Ruth bows to Boaz
Shavuot – Sivan 6 5770
We are quickly approaching the Biblical feast of Pentecost which by the Jewish calendar falls on Sivan 6 or May 19th of this year. This is an interesting date and one that many of us, including myself are looking at as a possible rapture date. And, not without good reason, for Shavuot or Pentecost as it is otherwise known, is replete with symbolism regarding the gentile bride and her kinsmen redeemer.
I love how God put’s emphasis on things, so we won’t miss it. Did you know that the Torah or law was given at Sinai on the same date that the church was born? It’s true! And, both of these events have to do with a marriage. The law has to do with Israel being married to the Lord (the Torah functions as a ketubah, a marriage contract between Jehovah and Israel, just as the New Covenant does for the Church, the bride of Christ). For this reason, it is traditional for the book of Ruth to be read in the synagogue every year during this festival. Wouldn’t it be just like the Lord to call his bride home on this very special day.
Gleaning the Harvest
“So Boaz, said to Ruth, “My daughter listen to me. Don’t go and glean in another field and don’t go away from here …So, Ruth stayed close to the servant girls of Boaz to glean until the barley and the wheat harvest were finished.” Ruth 2:8,23
In Leviticus 23: 15-21, God commands the Israelites to count 50 days from Passover to Shavuot. This 50 day count is known as “the counting of the Omer.” An omer is a biblical measure of grain. On the second day of Passover, an omer of barley was offered in the temple signaling the start of the harvest and the beginning of the 50 day count to Shavuot. On the 50th day, the barley harvest ends and the wheat harvest begins, the change in harvest symbolized by the waving of two wheat loaves by the High Priest in the temple before the Lord. The waving of the two leavened loaves, also, representing those who would be harvested; both Jew and Gentile – which is why the Torah and the Church share the same birthday.
It is well accepted that Ruth, the foreigner represents the largely gentile church redeemed by Jesus, the Lord of the harvest, as represented by Boaz, who functioned as her kinsman redeemer. I find it interesting that Boaz instructs her to stay through out the barley and the wheat harvest. In Jewish tradition, the counting of the Omer is said to be a time of preparation for receiving the Torah. The Exodus was looked on as a gift, while the giving of the Torah required some spiritual preparation or readiness. This presents an interesting picture. Do the fifty days between the First fruits resurrection of Jesus and the receiving of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost constitute a period of readiness for the church as well? I see this indicated in the instructions Jesus gave his disciples before he ascended in to heaven – “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father has promised …” Acts 1:4 I also see this indicated in Revelation 19:7, “Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come and his bride has made herself ready.”
A ten day watch
As noted above, May 19th or Sivan 6 is the biblical feast of Shavuot. If the church is raptured before the 50th day, she would qualify as a first fruits bride (barley); a bride who has made her self ready. While the church who is not ready and will still be here after the 50th day becomes part of the wheat harvest – foreshadowed, I believe by Ruth who gleaned throughout the barley and the wheat harvests.
“After he had said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them ‘Men of Galilee’ they said, why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus who has been taken from you in to heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go in to heaven.'” Acts 1:9-11
Ten days before Shavuot is May 9 or Iyar 25. This will be the 40th day of the counting of the Omer. Forty which corresponds with the 40th day before Pentecost, the date on which Jesus ascended in to heaven. Did the angels who spoke to the men of Galilee leave a clue as to the date of his coming? “In the same way he left, he will come back” – Might that apply not only to the way he will come, but, the time he will come back as well? If so, then the month of Iyar will truly be a month of Shining.
(For more on the month of Iyar, if you haven’t already read my April 17 post, click here: https://cindybythesea.wordpress.com/2010/04/17/iyar-a-month-of-blossoming-a-month-of-shining/
“Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem, they shall prosper who love thee.” Psalm 122:6. Waiting and watching with YOU for the soon return of Jesus! Cindy
Heaven Bound 
Great thoughts, Cindy! Encouraging even as we see the day approaching. 🙂
Questions/Curiosities:
When is the wheat harvest (according to the Jewish calendar year, and then where that is on our modern calendar)?
What if Ruth staying through the wheat harvest also, means the church rapture happens at the end of the wheat harvest? Is there a significant Jewish holiday at that time of year?
