The Feast of First Fruits and the Feast of Weeks were to be first observed when the children of Israel entered the Promised Land, according to Leviticus 23:10, “When you come into the land which I give to you, and reap its harvest, then you shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest to the priest.” Leviticus 23 gives a detailed description of the seven Feasts of the Lord, including the Feast of Weeks (Shavuot).

“And you shall count for yourselves from the day after the sabbath, from the day that you brought the sheaf of the wave offering: Seven sabbaths shall be completed. Count fifty days to the day after the seventh sabbath; then you shall offer a new grain offering to the Lord. You shall bring from your dwellings two wave loaves of two-tenths of an ephah. They shall be of fine flour; they shall be baked with leaven. They are the firstfruits to the Lord.

And you shall offer with the bread seven lambs of the first year, without blemish, one young bull, and two rams. They shall be as a burnt offering to the Lord, with their grain offering and their drink offerings, an offering made by fire for a sweet aroma to the Lord. Then you shall sacrifice one kid of the goats as a sin offering, and two male lambs of the first year as a sacrifice of a peace offering. The priest shall wave them with the bread of the firstfruits as a wave offering before the Lord, with the two lambs. They shall be holy to the Lord for the priest.

And you shall proclaim on the same day that it is a holy convocation to you. You shall do no customary work on it. It shall be a statute forever in all your dwellings throughout your generations. When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not wholly reap the corners of your field when you reap, nor shall you gather any gleaning from your harvest. You shall leave them for the poor and for the stranger: I am the Lord your God” (Leviticus 23:15-22).

The Jews believe the first day of Passover is Nisan 15 and not Nisan 14. Nisan 14 is merely Passover Eve or the day of preparation before the seven days of Passover. The Feast of Unleavened Bread is now called the Passover. There is an ongoing debate, which started centuries ago, on when the Feast of First Fruits actually begins. This is very significant as the day/date of First Fruits will determine when Shavuot begins.

The Sadducees who controlled the Temple administration during the time of Jesus and prior to 70 AD believed the “sabbath” of Leviticus 23:11 & 15 referred to the weekly Sabbath after Passover. Karaite Jews and many Christian scholars also agree with the Sadducees in this regard. This author is in agreement with this interpretation.

After the Temple was destroyed in 70 AD and the Sadducees were no longer in control, historical records were updated to include the Pharisees’ counting method, which is now included in the Talmud. They believed the “sabbath” mentioned in Leviticus 23:11 occurred on the first day of Passover/Unleavened Bread, Nisan 15 when no work was to be done (verse 7 -“you shall do no servile work“).

The Pharisees evolved into the Rabbinic Jews of modern times. So, according to Rabbinic Jews, the day after this special “sabbath” day is now Nisan 16. What the Bible calls the ‘waving’ of the first fruits (a sheaf) of the barley harvest, the Jews call the Counting of the Omer. It begins on Nisan 16 and ends 49 days later or until the 50th day, which is usually Sivan 5, 6, or 7, depending on the lengths of each month.

So, what is the correct interpretation of the “sabbath” in Leviticus 23:11 and 23:15? This is very important to get this day/date correct as it determines the day and date of Shavuot or Pentecost. Let’s look at the description of the countdown again between the Feast of First Fruits (first fruits of barley) and Shavuot (first fruits of wheat). “And you shall count for yourselves from the day after the Sabbath, from the day that you brought the sheaf of the wave offering: seven Sabbaths shall be completed.” It’s interesting that the second mention of “sabbath” is in regard to the weekly sabbaths, so wouldn’t the first “sabbath” mentioned also be the weekly sabbath?

Also interesting is the fact that in verses 7 and 8, the word “sabbath” is not used. It merely states that on the first and seventh days of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, no servile or laborious work is to be done. I believe the wording God gave Moses was intentional in this regard, in order to not confuse when this counting was to begin. I also believe the Israelites got it right until the first century AD when the Pharisees and, later, the rabbinic Jews changed the starting point and which “sabbath” was to be used in regard to the countdown to Shavuot. This could have been done intentionally to show that Jesus wasn’t resurrected on the Feast of First Fruits, spiritually fulfilling this Feast of the Lord, as the waving of the sheaf/Omer would have already occurred two days earlier on Nisan 15. This countdown method effectively separates the Jewish Shavuot from the Christian Pentecost.

Let’s look at one more piece of evidence regarding the “sabbath” of Leviticus 23:15 and the Counting of the Omer. The chart below is for the year 2026. I just picked it out randomly. We will use the rabbi’s own Jewish calculated calendar for the dates. The counting of the omer begins on Nisan 16, according to their reckoning. This is day 1. Day 50 is Sivan 6.

You can see that this fulfills Leviticus 23:15. “And you shall count for yourselves from the day after the Sabbath, from the day that you brought the sheaf of the wave offering: seven Sabbaths shall be completed.” Remember, their first special “sabbath” date is Nisan 15. So the 7 weekly Sabbaths are Nisan 18, Nisan 25, Iyyar 2, Iyyar 9, Iyyar 16, Iyyar 23, and Sivan 1.

