Chapter 4

Bikurim

FirstFruits

Fruit of The Spirit...

The third Feast starts on the third day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread. It is called "Firstfruits" or Bikurim. This celebration was initially introduced as the last phase of the first of three celebratory seasons Yahuweh wanted memorialized.

"Three times a year you shall stand before Me celebrating a festival feast with Me. You shall keep (shamar - be aware of and attend to, highly regard, heed, and observe) the Festival Feast of Unleavened Bread (Matsah). Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread as I instructed you, at the time appointed in the month of Abib for in it you came forth from Egypt. You shall keep the Feast of the Harvest (qatsiyr - the time of reaping what was sown, of gathering the crop of), the FirstFruits (bikuwr - the first fruit ready to be picked and gathered) of your labors (ma’aseh - your work, undertakings, and pursuits) which (‘asher - by way of making a connection) you sow in the field, and the Feast of ingathering (‘aciyph), at the end of the year, when you gather in (‘acaph - receive and accept) your labors (ma’aseh) out of the field. Three times a year everyone shall remember to be seen in the presence of Yahuweh." (Exodus 23:14-17)

Yahuweh is using the harvest of grain as a metaphor for the reaping of souls. Bikuwr is from bakar, meaning "the first children who are born." The bakar represent souls who have been born anew into His family. The FirstFruits harvest was the first of two ingatherings depicted in Yahuweh’s Miqra.

The metaphor continues to play out symbolically with the harvest being brought into Yahuweh’s home. It is where He will take our souls following His spiritual harvest. "You shall come bearing (bow’ - arrive, be included, and carry) the first (re’shiyth - the best, chief, and choicest part) of the FirstFruits (bikuwr - initial harvest) of the soil (‘adamah - dust or ground) into the house (bayith - home and abode) of Yahuweh your God (‘elohiym)." (Exodus 23:19) Even ‘adamah was chosen for a reason. It depicts the descendants of Adam who are being invited by God to fellowship with Him in His home.

Within the context of this discussion of the Miqra of FirstFruits, of Yahuweh’s harvest of souls, the Yisra’elites were told to "look for" the "visible manifestation of God." Yahuweh’s "heavenly messenger" could have been none other that Yahushua, the one who "bore Yahuweh’s personal name," because God said that He had the power "to save and to forgive." God also said that His "Way" would "bring" the beneficiaries to the "creator’s home." And of this abode, Yahuweh says that it is a "standing place." That’s significant because the Messiah is the Upright One who establishes us, enabling us to stand before God. It’s also significant because God wants us to stand with Him and not bow down before Him. His goal is relationship, not patronage. That is the message of the Miqra.

"Behold (hineh - look and see), I will send (shalach - stretch and reach out, extending Myself to dispatch) a Messenger representing Me (mal’ak - dispatch an authorized heavenly envoy, a supernatural being as My ambassador, a servant who proclaims My message and fulfills My mission, a theophany - the visible manifestation of Myself) before you (paniym - in your presence, as a person face to face) to watch over, protect, and save you (shamar) in the way (derek) and bring you to (bow’ - gather, lead, and carry you, enabling you to arrive, enter, and be included in) the standing place in the Creator’s home (maqowm - to the upright abode, the home of the source of creation; from quwm, the dwelling where one arises and stand ups, lives and is empowered) which by relationship (‘asher) I have established (kuwn - prepared, made ready, arranged, and formed). Observe and heed Him (shamar - watch and wait for Him, treasure Him, pay attention and be protected and saved by Him) because (min - He is a part of Me, from Me, is an extension of Me and) My presence (paniym - My person and face) is on Him. Attentively listen to and understand (shama’ - hear, perceive, believe, and heed; receive His news, proclaiming and making known) His voice (qowl - His verbal communication and intellect). Do not be rebellious or contentious toward (marah - reject, defy and disobey) Him because if you are (kiy) He will not pardon you, lift you up and carry you away from (nasa’ - support and sustain you, remove your guilt and forgive you, take away and bear) your transgressions and rebellion (pesha’ - personal and national revolt, crimes, sins, offences, and faults; deviation from the standard) since (kiy - because) My personal and proper name (shem) is in His midst (qereb - physically inside of Him)." (Exodus 23:20-21)

Although they were told in the Torah to "watch and wait for" the One who would "bear Yahuweh’s name," the Jews chose to "reject Him and rebel against Him," and even murder Him for saying Yahuweh’s name. And for their "rebellion and contentiousness" they were not "pardoned personally or nationally." For the most part, they were passed over at the FirstFruits’ Harvest. They were not "raised up and carried away." There is but one way to God, one savior, one means to pardon and forgiveness. Listen to and understand Him, receive Him and His Good News, or pay the price for your crimes, your sins, offences, and faults - for your rebellion against God. 

As I am sure you are aware, "messenger" is an inadequate translation of mal’ak. The term conveyed the notion that "the messenger was the officially designated representative of the one sending him" - in this case God. This "envoy was often commissioned to perform a specific mission, in addition to being authorized to deliver an important message." Mal’aks were "both human and supernatural manifestations of Yahuweh" - sometimes both at the same time. In Scripture, a mal’ak often "presents an aspect of Yahuweh’s glory." This is precisely what Yahushua did.