Thanks.
By: Jay on April 28, 2010
at 12:35 pm
Hi Jay, Great follow up questions which I will address back here when I have a little more time or perhaps in another post – might take a couple of days, but, I would like to continue to pursue this line of thought. Blessings for a great day! Cindy
By: cindybythesea on April 28, 2010
at 4:55 pm
Love the message today. I am looking for a rapture before this summer! 🙂
By: Paul on April 28, 2010
at 4:10 pm
Thanks Paul, me too – could be the end of the summer as well – there is a lot to be said for the Feast of Trumpets. Anyway you slice it, the time looks to be short and we will be going home soon! Looking forward to meeting you and all my other wonderful blogging friends then! Cindy
By: cindybythesea on April 28, 2010
at 4:57 pm
We are at the door. So is Jesus. How else can I say it? I wish we could see in the Spirit how close he is.
By: Kurt on April 28, 2010
at 11:46 pm
>In Leviticus 23: 15-21, God commands the Israelites to count 50 days from Passover to Shavuot.
This is incorrect! Read it again. It is 50 days starting on Firstfruits (Bikkurim) which is the first day after the weekly Sabbath within the week of Unleavened Bread (that also was resurrection day). This means both Bikkurim and Shavuot (Pentecost) are always on a Sunday and never a fixed date. This is why when the Holy Spirit was given it was “the first day of the week”. The way the Jews are now doing it was instituted by the Pharisees in 359 AD. This year the REAL Shavuot is May 23rd.
By: Tom Bigbee on April 29, 2010
at 10:20 pm
Hi Tom, Thanks for writing. You may be right as I am not an expert on these things. The dates in my post, as anyone can see, are based on the current calendar – on the Jewish Calendar May 19th is Shavuot and on the Gentile Calendar it is May 23 and that is what I went by. If the actual date is May 23 and not May 19th, it does little to change the emphasis of my post, which was a period of watchfulness and readiness during the days of the counting of the Omer. I do appreciate your input. Grace and Blessings! Cindy
By: cindybythesea on April 30, 2010
at 4:20 am
Cindy,
I am thinking along the same lines as Jay. What is the correlation between the Jewish calendar and our calendar in regards to Pentecost?? It doesn’t seem like wheat would be harvested in the spring which leads me to believe that in the Jewish calendar Pentecost would be late summer or fall.
I’ll be tuned in to see what you come up with along those lines.
By: John on April 30, 2010
at 12:10 am
Just to clarify – Pentecost is Pentecost. It is 50 days after Passover. But specifically since Cindy was relating Ruth’s story to the rapture, I was curious that if she was kept in the field harvesting until the wheat was also gathered, perhaps that is a hint that the rapture would be later in the year as well. And I wonder what month or week or day is specific in Jewish experience for gathering the wheat, perhaps even a specific holiday to denote it? If so, when is that on the modern “Roman” calendar?
Kind regards.
By: Jay on April 30, 2010
at 1:18 am
Hi Jay, Although Ruth harvesting through both the barley and wheat harvest could indicate the church remaing through both harvests, I think it is more likely that it is split. I think that is part of the point to the counting of the Omer, – being ready. Those who are ready become the barley harvest, those who are not are harvested later during the wheat harvest. I can’t think of much other logical reason for the scripture to place so much emphasis on these two harvests – with the counting of the Omer ending one and beginning the other. As far as a date for the end of the wheat harvest – I have always been taught that the shofar blown at Rosh HaShana ended the summer (wheat) harvest. Hope that helps brother! Grace and blessings and thanks for your great questions! Cindy
By: cindybythesea on April 30, 2010
at 4:52 am
Tom,
After much study, you are correct, this is one of those cases where the KJV is correct to the text. Other versions hold to the traditional “interpretation”. Where men and scripture disagree, I go with the scripture.
Leviticus 23:16 even unto the morrow after the seventh sabbath shall ye number fifty days; and ye shall offer a new meat offering unto the LORD.
Count seven sabbaths then count “Pentecost” 50 days.
July-11th this year AKA 1st of Av. I am looking forward to it!
http://www.scribd.com/doc/31135892/signs-2010v10
Acts 2:1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
http://lunarsabbath.us/_wsn/page13.html
Something else to consider, at Pentecost the disciples were accused of drinking “new wine” that would be the grape harvest mid June to mid July.