But what about Leviticus 23: 16? “Even unto the morrow after the seventh sabbath shall you number fifty days; and you shall offer a new meat offering unto the Lord.” The KJV translates Strong’s H4283 (mahorat) in the following manner: morrow (29x), next day (2x), next (1x). The seventh sabbath is Sivan 1. The “tomorrow” after Sivan 1 is Sivan 2, which is only the 46th day of the count and not the 50th day.

RABBINIC VIEW OF THE COUNTING OF THE OMER – 2026 AD

Sun.          Mon.             Tue.           Wed.           Thur.          Fri.             Sat.

Nisan 12    Nisan 13     Nisan 14    Nisan 15    Nisan 16    Nisan 17   Nisan 18

Nisan 19    Nisan 20     Nisan 21    Nisan 22    Nisan 23    Nisan 24   Nisan 25

Nisan 26    Nisan 27     Nisan 28    Nisan 29     Nisan 30    Iyyar 1       Iyyar 2

Iyyar 3        Iyyar 4        Iyyar 5        Iyyar 6         Iyyar 7        Iyyar 8      Iyyar 9

Iyyar 10     Iyyar 11      Iyyar 12      Iyyar 13       Iyyar 14      Iyyar 15     Iyyar 16

Iyyar 17     Iyyar 18      Iyyar 19      Iyyar 20       Iyyar 21      Iyyar 22     Iyyar 23

Iyyar 24     Iyyar 25      Iyyar 26      Iyyar 27       Iyyar 28       Sivan 3      Sivan 1

Sivan 2      Sivan 3        Sivan 4       Sivan 5        Sivan 6        Sivan 7      Sivan 8

Sivan 9

Now, contrary to the rabbinic view, if you start the count on the day after the weekly Sabbath after Passover, which would be Sunday, Nisan 19, then the day after the seventh sabbath (Sivan 8) would be Sunday, Sivan 9. It would also be the 50th day from the day after the weekly “sabbath” of Nisan 18. Therefore, Sivan 9 would be the date for Shavuot or Pentecost for the year 2026. This is, however, a few days off of the Biblical Jewish calendar for 2026, as we will see a little later.

JESUS’ FULFILLMENT OF SHAVUOT/PENTECOST

Now that we have figured out the correct biblical way of counting from Firstfruits to Shavuot/Pentecost, let’s look at the spiritual aspects of this fourth Feast of the Lord and how Jesus fulfilled it. We have determined from my previous article that Jesus was the ultimate fulfillment of the Feast of First Fruits. “But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming” (1 Corinthians 15:20,22).

Jesus Christ is the first fruit of all believers in Christ who will be raised from the dead (with an incorruptible body). He is the fulfillment of the barley sheaf of the first fruits to be waved before the LORD, as mentioned in Leviticus 23:10-11, and the male lamb without blemish in verse 12. As the Jews were waving the barley sheaf before the LORD at the Temple in Jerusalem on Sunday, Nisan 17, God was waving (presenting) His Son, Jesus Christ, before the congregation in heaven.

During the remaining days of the Feast of Unleavened Bread (after the waving of the barley sheaf), the barley bread that was to be consumed was to be made without leaven. This is why First Fruits must be within the Feast of Unleavened Bread. In the Torah, leaven represents sin. The bread represents Jesus’ body, which was without sin. Barley is the first crop to rise from the earth in early spring. Jesus is the first fruits of the first harvest to rise from the earth to eternal life with a translated eternal body.

Acts 3:1 says that Jesus presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by His apostles during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God. Jesus told his apostles to wait in Jerusalem for the Promise of the Father and that they would be baptized with the power of the Holy Spirit. The apostles watched Jesus as He ascended into heaven 40 days after His resurrection.

Ten days later, the disciples of Jesus attended the annual Feast of Shavuot, which is called Pentecost in the Greek-translated New Testament. Of course, the Father kept His promise and sent the Holy Spirit to Jesus’ disciples. On the 7th day of Sivan on the Hebrew calendar, in 33 AD (IMO), the Holy Spirit manifested Himself, and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost and began to speak with other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.

The Church of Jesus Christ was born on the day of Shavuot/Pentecost after seven sevens (weeks) had been completed from His resurrection. On this annual Jewish Feast day, the Jews were required to bring a new grain (wheat) offering to the LORD, which consisted of two loaves of bread made from fine flour and baked with leaven. “They are the first fruits unto the LORD” (Leviticus 23:17). This is quite different from the Feast of Firstfruits where it was required to bring a sheaf of barley and the worshipers were to only eat unleavened bread during the Feast of Unleavened Bread.

We have seen the typology of the Feast of First Fruits in that Jesus was the first fruits of the dead to be resurrected. Jesus led a sinless life. Leaven, which represents sin, was not allowed in the barley bread to be eaten during that Holy week. However, after seven sevens (49 days), on the day of Shavuot, the two wheat loaves that were to be waved before the Lord were baked with leaven. This is the only Feast of the Lord where leaven is allowed. Why?