Yahuweh isn’t ambivalent about how we respond to Yahushua. Those who rely upon Him will be protected and they will ultimately triumph. "If (‘m) indeed (kiy) you listen to and understand (shama’ - hear, perceive, believe, and heed; receive His news, proclaiming and making known) His voice (qowl - His verbal communication and intellect) and do (‘asah - observe and celebrate) all I say (dabar - declare and verbalize, talk about conversing together), then I will be hostile to your enemies (‘ayab - treat your adversary with enmity and rancor, animosity and antipathy), and besiege and bind (tsuwr - confine and secure) those who bind and distress you (tsaw - oppress you)." (Exodus 23:22) Yahuweh lists some of the "enemies" He would be hostile to in the next verse. They all represent societies whose poligious systems were based upon the Whore of Babylon. Those who ally themselves with the Adversary will suffer his fate, they will be "confined and secured" in the Abyss.

Curious, I investigated the meaning of the names Yahuweh included in His list. I wanted to see if their names told us anything about these people, or better, if they were prophetic, telling us about those who would earn God’s wrath and confinement. "Amorites" is actually ‘Emoriy. It speaks of today’s Western politicians: "those who act proudly, boasting, commanding, and promising with eloquent words." "Hittites" is actually Chitiy. It speaks of Muslims because it means: "terrorist." "Perizzites" is Pariziy. They might be socialists, especially as they existed in the USSR and will manifest themselves in the China inspired world war in the last days. They: "belonging to communities" and are "warlike." The "Canaanites" were Kana’aniy. Their history and their name speak of Islam, sharing the very definition of Muslim: "those who submit." The last name is "Jebusites." It is from Yabuwciy. To my mind it speaks of the conniving conspirators of the New World Order, the Socialist Secular Humanists: who "increase their wealth by rejecting God and oppressing men, trample them down and desecrate that which is true, polluting the minds of men." Yahuweh has defined His enemy and the Adversary’s pawns. He also says of these populations that they will be kachad: "cut off, concealed, and be made lifeless, they will be effaced, destroyed, and annihilated."

This next verse, like the first two Commandments, demonstrates that Yahuweh isn’t tolerant when it comes to man’s gods and religions. Following His list of boys acting badly, God strongly infers that the source of "pride, terrorism, socialism, submission, and oppression" is religion, especially the worship of the Babylonian solar deity known as Lord Ba’al, the chief god of the ‘Emoriy, Chitiy, Pariziy, Kana’aniy, and Yabuwciy, as well as their more modern manifestations. "You shall not bow down to (shachah - prostrate oneself in worship before) their gods (‘elohiym) nor serve as subjects to them (‘abad), nor do, observe, or celebrate (‘asah - deal with or attend to) their pursuits, practices, and customs (ma’aseh - deeds, work, undertakings, and business) but you shall tear them down (harac - oust them, removing them from their lofty positions) breaking (shabar - crushing and shattering) their pillars and established altars (matstsebah - obelisks and appointed memorials)." (Exodus 23:24) God isn’t the least bit tolerant and He doesn’t want us to be either. Nothing has been more brutal or destructive, more deceptive or deadly, than religion. When we tolerate religious lies people die. Tolerance isn’t compassionate as the proponents of Political Correctness would have you believe. It is merciless.

Life, liberty, and prosperity come from one source. "Serve (‘abad) Yahuweh, your God and He will kneel down and bless (barak - adore, invoking divine favor for) your bread (lechem) and water (mayim). And I will remove disease and suffering (mahaleh - weakness and grief) from your midst." (Exodus 23:25) The bread is the unleavened bread of the Miqra and water is the living waters of the set-apart and purifying Spirit. The disease that is being removed by them is the corruption of our rebellious souls.

Now that we understand how Yahuweh positioned the Miqra of FirstFruits within the context of the Exodus, and how He linked FirstFruits to the Messiah Yahushua and to our salvation, let’s turn to God’s presentation of this Festival in Leviticus.

You will note that in the opening sentence alone, Yahuweh repeated words which convey an open dialog between God and man four times. And that is because Scripture is a discussion with our Creator. It should speak to us just as Yahuweh spoke to Moseh and as Moseh spoke to those who were empowered and preserved by God. "Yahuweh spoke to (dabar - conversed with) Moseh (the one who draws out and liberates [from the crucible of oppression, death and hell]), saying (‘amar - speaking and promising, answering and vowing), ‘Speak (dabar) to the children (ben - sons) of Yisra’el (those who live and abide with God, those who are empowered  and preserved by God) and say to (‘amar - promise, answer, and vow), to them: "Indeed when you enter the land (‘erets) of relationship which (‘asher) I am giving (nathan - assigning and bestowing) to you, and reap its harvest (qatsar qatsiyr - cut the grain, putting sickle to the crop, separate the fruit from the plant at the time of harvest), bring (bow’ - arrive and be included with; gather together, coming and drawing near with) a sheaf (‘omer - a bound measure of a cereal plant (about two quarts) including both head and stalk bundled and ready for processing and transport) of the FirstFruits (re’shiyth - the beginning, the first and the best; that portion which has been set-apart unto the uttermost family) of your harvest (qatsiyr) to the priest who officiates (kohen - the one who serves as a minister)." (Leviticus 23:9-10)

Once sin has been removed from our bodies our souls are prepared for the harvest. We can now be included in the gathering of FirstFruits, inheriting the promised land and living forever.