May God bless you.
Mike
By: Michael on June 7, 2010
at 1:05 pm
Hi John, The barley harvest ends on the 49th day and on the 50th day the wheat harvest begins. I find this interesting because, Pentecost also marked the change in dispensations – the Torah given at Sinai is the same day the Church was born at Pentecost. If the church is raptured before the wheat harvest, this would appear to me to be another change in dispensation and would fit the pattern. The Jewish calendar differ as I understand it because the Jewish calendar is based on the lunar cycles and the Gentile calendar is based on the Solar cycles. Their may be more to it than that. I’ve seen a lot posting on five doves about this recently, but, have not had a chance to study it out. Check out the comment by brother Tom Bigbee for another viewpoint on that. Grace and blesings brother and thank you for taking the time to write! Cindy
By: cindybythesea on April 30, 2010
at 4:26 am
Perhaps we have missed it altogether this year. Jesus, our firstfruits rose on that special day. He was first begotten of the dead. We know the dead in Christ will rise first and them they who are still alive to meet him in the clouds of the air. The old testament saints rose from the dead soon after Christ rose from the dead early on Firstfruits. Maybe the dead will rise next Firstruits. Jesus ascended to the clouds 10 days before Pentecost. Check out this website: http://www.biblestudy.org/theplainertruth/who-else-came-back-to-life-after-jesus-was-resurrected.html. In either case, we’ll know in less than 2 weeks.
By: Bro Dave on May 1, 2010
at 2:06 am
Greetings.
I do not want to presume anything, but I thought this interesting enough to point out.
The Hebrews were commanded to count the Omer 50 days from Passover to Pentecost.
There is another Omer count from Yom Yerusalem (1967) to Jerusalem restored (to it’s rightful owner).
– If we know that the last 7 is for Israel then the Gentiles have the 43rd year (2010).
– The month of Iyyar is the Barley (Gentiles) havest, the month of Sivan is the Wheat (Israel).
– During Shavuot (Sivan 6th) the priest waves the two loaves (Barley and Wheat)
– Seven days before Shavuot we are still in Iyyar 28 (Yom Yerushalem) the 43rd day of the Omer (May 12th, 2010).
Read Ruth, Boaz (the kinsman redeemer) was still threshing barley in the month of Iyyar when he betrothed Ruth (the gentile).
This all may seem pretty confusing if you havent made a study of the Hebrew feasts.
But, If you should see confirming signs next week, be wise, fill your lamp in prayer (Mat25) and look up! (Luk21).
In Christ our rightousness.
Mike
By: Michael on May 3, 2010
at 7:11 am
Hi Mike, Thank you for writing. What you’ve posted is very interesting. I have never heard of counting the omer in years – from 1967 until the present which would be 43 years – add another 7 and you have 50! And on the same token, May 12 would be the 43rd day of the Omer (7 days before Shavuot). I have studied the feasts, but, obviously there is much more to learn. I’m not sure what confirming signs we might see next week, but, I will be watching and waiting with great expectation! Thank you so much for taking the time to share with me here. Grace and blessings in Messiah Jesus! Cindy
By: cindybythesea on May 3, 2010
at 7:37 am
Confirming signs would be Luke 21, it really should not be something you will have to guess at.
I have a fairly detailed study of this period, I would be happy to send anyone who asks.
God bless you and your ministry.
Mike Wellman
wellman.europe@gmail.com
By: Michael on May 3, 2010
at 10:26 am
What about the song of songs
2:10-13
My lover spoke to me , arise, my darling, my beautiful one, and come with me. See the winter is past the rains are over and gone. flowers appear on the earth, the season for singing has come. cooing doves are heard in our land. The fig tree forms its early fruit, the blossoming vines spread their fragrance. Arise, come my darling, my beautiful one, come with me.
By: stacy on June 6, 2010
at 3:43 pm
Hi Cindy,
I have a question that I hope you can help with.
When does the wheat harvest END? I see that Ruth gleaned to the end of the harvest and then married. Can you help me clarify this?
Thanks!