I believe the two leavened loaves of wheat bread are a typology of the Church that was born on that “Pentecost” day on Sivan 7, 33 AD. Both Jews and Gentiles were baptized on that day and became members of Jesus’ congregation (Church) that started the spiritual kingdom of God on earth. All were sinners. However, these new believers were filled with the Holy Spirit of God and became a new creation, from mere grain to baked loaves, from Jews and Gentiles to Christians. The wheat crop has been maturing for nearly two millennia now, and soon, it will be ready to harvest.

“But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first fruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming” (1 Corinthians 15:20-23). Jesus was the first to be resurrected (with an immortal body) from the dead. The next first fruits to be resurrected from the dead will be His Church at the Rapture. Just as the priest waved the two loaves of leavened wheat bread in the air before the Lord on Shavuot, so will Jesus wave us in the air to the Father at the Rapture.

“But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord” (1 Thes. 4:13-17).

All those who have died in Christ since the “new covenant” was initiated will be resurrected and translated on that glorious day to come in the near future. They will precede the living believers in Christ, who will also be transformed and raised to glory at that time. These living believers will not die physically but will die to sin permanently.

Will this supernatural spiritual harvest of souls occur on a future Feast of Shavuot, aka Pentecost? Only time will tell, and it’s not talking right now. However, the typology seems to fit. If the Rapture does occur on a future Feast of the Lord day, Pentecost seems to be the most obvious candidate (IMO). Pentecost occurs between the three early spring season Feasts of the Lord and the last three fall Feasts of the Lord. Jesus fulfilled the first three spring Feasts during his first advent before He ascended to heaven. Most scholars and fellow Bereans believe Jesus will fulfill the last three fall Feasts when He returns to the earth at the Second Coming.

Did Jesus fulfill Shavuot/Pentecost by sending the Holy Spirit to His disciples, thus starting the Church? Both Jesus and the Father are described as sending the Holy Spirit. In John 16:7, Jesus says, “But I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I am leaving; for if I do not leave, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you.” This verse (along with John 15:26) suggests that Jesus sends the Holy Spirit.

However, in John 14:26, it is written, “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and remind you of all that I said to you.” This implies that the Father sends the Holy Spirit. So, it can be concluded that both Jesus and the Father have roles in sending the Holy Spirit at Shavuot/Pentecost. If Jesus fulfilled the fourth Feast of the Lord, Shavuot, by sending the Holy Spirit, then He did so while He was in heaven. The other spring Feasts were fulfilled by Jesus while He was on the earth, and the fall feasts will be as well. We know that all seven Feasts of the Lord will be fulfilled by Jesus.

THE TYPOLOGY OF PENTECOST IN THE BOOK OF RUTH

The Book of Ruth is a beautiful analogy of the relationship between Naomi, a model of Israel, Ruth, a model of the Church, and Boaz, the Kinsman-Redeemer. It’s read in the synagogues on Shavuot. “The modeling here is dramatic, with Naomi in the role of Israel, destitute and alone, Ruth as the Church, the gentile bride, Boaz as the Messiah, and the story itself as a prediction of the relationship that would involve all three of them. In the process of redeeming Israel, the Messiah takes a Gentile bride. In doing so, He saves both from their destitute condition and restores Israel’s Land. The identification of the Church with Pentecost began in the prophecies of Ruth.” ^{1} The Feast Of Pentecost – Grace thru faith.

Regarding the timing of the story of Ruth, in Ruth 2:2, Ruth asks permission from Naomi to “glean” heads of grain in the fields of Boaz. As a matter of fact, the word glean/ed is used 12 times in the Book of Ruth. The number 12 represents Israel in the Bible. The last verse of Ruth 2 says, “So she stayed close by the young women of Boaz, to glean until the end of barley harvest and wheat harvest; and she dwelt with her mother-in-law” (Ruth 2:23).

After the section on the Feast of Weeks, Leviticus 23:22 says, “When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not wholly reap the corners of your field when you reap, nor shall you gather any gleaning from your harvest. You shall leave them for the poor and for the stranger: I am the Lord your God.” This is what Ruth 2 is referring to regarding “gleaning” the crops. Evidently, Ruth gleaned from the crops of Boaz from the barley to the wheat harvest, from First Fruits to Shavuot. After Boaz redeemed the land that Naomi had previously sold, he married his Gentile bride, Ruth, possibly on Shavuot.

“And all the people who were at the gate, and the elders, said, We are witnesses. The LORD make the woman who is coming to your house like Rachel and Leah, the two who built the house of Israel; and may you prosper in Ephrathah and be famous in Bethlehem. May your house be like the house of Perez, whom Tamar bore to Judah, because of the offspring which the Lord will give you from this young woman” (Ruth 4:11-12).

This turned out to be very prophetic, as Boaz’s descendants indeed became famous within the tribe of Judah and the nation of Israel. Boaz was the son of Rahab, the harlot from the Book of Joshua. His great-grandson David became the King of Israel. Rahab and Ruth are both listed in the genealogy of the Lord Jesus (Matt. 1:5), and King Solomon named one of the pillars at the entrance to the Temple after his ancestor Boaz.