This is the third of seven Miqra and yet this is the first time Yahuweh has mentioned "priests." Passover and Unleavened Bread were thus personal and individual, representing the fact that the bridge between our diseased mortal realm and God’s perfect abode is single file. While blood atonement, and its unleavening of body and soul of sin, is for all, acceptance comes one uplifted voice at a time. But that is not true of the FirstFruits’ harvest. Once the grain is separated from the ground and bundled so that it is ready for processing and transport, everyone’s sheaf is brought together and given to the priest who serves as a minister. And that is exactly how this Miqra was fulfilled with Yahushua asking as the priest, as we shall soon discover.

Passover predicts and explains the purpose of the blood of the Lamb, Unleavened Bread embodies His sacrifice, and the FirstFruits Harvest is the result. It not only identifies the timing and purpose of the harvest, it speaks to the benefit of having our souls unleavened. Having "received His favor" based upon "our choice" we are "found acceptable and pleasing" to God. Our "debt is paid" so that we are "approved and found satisfactory."

This verse confirms as much, adding the realization that our approval before God is a favor. Listen.."He shall wave (nuwph - move, lift up and present) the sheaf (‘omer/’amar - the gathering which is bundled and ready for processing and transport) in the presence (paniym - before) Yahuweh, for you to be accepted and approved through grace (ratsown - to receive favor based upon choice, to be found acceptable and pleasing, to be desired and found delightful, to be paid for and found satisfactory through free will). On the day after (mochorath) the shabat (shabath - the day set apart for the ceasing of work) the priest shall wave it." (Leviticus 23:11)

A little explanation is in order here. While the shabat is the seventh day of the week, there are also special shabat, or days of rest, in Yahuweh’s Miqra. The Feast of Unleavened Bread is one of these days. Passover, unlike the Christian corruption called Easter Sunday, isn’t designated by the day of the week, but instead by the day of the month - two sevens, or fourteen days, from the start of the first month, Abib. The next day was designated the beginning of Unleavened Bread. Since this was the day Yahushua would save man, unleavening our souls of sin, it was called a special shabat - a day that we are not to work. That’s because our salvation is a gift, something that God paid the price to give us. So then as a result of His gift, the souls which had been redeemed were brought together and harvested the next day, concurrent with Yahushua’s resurrection.

These events were predicted to play out over three successive days. And they did.

In the word you will find the Word and His Way. For example, Isaiah 52 and 53 speak of the "Suffering Servant," the Passover Lamb bearing our sins. Psalms 22 explains how the Lamb would be sacrificed and then, in harmony with Psalm 88, details the events that would transpire on the Shabat of Unleavened Bread. All three passages end predicting the glorious resurrection of FirstFruits.

Yahushua ties this all together.."And He said (legos - taught and affirmed) to them, ‘In this manner and way (houto) it is Written (grapho): the ΧΝ (placeholder for Messiah) must experience suffering (pascho - must be afflicted in a horrible way, must endure and feel pain) and then rise up enabling others to rise (anistemi) out of (ek) lifelessness (nekros - desolation and destitution, death and abandonment) on the third day." (Luke 24:46)

We’ll examine Yahushua’s wave offering in a moment, but first, let’s finish the Miqra presentation. This is was predicted to happen on the third day: "And the day (yowm) you wave (nuwph - move, lift up, and present) the sheaf (‘omer/’amar - the gathering which is bundled and ready for processing and transport) is the work of (‘asah - the produce of, that which is fashioned and accomplished by the act of) a male lamb (kebes), a son (ben) without any imperfection (tamiym - one who is perfect, blameless, and innocent; from tamam, meaning one who accomplishes, completes, and fulfills), who changes and alters (shanah) for a ascending offering (‘olah - that which rises and goes up) to Yahuweh." (Leviticus 23:12) I know such a Lamb. He changed and altered me. As a result of His work, I too will rise.

Next, Yahuweh details some of the additional ingredients. While I can’t say for sure, I assume that the "double tithe" represents the salvation of Goyim in addition to Yahuwdim. "The gift (minchah - the sacrificial offering) of a double tithe of (shanayim ‘isarown) purified grain (‘slet - bread flour with the hulls removed revealing the inner pristine kernel, distinguished from meal which is the whole grain inclusive of its impurities) is mixed and anointed with (balal - mingled with through the process of immersion in) olive oil (shemen) as an offering which separates and rises (‘ishshah - an offering made by fire) unto Yahuweh to provide the sweet smell of (recha - the pleasing aroma of) reconciliation and rest (nichowach - of that which restores fellowship, providing a place to lie down and remain from nuwach, that which bestows peace and tranquility). And the drink offering (necek) shall be wine (yayin - from an unused root which means to effervesce, or show liveliness), a fourth part bath measure (rabi’iy hin - that which makes square and completes by bathing)." (Leviticus 23:13)

Reconciliation is the gift of God. It comes by way of being bathed in the Lamb’s blood, signified by the wine. The reason there is to be a "fourth part" is because four is symbolic of completion. It is the quantity needed to make us square, or right, with God.

Since ‘ish is man, ‘ishshah is woman, and ‘ishuwyah is the support of Yahuweh, God may be saying more than initially meets the eye. He could be saying that our souls, represented by the purified grain, once they are anointed in His Spirit, represented by the olive oil, are separated from death and damnation, rising up to Him, represented by the refining effect of the fire and the rising smoke of the burnt offering. He could be saying that all of this is the result of His support, of Him laying the foundation to bring men and women into His presence.

