph. 2:4-6 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

We know that those that were resurrected the same time that Jesus was, are the first fruits of the harvest, a fulfillment of the this ceremonial Sabbath.

[plum]

maybe I'm just ignorant or INCREDIBLY dense.... i guess that Matthew passage completely passed me by for 22 years? others raised? wow i gotta read this again