It’s a shame that the Feast of Shavuot has separated from Pentecost, even with different dates, as they started out as one and the same. Pentecost is merely the Greek name for Shavuot. Of course, this separation was due to the Jew’s rejection of Jesus as the Messiah. So if Jesus were to return at the Rapture on this 4th Feast of the Lord day, would it be on Shavuot, Pentecost, or the Biblical Jewish calendar, as in some years the dates on all three are different? Let’s examine the next three years on the different calendars.

JEWISH SHAVUOT- CALCULATED JEWISH CALENDAR

AND GREGORIAN CALENDAR

Wednesday, Sivan 6 – June 12, 2024

Monday, Sivan 6 – June 2, 2025

Friday, Sivan 6 – May 22, 2026

CHURCH’S PENTECOST – GREGORIAN CALENDAR

Sunday, May 19, 2024

Sunday, June 8, 2025

Sunday, May 24, 2026

SHAVUOT/PENTECOST – BIBLICAL JEWISH CALENDAR

AND GREGORIAN CALENDAR

Sunday, Sivan 11 – May 19, 2024

Sunday, Sivan 5 – June 1, 2025

Sunday, Sivan 7 – May 24, 2026

As I said in my previous article, The First Feast of Firstfruits and the Resurrection :: By Randy Nettles – Rapture Ready, the date for Shavuot in 1406 BC was Sunday, Sivan 7 on the Jewish calendar and May 23, 1406 BC on the Julian calendar (May 10 on the proleptic Gregorian calendar). The date for Shavuot, aka Pentecost, in 33 AD was Sunday, Sivan 7 on the Jewish calendar, and May 24, 33 AD on the Julian calendar (May 22 on the proleptic Gregorian calendar).

The Biblical Jewish calendar for Shavuot/Pentecost 2026 AD is almost identical to the years 1406 BC and 33 AD when two major historical events for the nation of Israel and the world occurred. 1406 BC was when Israel first entered the Promised Land, and 33 AD was when Jesus was crucified, resurrected, ascended, and the Church of Jesus Christ was born.

As I mentioned in a former article, The 1290th & 1335th Day of Dan. 12:11-12 (rev310.net), I believe the 70th week of Daniel 9:24-27 (the seven-year Tribulation) will be a Shemitah week or cycle consisting of seven Jewish years. A Shemitah year always begins on Tishri 10, which is Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. In this same article, I gave a possible scenario (not a prediction, just an example) for these seven years as being from 2026 to 2033. Of course, 2033 is 2000 years (40 Jubilees) from the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus and the birth of the Church (IMO). 2000 years is as 2 days for the Lord (2 Peter 3:8 – Compare this verse to Hosea 6:2).

The beginning date for the Tribulation in this hypothetical example is September 21/22, 2026 (depending on the hour). That is the Gregorian date for Yom Kippur, which is Tishri 10 on the Biblical Jewish calendar. There are two days of difference between the Biblical Jewish calendar and the Calculated Jewish calendar regarding the date for Yom Kippur, 2026.

Wikipedia describes “typology” in Christian theology and biblical exegesis as a doctrine or theory concerning the relationship of the Old Testament to the New Testament. Events, persons, or statements in the Old Testament are seen as types prefiguring or superseded by antitypes, events, or aspects of Christ or his revelation described in the New Testament.

If Shavuot and Pentecost are the same Feast of the Lord (and I believe they are), and the wave offering of the two loaves of bread during Shavuot is a typology of the Rapture, and Pentecost is when the Church began, then doesn’t it make sense that the end of the Church at the Rapture could occur on this Feast of the Lord day? I’m not saying it will; I’m just saying if the Rapture were to occur on one of the seven Feasts of the Lord, Shavuot or Pentecost would be my choice.

Regarding the Rapture, Jesus said, “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only” (Matthew 24:36). Many prefer the Feast of Trumpets for the Rapture because it occurs on Tishri 1 during the time when the new moon of fall occurs, and no one knows exactly what day or hour the crescent moon will appear. However, this occurs at the start of every Jewish month and is not restricted to Tishri 1.

The “day and hour,” aka the “date” no one knew in advance for a particular year, was the date of Shavuot/Pentecost, as it was dependent on when the date of the Feast of Firstfruits occurred, and Firstfruits didn’t have a date either until Nisan 1 was determined. Nisan 1 could be delayed by a month (where an intercalary month was added) if the crops weren’t in a state of ripeness. Back in ancient times, the Jews had to play it year by year.

THE GAP PERIOD BETWEEN THE RAPTURE AND THE TRIBULATION

If the Rapture were to happen in 2024 on Shavuot/Pentecost (Sunday, May 19, 2024) and the Tribulation began in 2026 (Monday, September 21, 2026), that would be 855 days (2 years, 4 months, and 2 days) between them. If the Rapture were to happen in 2025 on Shavuot/Pentecost (Sunday, June 1, 2025) and the Tribulation began on September 21, 2026, that would be 477 days (1 year, 3 months, and 20 days) between them.