There is a singular purpose of Scripture and it has been defined in this passage. The Word exists to restore fellowship so that we can be at peace with our Creator and live with Him. The Miqra define the Way.     

Yahushua is the Olive Tree and the Tree of Life. Oil is symbolic of being anointed in His Spirit, of being cleansed, of being healed, enlightened, and accepted. And the wine is symbolic of the Messiah’s "blood shed for the remission of sin."

For those who believe that the New Covenant’s emphasis on "for by grace we are saved through faith, as a gift of God," is somehow a repudiation of the Old Covenant’s "wrathful observance to unyielding laws," think again. The gift of grace, the work of the lamb, and acceptance by choice and by favor, lie at the core of Yahuweh’s Miqra.

 "It shall be a prescribed ordinance (chuqqah - an appointment, a custom, a tradition, and a statute) forever (‘owlam - eternally) throughout your generations and habitations (dor - for all time, age, condition, and generation) in all your assemblies and dwellings (moshab - settlements, abodes, populations, situations, and sojourns)." (Leviticus 23:14)

Before we examine the fulfillment of the third and final Spring Miqra, let’s see how the Yisra’elites first celebrated it. It was a time of thanksgiving for God’s provision. Yahushua, the son of Nun, the Everlasting, led the people into the Promised Land forty years after they were liberated from the crucible. After crossing the Jordan River: "Yahuweh (יהוה) said (‘amar - answered and spoke) to Yahuwshuwa’ (יְהֹושֻׁעַ) ‘This day (yowm) I have rolled away (galal) the reproach (cherpah - scorn and shame, the blame and reprimand you have earned based upon your behavior; your reproach, rebuke, and disapproved status) of the crucible (misrayim - the time of testing and oppression in Egypt) from (min) upon (‘al) you. The name (shem) of that (huw’ - of Him and His) standing place (maqowm - upright abode and home whereby one rises, is affirmed, and is validated) is called (qara’) Gigal (the place of rolling away) to this day."  (Joshua 5:9)

In this discussion where the meanings behind names is emphasized, let’s examine the most important ones. Yahuweh gave Moses the basis of His name: hayah. It means "I Exist." "I Was, I Am, and I Will Be." Yahuweh’s name answers the most important question man can ask, for if God exists, knowing Him becomes central to understanding our existence. Therefore we should not be surprised that hayah is in turn related to chay, the Hebrew word for "life and restoration." And that is because Yahuweh is the source of eternal life.

In paleo Hebrew the yod, or "Y" was a vowel consonant representing the "Ya" sound in English. The "w’s" in Yahuwshuwa’ (יְהֹושֻׁעַ) designated the vowel "u" in paleo Hebrew. And the " ’ ", representing the Hebrew ayin, signified the vowel "a." Thus, transliterated into English, the name of the Messiah and the prototype for Him, is "Yahushua." And as I’m sure you’ve noticed, the first three letters in Yahuweh and Yahushua are the same: YHW, pronounced "Yahu." The "shua" suffix of the Savior’s name is from yasha’ (יְשֻׁעַ), meaning "salvation or savior." Therefore, God has but one name - Yahuweh. Yahushua simply defines what He has done for us.

Also interesting is the name for Egypt. Misrayim is from matsowr which means "enclosed entrenchment," speaking of a sepulcher perhaps. For this was the day that Yahuweh rolled away the stone which enclosed Yahushua’s body in the tomb which was carved into the limestone of Golgotha. It was the day after Yahushua’s soul was reproached and rebuked because of our wayward behavior.

"Now the children of Yisra’el camped (chanah - pitched their tents and rested, establishing their families) in Gilgal (gilgal), and observed (‘asah - prepared, acted out, and celebrated) Pacach (pasach - Passover) on the fourteenth (‘araba’ ‘asar - four, meaning to be square; and ten, thus 14^th) day of the month (chodesh - of the renewal) at twilight (‘ereb - at sunset, the beginning of the Hebrew day) in the desert (‘arabah - the dark and desolate wilderness) of Yariychow." (Joshua 5:10)

Since sunset at the end of the fourteenth day would actually be the start of the fifteenth day by Hebrew standards, by our reckoning of time, this would have been the evening of the 13^th day - the start of Passover.

Jericho, or more correctly Yariychow, could mean many things. Since it is in the "desolate and dark wilderness," it could be based upon yarib which means "the Adversary." Some say it is based upon yareach, which means "moon," perhaps symbolic of moon-god worshiping Muslims who live there today. Regardless, Yahuweh was true to His promise, miraculously toppling the fortified walls surrounding the contentious people, thus enabling the Yisra’elites to enter the Promised Land.

I think the reason Yahuweh selected ‘arabah, meaning "the dark and desolate wilderness" in this passage, is to convey the thought that this is from what we are being saved. It is the purpose of Passover.