God Bless,
Trish
By: Trish on June 22, 2010
at 5:51 am
Hi Trish, good question. Thanks for asking! According to what I have read regarding the harvest season in Israel, barley and wheat are both planted in the autumn, but, because barley matures faster than wheat, it is harvested first. Because of this, the first fruits wave offering would have been barley. Wheat is harvested later sometime between the end of April and the end of May, although some sources say June-July). After Pentecost came the harvest of fruit – grapes, olives, pomegranates and other fruits. The grape harvest was usually completed by the Feast of Tabernacles and the Olive Harvest is completed sometime after the Autumn Holy Days. Whatever the case, I believe the gap between Pentecost and Trumpets is indicative of the harvest period known as the church age which, I believe may well end with the blowing of the shofar on the Feast of Trumpets. There are lots of opinions (good ones) on this very subject as you probably already know. If you haven’t done so already google Lora Shipley, she has done some great studies on this very subject. Grace and blessings! Cindy
By: cindybythesea on June 22, 2010
at 6:26 am
Hi Trish,
Thank you for your response. It was very helpful. Some of the people who have posted here have given me some good leads. I will look into the other site you recommended as well.
I think July 3-4 and/or July 11th are definite possibilities for the rapture.
I just discovered this is the time of the ealy figs. Apparently, the Jews believe they are experiencing prosperity or “peace & security” when they see figs on the tree. The Lord told us, “When they say, ‘Peace and safety’ sudden destruction comes. Look up for your redemption draws near.”
I now believe He was using the term “peace & security” as code for the time of His return before the start of the tribulation or the time when the figs begin to ripen in early summer. The reason the figs fall from the tree and never mature is because of one of two things – either the figs are infested or the tree is shaken by a great and mighty wind. In the case of the Jewish people both apply. Their sins are not forgiven as they have rejected the Messiah and a great & mighty Wind (the HS) will blow – removing the Christians and leaving behind all of those w/o Him. Thought this was quite interesting.
Thx again for your help!
God Bless,
Trish
By: Trish on June 22, 2010
at 2:41 pm
From Jewish Historians
(be careful with these guys)…
“The Chasam Sofer does a meticulous accounting and says that the night Boaz allowed Ruth into the assembly of Israel was the 17th of Tamuz.”
The Jewish prodigal brother considers the 17th day of the 4th Month a bad day.
– Moses’ return from Mount Sinai, breaking the tablets.
– The breaching of the walls of Jerusalem by the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar in 586 BCE
This is the “Fast of the Fourth Month” mentioned by the prophet Zechariah. That will be transformed in the messianic era to a day that “shall be joy to the House of Judah” full of “gladness and cheerful feasts”.
I have one more…
I think Jewish tradition may have changed the honoring of Pentecost since the second century.
Count off fifty days up to the day after the seventh Sabbath, and then present an offering of new grain to the LORD The command in the Torah is : “…after the seventh Sabbath shall ye number fifty days;…” (Lev. 23:16). The word ‘number’ (S. 5608) is translated from the Hebrew word ‘caphar’, meaning to tally, enumerate, count or recount.
—————————————————
I have a final thought on the 17th day of the fourth month, its in my brief. http://www.scribd.com/doc/31135892/signs-2010v10
BTW: 17th Tammus 5770, is sundown June 29th to sundown June 30th 2010. Next week.
God Bless you
Mike
Acts 2:1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
By: Michael on June 22, 2010
at 7:20 am
Boaz did not have a Gentile bride. Ruth left behind and turned away from her Gentile past when she made the decision to follow the God of Israel and keep the holy Torah. At that point she became a Hebrew so Boaz wasn’t unequally yoked with a pagan. As for the count to Pentecost, scripture does not say that we are to count 50 days from Passover. It says we are to count beginning at Firstfruits seven completed sabbaths. THEN after the seventh sabbath complete, we are to number 50 days. The rabbinical count to Pentecost is unbiblical. The rabbis count 50 days after the first sabbath instead of counting after the seventh sabbath as the Word commands. Pentecost is a summer festival, not spring. It took the Israelites more than just 50 days to go from Egypt to Sinai and then wait on Moses to come down the mountain with the written law.
By: Kay on September 21, 2019
at 7:26 pm