If the Rapture were to happen in 2026 on Shavuot/Pentecost (Sunday, May 24, 2026) and the Tribulation began on Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement (September 21, 2026), that would be 120 days (3 months, 28 days) between them. The date for Shavuot/Pentecost in 2026 is identical to the date for Shavuot/Pentecost in 1406 BC and 33 AD on the Jewish Biblical calendar (Sunday, Sivan 7) and is only a few days off in the Julian/Gregorian calendar.

120 is a very significant number in the Bible. The meaning of the number 120 revolves around it being a divinely appointed time of waiting. After God saw how sinful and dedicated to evil man had become during the antediluvian period, He determined a 120-year period would be given for repentance, and then the flood waters would come (Genesis 6:1-3).

There were 120 days from when the ark rested on the mountains of Ararat (Genesis 8:4), which would have been on the 17th day of the seventh month (Nisan 17 on the modern Jewish calendar, as the start of the counting of months changed from the fall season to the spring season during the time before the Exodus) until the dove came back with an olive leaf during mid-summer (Genesis 8:10). On this 120th day, Noah knew the waters had receded on the earth.

When the number 120 is divided by 3, the number for divine perfection, you get 40. 40 is the number for probation, trial or testing, and chastisement. Moses lived to be 120 and died just prior to the Israelites entering the Promised Land. His life, according to Scripture, was divided into three equal parts of 40. He spent 40 years in Egypt, 40 years in Midian, and 40 years in the wilderness between Egypt and Canaan.

This division of Moses’ life by three reminds us that 6000 years of life on Earth can be divided into three cycles of 2000 years or 40 Jubilees (40 x 50 = 2000). There were approximately 40 Jubilees from Adam to the birth of Abraham, 40 Jubilees from Abraham to the death of Christ, and I believe there will be 40 Jubilees from Christ’s death to the Second Advent.

In the Bible, the number 50 represents “return” with a sense of glory. Every 50 years was the Jubilee (or was supposed to be), in which all possessions returned to their original owners, from slaves to property, and all debts were erased. 50 = 10 x 5, with 10 being the number for ordinal perfection and 5 being the number for grace.

In Acts 1:15-26, 120 disciples of Jesus received the Holy Spirit on the day of Shavuot or Pentecost. We have already seen where there can, in some years, be 120 days between Shavuot and the Day of Atonement by reckoning from the Biblical Jewish calendar. Pentecost was when the Holy Spirit came unto Jesus’ disciples and the Church was born. Of course, Yom Kippur is the holiest day of the year for the Jewish people.

Revelation 7 speaks of 144,000 (120 x 1,200) Jews that are sealed for service and protection during the first half of the Tribulation. It could be that there are 120 days between the Rapture and the start of the Tribulation and the beginning of the 144,000 Messianic Jews ministry, as well as the two witnesses of Revelation 11. Revelation 14 speaks of this same group of 144,000 as well. This is a prophetic vision of the ultimate triumph of the Lamb following His second coming when He joins the 144,000 on Mount Zion at the beginning of His millennial reign.

Regarding the gap period between the Rapture and Daniel’s 70th week, one thing is certain: the longer the Rapture delays, the shorter the time between these events. All this, of course, is merely an accumulation of circumstantial typological evidence based on Scripture and events in Jewish history. The Rapture is a secret event, and as such, its exact timing is known only to God.

Let me close by quoting the late great Jack Kelley, who believed the Rapture didn’t have to occur on a Feast of the Lord day, but if it did, Pentecost would be the best choice. I agree with his assessment.

SOON AND VERY SOON

“One day soon now, all who are in Christ, having heard and believed the Word of Truth, the Gospel of our salvation, thereby receiving the mark of the promised Holy Spirit, will suddenly disappear from the face of the earth. Included among them will be all children and those mentally incapable of making informed choices. An unknown number of instantaneous deliveries will temporarily leave the world without a single pregnant woman at the same time. In one instant, we will have been going about our daily routines, and in the next, we’ll be standing in the presence of our Redeemer, our sins forgiven and forgotten, and all our imperfections gone. Joining us will be all the faithful dead, reunited with their perfected bodies and restored to eternal physical life. Together, we will begin the most incredible journey of exploration and realization ever dreamed of.

Neither we nor the unbelieving world will have received any advance warning of the timing of this event; it will have come totally by surprise. Maybe it will happen on Pentecost, maybe not. But one thing is certain: when it does happen, none of us will care one whit whether we had predicted its timing accurately. We will only express in unimaginable joy our gratitude for being there.

“For it is by grace you have been saved through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians. 2:8-9). “As it is written: ‘No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him’ – but God has revealed it to us by His Spirit” (1 Cor. 2:9-10). ^{2} Pentecost And The Rapture :: by Jack Kelley – Rapture Ready

Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!