"And the essential and substantive (‘etsem) day after (maharat) the Passover (Pasach), they ate (‘akal - consumed) toasted (qalah) unleavened bread (Matsah) out of (min) the produce (‘abuwr - yield) of the Land (‘erets). Then the manna (man - from man and mah, meaning what, were, how, and why) ceased (shabat) on the day after they had eaten the produce of (tabuw’ah - that which comes from) the land; and the children of Yisra’el no longer existed (hayah) on manna, but they were nourished by produce harvested from the land of Kana’an that year (sanah - for a change over time)." (Joshua 5:10-12)

The timing was just as God had planned it. They celebrated the Passover on the appointed day, the fourteenth of Abib/Nisan, followed by the Feast of Unleavened Bread on the fifteenth, in which they sampled the grain of Canaan for the first time. The manna - that miraculous substance that had sustained them for forty years during their wilderness wanderings - ceased on the very next day, the sixteenth. That, of course, tended to make them very thankful for the spring barley that was ready to be harvested along the banks of the Jordan River.

So on the day following the High Sabbath of the Feast of Unleavened Bread - the appointed day for the Feast of FirstFruits - they waved their sheaf of barley before Yahuweh, thankful for his provision. The prophetic portrait included a grain offering anointed with oil, symbolic of souls immersed in the Spirit, and a drink offering of wine - representing the Messiah’s blood shed for the forgiveness of sin, and of course the perfect Lamb, the very son of the living God. Together they brought peace, replacing the rotten smell of sin with the pleasant aroma of restoration. Just as the manna was a temporary measure, a harbinger of God’s future provision in the land of promise, the law itself was only meant to be a picture, a prediction, of Yahuweh’s coming redemption.

This perfect son, this unblemished male lamb, was sacrificed, consumed by fire - that is to say judged - so that we wouldn’t be. His soul was leavened with our sin, a debt He would pay by spending the Miqra of Unleavened Bread in the dark and lifeless crucible of hell. But then, the next day, in fulfillment and celebration of the Festival of FirstFruits, He rose, ascending to Yahuweh, bringing a harvest of souls along with Him.

Now that we know the schedule and the plan, let’s turn our attention to what happened on the Miqra of FirstFruits, the 16^th of Abib/Nisan in Yahuweh’s year 4,000 - exactly four thousand years after the fall of man. By our reckoning of time it was before sunrise, the first day of the week, Sunday, April 1^st, 33 CE.

As we have seen with the Feasts of Passover and Unleavened Bread, there was a literal day-for-day fulfillment of the Miqra in the life and sacrifice of Yahushua. This is what happened on the Feast of FirstFruits that remarkable morning in Jerusalem.."Now on the first day of the week (heis sabbaton - literally on the one Sabbath), very early in the morning, they [the Galilean women], and certain others with them, came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared. But they found the stone rolled away from the tomb. Then they went in and did not find the body of ΚΥ ΙΥ (the Sovereign Yahushua). In that they were perplexed concerning this, behold two men became present standing by them in garments that lit up like stars (astrapto). Frightened, they inclined their faces to the ground. And they [the angelic messengers] said to them, ‘Why do you seek the living among the dead (nekros - those destitute of life)? He is not here, but He has stood up and has risen (egeiromai - has been caused to exist, has been healed, and has been restored to life)! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, saying, "It is necessary, proper, and beneficial that the Son of ΑΝΘΥ (placeholder for anthropos, Man) be delivered into the hands of perpetually sinful men, be placed upon an ΣΡΩΘΗΥΑΙ (upright pole from stauroo, a vertical beam; based on stauros, meaning an upright stake), and on the third day rise."’ And they remembered His words." (Luke 24:1-8) The third day was the Miqra of FirstFruits. We are witnessing its fulfillment.

As an aside, I understand that the capitalized Greek characters used in all of the Renewed Covenant manuscripts written prior to Constantine may be distracting, it’s important that you know that the seven most important Hebrew names and titles, and most especially Yahuweh and Yahushua, were never written out, but only rendered with divine placeholders. There is life in but one name: Yahuweh. And that is because of Yahushua.

Paul explained what had happened on this day. "Now, at this very moment (nuni) the ΧΡΣ (placeholder for Anointed Messiah, the implement of Yahuweh) was raised from the dead (nekros - the place destitute of life), and He has become (ginomai - has arisen, has been received, has appeared publicly before men within the context of history, and now exists as) the FirstFruit (aparche - that which provides a foretaste of that event which will certainly come; from archomai, the first to be, and apo, set apart) of those who have fallen asleep (keimai - lie down buried in their graves). For since (epeide - for as much as, and seeing that) by man (anthropos) came the separation of death (thanatos - the separation of the soul and body from the spirit of life), by Man also came the resurrection (anastasis - the restoration and raising up) of the dead (nekros - those destitute of life). For as in (hosper) Adam (Adam - a transliteration of the Hebrew name ‘Adam, meaning mankind, reddish, and ground) all (pas - the totality, individually and collectively) die a natural death (apothnesko - from apo, are separated and thnesko, are mortal), yet in this manner (houto) indeed (kai) in, by, and with (en) ΧΡΩ (placeholder for anointing and the Messiah) all (pas - individually and collectively) shall be made alive (zoopoieo - shall transformed to exist as a living being, invigorated with a zeal for life; from poieo, to author, create, fashion, and produce, and zoon, true life, worthy of the name, with great power, vigor, and efficaciousness, the effective energy and ability to grow and produce highly desirable results)." (1 Corinthians 15:20-22)

When scripture interprets scripture, we can be pretty sure we’re on solid ground. All of the prophetic symbolism of the Miqra of Firstfruits, or Bikurim, had been fulfilled in the Anointed Messiah. And we are the beneficiaries.