Randy Nettles

rgeanie55@gmail.com

 

 

 

 

The Rise of the Four Great Beasts

The desire of some in authority to control the people, property, prosperity, piety, public and private behavior of others has been the goal of many kings, dictators and despots for millennia; at least since the ill-fated tower of Babel was built by Nimrod (Gen. 11:1-9). The interest in a global government accelerated after World Wars I & II and especially after the first half of the 20^th century (1950-present), with many nonprofit, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) becoming active.

One of those organizations, the Club of Rome, was formed in 1968, and a few years later, in 1973, they released a report revealing their goal of dividing the world into ten political/economic regions that would bring the entire world under a single form of government, aptly called a “New World Order.” [1]

The 10 regions are: North America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Japan, Rest of Developed World, Latin America, Middle East, Rest of Africa, South and Southeast Asia, and China. The same plan was included in a book published by the Club of Rome called Mankind at the Turning Point. [2]

The interesting point about the Club of Rome’s proposal is that the books of Daniel and Revelation tell us that the final Gentile kingdoms before Christ’s return (seventh and eighth) will be a global form of government that will initially have 10 kings (10 horns) (Dan. 7:7, 23-24; Rev. 17:10-11).  Ironically, these 10 kings, at their beginning, will not have kingdoms (Rev. 17:12) but may be responsible for 10 regions on the earth, perhaps like the 10 regions in the Club of Rome’s proposal.

The Four Great Beasts in Daniel

Daniel, in his dream and visions, during the first year of the reign of Belshazzar (553 B.C.), described four great beasts (kingdoms) that will be present during the “end times” (Dan. 7:4-7, 11-12, 23-24). 

 “In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon, Daniel had a dream and visions of his head while on his bed. Then he wrote down the dream, telling the main facts. Daniel spoke, saying, ‘I saw in my vision by night, and behold, the four winds of heaven were stirring up the Great Sea.  And four great beasts came up from the sea, each different from the other.  The first was like a lion, and had eagle’s wings.

“I watched till its wings were plucked off; and it was lifted up from the earth and made to stand on two feet like a man, and a man’s heart was given to it. And suddenly another beast, a second, like a bear. It was raised up on one side, and had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. And they said thus to it: ‘Arise, devour much flesh!’ After this I looked, and there was another, like a leopard, which had on its back four wings of a bird. The beast also had four heads, and dominion was given to it.

“After this I saw in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, exceedingly strong. It had huge iron teeth; it was devouring, breaking in pieces, and trampling the residue with its feet. It was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns” (Dan. 7:1-7).

One reason we know the four great beasts (Dan. 7:4-7) will be active during the 7-year tribulation (Dan. 9:27) is their presence (leopard, bear and lion) when the kingdom of Antichrist rises to power (Rev 13:1-8).  Another reason the four beasts will be present in the “end times” is because they will all be judged on the earth by the Ancient of Days immediately after the tribulation (Dan. 7:9-12; Matt. 24:29-31).  

The Precursor of Global Government

Daniel’s vision of these last two Gentile kingdoms (seventh and eighth) before Christ’s return is initially portrayed as a fourth beast (Dan. 7:7), which is also the seventh king (kingdom) mentioned in Rev. 17:10.  The eighth king (beast, Antichrist) will rise to power soon after the seventh king (kingdom) becomes established (Rev. 13:1-8, 17:10-11). The words “king” and “kingdom” are used interchangeably since the two terms are interconnected.

The fourth beast (kingdom) described in Daniel 7:7 with “10 horns” and the “composite beast” (kingdom) pictured in Revelation 13:1-2 with “7 heads and 10 horns” will be the two final global kingdoms (seventh and eighth) that rule the earth during “the time of the end” (Dan. 12:4-10). The word “composite” refers to having “distinct parts.”

The coming world government (seventh) that is being planned by the global elite is forecast to be in place by the year 2030; however, the Covid-19 crisis accelerated the process so that the globalists may only be a few months or years away from beginning to achieve their dreams.  The United Nations has stealthily revealed their plans on their website that is called “The Sustainable Development Agenda.”

“The ‘Sustainable Development Goals’ (SDG) are a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet and improve the lives and prospects of everyone, everywhere. The 17 Goals were adopted by all UN Member States in 2015, as part of the ‘2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development’ which set out a 15-year plan to achieve the Goals.”  [3]

The World Health Organization (WHO) may play a major role in development of the ten regions by using health as a global justification for imposing laws, rules and guidelines on the citizens of the world. [4] The World Economic Forum (WEF), with its “Young Global Leaders” program, is also playing a big part in the move toward globalism by embracing health and environmental issues as reasons to justify control of the world’s population. [5]  

The First Phase of Global Government

The first phase of global government, which may soon be coming on the earth, is described in Daniel’s dream and visions that he had over 2,500 years ago (Dan. 7:1-28). It is depicted as a fourth beast that would come forth out of “the great sea,” and it would end up controlling the whole world (Dan. 7:7, 23).  This fourth beast kingdom is also the same as the seventh king (kingdom) mentioned in Rev. 17:10.  The fourth beast kingdom will be a dystopian type of society with a totalitarian form of government, and it will have 10 horns (i.e., kings) (Dan. 7:23-24).