What I find particularly interesting here is that Yahuweh selected three different words for death in the same passage as well as a most remarkable word for life. For death we have keimai/fall asleep, depicting those whose mortal lives had expired, but because of their choices, were now on the precipice of eternity. Then we have thanatos, depicting how Adam’s fall separated man from God making us mortal - liable unto death. Nekros is the state of lifelessness that precedes the restoration and resurrection, the anastasis. The natural death of all men is apothnesko, once again, depicting separation from the source of life. But "by, in, and with the anointing of the Messiah individually and collectively we shall be zoopoieo, transformed into an efficacious new existence, a life worthy of the name and author of life: Yahuweh!"

And by way of Yahushua we too become participants in the FirstFruits Harvest, born from above in His Spirit and adopted into His family. "We possess and wear (echo - hold on to and have) the FirstFruits (aparche - that which provides a foretaste of that which will certainly come; from archomai, the first to be, and apo, set apart) of the ΠΝΣ (placeholder for Pneumatos, Spirit, from Ruach)..assiduously expecting to be set apart, to be accepted and to be received (apekdechomai - eagerly looking forward to; from apo, by way of separation, and dechomai, to be taken by the hand, to be lifted up, to be received and embraced into fellowship by way of), adopted (huiothesia - from tithemi, to be made and established, and huios, the child of [in this case God]), our bodies redeemed (apolutrosis - liberated and delivered by the payment of a ransom)." (Romans 8:23) Most of Paul’s letters are commentaries on the Old Covenant Scriptures. This was no exception. It is exciting to see how he makes the Word come alive. He has explained the Covenant Relationship.

Speaking of this "good and perfect gift from above and that which comes down from the Father of Light" Ya’acob, Yahushua’s brother, wrote: "He [Yahuweh] will purposefully, affectionately, and deliberately (boulomai - lovingly of His own free will desire to) like a wave which rises, giving us birth (apokueo - moving us up and bringing us forth from the womb, causing us to exist) by means of (eis - by way of and into) the Word (Logos) of Truth (aletheia - objective reality and verifiable certainty) that certain individuals (tis) would come to exist as (einai - would become present as) His newly created (ktisma - transformed and completely changed) FirstFruits (aparche)." (James 1:18)

These heavenly messengers told us that Yahushua had done what Yahuweh said He would do more than a thousand years earlier. He even did it on the very day and year He predicted He’d demonstrate this death defying act. For the proof, let’s turn back to John’s eyewitness testimony. "Then they [the angelic messengers] said to her [Mary Magdalene], ‘Woman, why are you weeping?’ She said to them, ‘Because they have taken away my ΚΣ (placeholder for Sovereign, Owner, and Master), and I do not know (oida - I am unaware of) where they have put Him.’ Now when she had said this, she turned around and saw ΙΣ (Yahushua) standing upright (histemi), and did not know that it was Yahushua." (John 20:13-14)

Histemi describes the Good News of the Renewed Covenant. Mankind "witnessed Yahushua histemi: ‘come into our presence and stand upright, thereby enabling us to stand by establishing us and rescuing us, upholding us with authority and making us safe.’"

"Yahushua said to her, ‘Mary.’ She turned around (strepho opiso - changed her thinking, came to rely, and was reestablished her relationship with Him so that she could follow after Him) and said to Him in Hebrew (Hebraisti - from Hebrais, designating the Hebrew language in which the Old Covenant was written), ‘Rhabboni,’ which is to say, Teacher (didaskalos)." (John 20:16) The name "Hebrew" is a transliteration of ‘eber, meaning "the straight passage to the other side." It is derived from ‘abar, meaning: "to pass over, to take away transgressions, and to pass beyond."

Rhabboni is a transliteration of the Hebrew rab and rabab, meaning "the Mighty One who brings together, increases abundantly, and multiplies." Rab and rabab designate: "the first and the greatest, the abounding in strength and power, and the completely sufficient." This is why men covet Yahushua’s title.

"Yahushua said to her, ‘Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to (anabaino - gone up; a compound of basis, meaning to step and ana, into the midst of) the ΠΡΑ (placeholder for Father from patera). But go to My brethren and say to them, "I am ascending into the midst of (anabaino) My ΠΡΑ (Father) and your ΠΡΑ (Father), and to My ΘΝ (‘Elohym from Theon, God) and your ΘΝ (‘Elohym)."’" (John 20:17)

This passage detailing the resurrection provides important insights into Yahushua’s restored nature as well as into to our eventual heritage. Yahushua is in the process of being transformed, or more accurately, of being reformed with Yahuweh. The part of the whole who had been set-apart from the whole, was being reunified back into the whole. Anabaino says as much. The Son was "stepping back into the midst of the Father." Moreover, the passage says that the Father was not only Yahushua’s Father but also our Father, making all true Yahudim the sons and daughters of Yahuweh.