“After this I saw in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, exceedingly strong. It had huge iron teeth; it was devouring, breaking in pieces, and trampling the residue with its feet. It was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns” (Dan. 7:7).

Different names have been given to the movement toward global government that we see developing today.  One of the most prevalent names is the “New World Order.”  The fourth beast kingdom, after it becomes operational, will end up dominating the whole world. Soon after the 10 horns (kings), which may represent 10 regions on the earth, gain control of the earth, another little horn (prince) will rise to power and conquer 3 of the 10 kings.

“Thus he said: ‘The fourth beast shall be a fourth kingdom on earth, which shall be different from all other kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, trample it and break it in pieces. The ten horns are ten kings who shall arise from this kingdom. And another shall rise after them; He shall be different from the first ones, and shall subdue three kings’” (Dan. 7:23-24).

The fourth beast kingdom, which is the same as the seventh king (kingdom) in Rev. 17:10, appears to be in its rudimentary form today.  The European Union (EU) is already fully functional, and plans are in the works for a North American region, South American region, etc.   The “Declaration of North America” (DNA), signed on January 10, 2023, is a preliminary document that facilitates increased cooperation between Canada, the United States and Mexico. [6] [7]

The fourth beast kingdom, alluded to in Daniel, will be worldwide in scope and may be similar to the 10 geographic divisions recommended by the Club of Rome. Some countries, such as Russia, China, Iran, North Korea, and others may not cooperate with the globalist plan. When the “New World Order” becomes operational, it will probably be controlled by a coalition and consensus of the global elite.

Some of these Globalist organizations are the United Nations (UN); World Economic Forum {WEF); International Monetary Fund (IMF); Council on Foreign Relations (CFR); Bank for International Settlements (BIS), Trilateral Commission (TC); World Health Organization (WHO); Club of Rome; Bohemian Grove and Bilderberg Group.

The next phase of globalism requires the merger of the first three beasts (lion, bear and leopard) (Dan. 7:4-6) with the fourth beast (Dan. 7:7), which has 10 horns (10 kings).  This merger of the first three beasts (lion, bear and leopard) with the fourth beast will produce the “composite beast” that is “like a leopard” with “the feet of a bear” and “the mouth of a lion” that has “seven heads and ten horns” (Rev. 13:1-2).

The “Four Great Beasts” merge to become the “Composite Beast”

After the first phase of global government (seventh kingdom) is put in place, it will be operational for a short period of time (Rev. 17:10) before it transitions into the final Gentile kingdom (eighth) that will rule the world before Christ returns and sets up his Millennial Kingdom for 1,000 years (Dan. 2:34-35, 41-45, 7:19-27; Rev. 13:1-18, 17:11-14, 19:11-21, 20:4).

We know from Daniel’s dream that all four great beasts will be present in the “end times” when they are judged by the “Ancient of Days” immediately after the tribulation (Dan. 7:9-12, 22, 26-27; Matt. 24:29; Rev. 19:19-20). In some mysterious way, the fourth beast of the “end times” in Daniel 7:7 will need to morph into the “composite beast” of the “end times,” described in Revelation 13:1-2, that John saw “rising up out of the sea.”

How does the fourth beast in Daniel’s prophecy, with 10 horns (10 kings) but no head attributed to it, morph into the “composite beast” in Revelation, which has seven heads?  Perhaps the solution to this mystery is that the “composite beast” described in Revelation 13:1-2 having seven heads, ten horns, and ten crowns is a more advanced form of the fourth beast kingdom that is described in Daniel 7:7.   

In order to get “seven heads and ten horns,” like the “composite beast” in Rev. 13:1-2, the heads of the lion, bear and leopard (Dan. 7:4-6) must be merged into the fourth beast (Dan. 7:7).  If you add up all the heads from the lion, bear and leopard (plus the four additional heads of the leopard), and they are merged with the fourth beast (Dan. 7:7), the fourth beast now has “seven heads and ten horns” which is the same as the ‘end times” “composite beast” found in Rev. 13:1-2 and the “scarlet beast” described in Rev. 17:1-7.

The Second Phase of Global Government

As mentioned earlier, the fourth beast kingdom in Dan. 7:7, which has 10 horns (10 kings) but no heads, is the first phase of global government on the earth (seventh kingdom) that will have 10 kings (regional leaders), but they will not rule over any kingdoms (Dan. 7:23-24; Rev. 17:12).  This worldwide global government that does not have a head (no single leader) will be a loosely held coalition of global leaders that will be given limited authority by the global elite. 

After the initial phase of global government that has 10 kings is established (fourth beast, seventh king) (Dan. 7:7; Rev. 17:10), the next phase of globalism will involve the merger of the first three beasts (Dan. 7:4-6) in Daniel’s dream and visions (lion, bear and leopard) into the fourth beast that has 10 horns (10 kings) (Dan. 7:7). The second phase of global government that John saw on the island of Patmos over 600 years after Daniel’s dream will be a more advanced form of the fourth beast in Daniel 7:7.  It is described in Rev. 13:1-2 as a “composite beast” that has “seven heads and 10 horns.” 