"Then, late (opsios - between three to six o’clock in the afternoon) the same day, being the one Sabbath (Sabbaton - the special set-apart day of the Miqra of FirstFruits and also the first day of the week) when the doors were shut where the disciples were gathered together by reason of fear (phobos) of the Jews (Ioudaios - a transliteration of Yahuwdym), Yahushua came (erchomai - journeyed from one place to another, made an appearance and revealed Himself) and stood (histemi - having come into their presence, He stood upright enabling them to stand, establishing and rescuing them, upholding them with authority, and making them safe, acknowledging their validity, recommending and authorizing them, having paid for them so that by choice they could choose continued existence while He was) in their midst (mesos - with them)." (John 20:19)

There are two different ways to read this passage because both phobos and Ioudaios have light and dark sides. The disciples could have been huddled and hiding in "phobos/fear, terrified of the Ioudaios/Jews (those who claimed to be Yahuwdym and were not)" because just a few days earlier the Jewish political and religious leaders had motivated the Romans to murder the Messiah. Or the disciples could have been "gathered together in phobos/reverence, loving one another as Yahuwdym (those in relationship with Yahuweh)" during this time of separation.

John continues to document History’s greatest miracle: the fulfillment of the Miqra of FirstFruits. "And he said to them: ‘The assurance of salvation (eirene - the state of peace and tranquility of being joined to Me in a harmonious relationship, the assurance of freedom and safety, of prosperity and great joy) be unto you.’ When He had said this, He showed them (deiknuo - exposed Himself so as to provide evidence and proof, teaching by revealing) His hands and His side. Then the pupils (mathetes - learners or disciples) rejoiced in joyous salutations." (John 20:20) The resurrection body Yahushua’s now occupied was tangible. It was corporeal, physical, material, and very real. This is exactly what I expect our resurrected triune nature - body, soul, and spirit - to be like.

After manifesting Himself to His disciples, and revealing His hands and side, "Then (oun - therefore, accordingly and consequently, these things being so) Yahushua said to them anew (palin - as a repetition of renewal), ‘Be assured of salvation (eirene - of a state of peace and tranquility, of a harmonious relationship, of freedom and safety, of prosperity and great joy) according to and in the same proportion as is present in the ΠΗΡ (Father) who sent Me (apostello - set Me free and away to go to the place appointed to convey the message). I also send you out to carry a message.’ And when He had said this, He breathed (emphusao - blew His breath) on them and said: ‘Accept and carry (lambano - receive and acquire, take hold of and use productively, choose to associate with, experience and exploit courageously) the revered, cleansing, and set-apart (hagios) ΠΝΑ (placeholder for Ruach, Spirit; from Pneuma)." (John 20:21-22)

The message of FirstFruits is embodied in a single word: eirene. While I have translated it "be assured of salvation," is from the verb eiro which means "to join." When Yahuweh harvests our souls we are brought to Him, joining His family as His sons and daughters. Our assurance of salvation is a derivative of the "harmonious relationship" facilitated by Yahushua’s fulfillment of Passover and Unleavened Bread.

Eirene therefore, provides the ultimate "state of tranquility and peace." That’s interesting because the Messianic title "Shiloh" means "Counselor of Peace and Tranquility" - the Renewed Covenant title for the Spirit. Further, according to etymological studies, this favorable and agreeable "state was almost always defined by a binding legal document which conveyed the mutual responsibilities of the parties to the relationship." The Covenant - both Old and New - is nothing more or less than a familial relationship with Yahuweh. The adoption papers and the certificate of marriage are the Scriptures. The Word is our assurance of salvation - our life assurance policy. The fine points are all detailed in the Miqra.

When apostello is used in the context of Yahushua’s relationship with Yahuweh, it is most revealing. Technically, apo designates "the separation of a part from the whole from which the part originated, whereby the individual is separated from the union or fellowship of the source." Stello means "in order to prepare and equip the individual for use." Thus, apostello conveys that Yahushua is a manifestation of Yahuweh, a part of Yahuweh, set-apart from God to prepare us to join with God.

While I have shared this before, and will share it again, the best way I know to covey the nature of the relationship between Yahuweh, Yahushua, and the Spirit is for you to picture yourself on a boat in the middle of the ocean. Dip two large buckets into the sea. Freeze one and carve it into the shape of a man. Place it in the light so that its form can be seen and felt by those in the presence of its brief physical existence. Then boil the seawater in the other barrel, allowing the steam to envelop those on your ship. Possessing more energy than the frozen form, the steam not only moves up, it can be put to work empowering things just like Yahuweh’s Spirit. One radiates light and is easy to see. The other possesses more power and thus enables greater work to be done. And yet they are the same thing - both are pure manifestations of the ocean, just set-apart from it.

Both buckets came from the same place and are thus they are identical in their composition. There is still only one ocean from which they both were derived. Each was set apart from the whole for the purpose of demonstration and revelation. One was corporeal, tangible, touchable in the form of a man reflecting light. The other was steam, representing the Spirit’s power to raise people up and empower them to do the work of God.

This metaphor, while not prefect, helps us understand that Yahuweh is one in nature, one in personality, one in power, and one in purpose. He is one entity and consciousness, not three. Consistent with Yahushua’s words, the Spirit and the Son return to the midst of the living waters from which they came. That is what this passage is telling us.

The Spirit provides the means for us to "accept and carry" the message.  We are to "use the Spirit’s power productively, choosing to closely associate with Her." Yahuweh wants us to "exploit the Spirit’s resources, using them effectively and courageously." Through the Spirit we are born anew from above and thus prepared for the harvest and for transport to heaven.

Although we aren’t told specifically, it’s obvious within the context of the whole of Scripture that Yahushua’s Spirit, Soul and resurrection body had already ascended, having become the living embodiment and the prophetic fulfillment of the Miqra of FirstFruits just after meeting with the women. If you recall, they encountered Him at first light. Now it was nearly twilight. Moreover, He told the women not to touch Him because He had not yet gone to the Father. Now He was encouraging the disciples to touch Him. Therefore, the only rational conclusion is that Yahushua had spent the last seven or so hours in heaven.  

The Messiah had presented His "wave offering" of redeemed souls before Yahuweh. In accordance with His Leviticus 23 instructions, the harvest of purified grain was mixed with oil and wine, His Spirit and blood, enabling the cleansed and set-apart to rise. His body was the sacrificial lamb called for in the observance. The "first fruits of the harvest" were risen Yahuwdym - those who belonged to Yah.

And what proof do we have that Yahushua actually presented a wave offering? Consider Matthew’s testimony: "The tombs were opened and many (polus - a large number, a great quantity of) bodies (soma - diseased corpses) of those who had been revered, cleansed, and set-apart (hagios), those who had fallen asleep (koimao - those who were buried) were raised (egeiro - were aroused and then caused to rise; awakened, transformed from death to life). And coming out of (exerchomai - coming forth on their own accord as an assembly arisen and reborn from) their tombs (mnemeion - sepulchers) in association with (meta) His resurrection (egersis) they entered and appeared in the revered and set-apart (hagios) city and they manifest themselves to (emphanizo - disclosed themselves, declaring and providing proof to) many." (Matthew 27:52-53) Body, soul, and spirit became one as the members of Yahuweh’s family became like their Savior Yahushua, collectively fulfilling the prophetic foreshadowing of the third Miqra.

Dissecting this important fulfillment of the Festival of FirstFruits we learn that egeiro, or "raised," is from agora, which shades its meaning considerably. The hagios (those who had been revered, cleansed, and set-apart) were not only egeiro (aroused and then caused to rise; awakened and then transformed from death to life, stirred and then enabled to rise up and appear), they were agora, "an assembly of people brought forth for the purpose of public debate, for election and thus to facilitate choice." They were evidence of "a favorable judgment in the marketplace." They were "the beneficiaries of a business transaction" known as ga’al/redemption.

Yahushua came to stir public discussion on the subject of who Yahuweh is, what He is like, what He recommends and desires, and what provision He has provided for us to know Him personally. He did this so that we could judge the evidence and then make an informed and wise choice, one in which we can elect to know Him and trust Him, becoming part of His assembly - Yahuwdym. This is the business of God.

Emphanizo is an equally revealing term. It defines Yahushua’s relationship with Yahuweh as well as the purpose of His visit. An emphanizo is a "manifestation." Webster defines "manifestation" as: "the act or process of revealing one of the forms of an individual in a public demonstration for the purpose of presenting their power in a way which is readily perceived by the senses, especially by sight." A emphanizo/manifestation is "easily understood and recognized by the mind; it makes evident by demonstrably displaying." As such, emhanizo is designed "to exhibit and disclose someone’s nature and power" - in this case Yahuweh’s. To emphanizo is "to make one’s self known by providing proof and then declaring that proof publicly."

Emphanizo is a compound of em, a variation of en meaning "by and with" and phaino, "to shine light, to bring forth into the light, to cause light to shine, and to shed light." Phaino also means: "to become evident, clear and manifest." Phaino is from the base of phos which is "light." This should not be surprising since God is light - even the Father of Light. Light is Yahuweh’s most repeated metaphor to describe Himself because it is the most revealing and accurate.

By analyzing the root of emphanizo, we discover that the process of change that makes our resurrected nature different than our current mortal existence, is directly related to light. We will become more like Yahuweh in yet another way. Light is energy and yet it has a particle nature, much like the resurrected Yahushua. And light exists in the eternal now where past, present and future are one. This makes light eternal.

Analyzing this amazing passage further, we discover that the revered, cleansed, and set-apart souls who comprised the FirstFruits Harvest were "awakened from their sleep." This means that for some, at least those who died before Yahushua’s fulfillment of Passover and Unleavened Bread, the transition from temporal consciousness, to death, and then to rebirth includes a period of prolonged sleep where a soul is unaware of his or her surroundings and circumstance, even of time.

The first three feasts were designed to be fulfilled over the course of three days - the most important three days in human history. When they are seen together, we understand their ultimate significance. They were prophetic rehearsals directing our attention to their miraculous fulfillment in Jerusalem - the city which lies at the cross roads of the world - the city from which redemption flows. Now they are memorials - set apart assembly appointments to celebrate our relationship with our Creator. They are not only fixed in time, they are the very fixtures upon which all time hangs. And they are signs, lessons to us so that we might more fully appreciate Yahuweh’s provision, the nature of His sacrifice, the reason He made it, as well as its effect on our standing with Him.

We can keep this appointment with our Maker by focusing on the significance of the three things that were symbolic of our salvation: a sacrificial lamb, unleavened bread, and wine, signifying the Messiah’s body broken and blood shed so that we might rise along with Him, being the first fruits of the Spiritual harvest. Beyond this, I recommend spending this day immersed in the Spirit and in the Word, doing so in the presence of other redeemed souls. The FirstFruits Harvest is a communal celebration - one that leads directly to God.