“Then I stood on the sand of the sea. And I saw a beast rising up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his horns ten crowns, and on his heads a blasphemous name.  Now the beast which I saw was like a leopard, his feet were like the feet of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. The dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority” (Rev. 13:1-2).

After the seventh kingdom (New World Order) is put in place by the global elite, the eighth kingdom, which will be ruled over by Antichrist, will rise to power and will take control of the seventh kingdom (10 horns, 10 kings) (Dan. 7:7-8, 19-21, 23-25; Rev. 13:1-18).  The “composite beast” in Rev. 13:1-2, which is controlled by Antichrist, is also the same as the eighth king (kingdom) mentioned in Rev. 17:11. 

The ten horns that have received no kingdom will receive power as kings for “one hour” with the beast. Perhaps the mention of the 10 crowns in Rev. 13:1 symbolizes the temporary period of time the beast (Antichrist) gives the 10 kings power for “one hour.”  Whether “one hour” is literal or not, it probably represents a short period of time.

“The ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have received no kingdom as yet, but they receive authority for one hour as kings with the beast. These are of one mind, and they will give their power and authority to the beast (Rev. 17:12-13).

Around the middle of the seven-year tribulation, the eighth kingdom, controlled by the Antichrist, will impose his will upon the whole world.  The Antichrist will then exercise his authority for the next 3 and ½ years (Matt. 24:15-22; 2 Thess. 2:1-12; Rev. 13:3-18, 17:10-14).  After the tribulation has ended, the Antichrist and his armies will assemble in “the place called in Hebrew, Armageddon,” in the land of Israel in order to fight against the Lord God Almighty (Matt. 24:27-31; Rev. 1:8, 16:16).

“These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful” (Rev. 17:12-14).

All four beasts will be judged after the 7-year tribulation, and the beast and false prophet will be cast into the lake of fire burning with brimstone.  Ironically, the fourth beast (Antichrist) will be judged before the first three beasts (leopard, bear and lion).  The first three beasts will lose their dominion (authority, power and territory); however, their lives will be extended “for a season and a time” (Dan. 7:9-12, 22, 26-27).

“And I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army. Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone. And the rest were killed with the sword which proceeded from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse. And all the birds were filled with their flesh” (Rev. 19:19-21).

The Time to Prepare for the Future is Now

Although it may appear that the forces of evil are winning today and will continue to do so in the foreseeable future, we have read the back of the Book (Bible), and we know who wins in the end!   After the 7-year tribulation has concluded, the Lord will return with His armies (saints and angels) to judge the four great beasts and the enemies of God before establishing his eternal kingdom, which will last for 1,000 years (Millennium) (Dan. 7:9-12, 26-27; Rev. 19:19-20, 20:4).

“Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself.  He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God.  And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses” (Rev. 19:11-14). 

As believers and followers of Christ, what should be our priorities in the coming days as we see many of the “end times” prophecies starting to converge in our generation?

Bible prophecy was not given to “scare us,” as some may believe.  Rather, Bible prophecy was given to “prepare us” for what is coming in the future. Bible prophecy also testifies to the sovereignty of God, who knows everything (omniscient), even the future (Isaiah 46:9-10).

“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.  And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching” (Heb. 10:23-25).

It is important not only to run the race but also finish the race in good standing with the Lord so he will say to each of us: “Well done, good and faithful servant…” (Matt. 25:14-30).

“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Heb. 12:1-2).

Jesus told His disciples that the judgments coming on the earth would happen suddenly, like a trap that closes quickly on its prey.  He predicted that many would be caught off-guard and cautioned them not to be distracted by overindulgence, desires of the flesh, and the daily cares of this life (worldly pleasures). Jesus’ advice to the terminal generation living at the close of this age was to watch for “the signs of the times” pointing to His return and pray that we would be “kept from the hour of Temptation” that would “come upon all the world” (Rev. 3:10).

“But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly.  For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man” (Luke 21:34-36).

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Endnotes:

[1] The Club of Rome—Committee of 300, https://www.bibliotecapleyades.net/sociopolitica/esp_sociopol_clubrome09.htm

[2] 10 Kingdoms – The Abolition of Sovereignty, https://www.discerningtheworld.com/2012/01/31/10-kingdoms-the-abolition-of-sovereignty/

[3] The Sustainable Development Agenda, https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/development-agenda/

[4] World Health Organization, Dates of constitutional meetings, https://apps.who.int/gb/gov/en/dates-of-meetings-eb_en.html   

[5]  How can workplace health equity lead to a fair and just society? , https://www.weforum.org/

[6] The White House ,  Declaration of North America (DNA), January 10, 2023, https://web.archive.org/web/20230111030619/https:/www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2023/01/10/declaration-of-north-america-dna/

[7] Key Deliverables for the 2023 North American Leaders’ Summit (NALS), January 10, 2023,

https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2023/01/10/fact-sheet-key-deliverables-for-the-2023-north-american-leaders-summit/

(Unless otherwise indicated, all Scriptures are from the New King James Version—NKJV)