I was thinking about the soldiers of yesteryear who fought on foreign battlefields for their country, and yet who also longed for home and its many blessings. They were fighting to protect their homeland and yet, they longed to be home, enjoying the many blessings associated with it. While this could relate to just about any battle scenario, I am referencing American history, and more specifically, WW2. I have seen many a documentary on WW2 and I often remember the look on so many soldier’s faces in those films. It’s a look of fear, sadness, and longing to be home. Many of them, most of them were in their late teens and early 20’s. Most did come home, but many did not. They died for our freedom and are remembered in their letters.
We, as Christians, are also in a battle of sorts; a spiritual battle. We have been commissioned by the Master to ‘go into the world and preach the gospel to every creature.’ (Mark 16:15) As we do this, we are met with some opposition and resistance, but we are also empowered by the Holy Spirit to continue in this fight for souls, providing hope for the many who desperately need it, and ultimately sharing about the salvation that ONLY Jesus provides. This is our mandate, this is our mission. We are encouraged by the many letters (epistles) that were written by the men who went before us; the NT apostles and OT prophets who forged the way. Their writings are our letters from the front; they are contained in the Bible, and they provide us hope and stability as we forge ahead in this spiritual battle we call life.
Many of you know that I am a ‘watcher pastor’ who, like many other watching brothers and sisters, I too am looking for the return of the Lord to occur any day now. While I am watching, I am also working, serving, planning, and being useful to the Lord by tending to the vineyard that He has ascribed for me. You should be doing the same as you tend to your own vineyard. Right now my vineyard involves my wife, our three adult offspring, their spouses, and those beautiful children that make up their families; our grandchildren. My wife and I are about the Lord’s business working in the local church and community. I have found myself behind the wheel of a school bus and ministering to many another driver who needs words of encouragement and life that only Jesus can bring. The Lord chooses all of us, you and me, to share His love with as many who will listen and receive. My wife, among other things, teaches Bible at a local Christian school. She serves on the worship team at our church, is a board member, and is also a youth leader. We are working the vineyard baby!
This blog is part of my outreach as it provides a platform to present my heart as I feel the Lord has prompted me to share. I write these blogs to provide hope and encouragement to those who would come across this sight and read. I write mainly with an eschatological emphasis because this is where I see the greatest need right now; we’re so close to Christ’ return. This is our finest hour and we need to be sharing Jesus with as many as we can while we see the Day approaching.
There is a brother in Christ who has an impressive website filled with many blogs, his name is T.W. Tramm. He too is a watcher who studies and writes as the Lord prompts him. Brother Tramm just posted an article that I have chosen to repost on my blogsite for you to read. His website (www.theseasonofreturn.com) is also connected to his Facebook page and YouTube channel. In his article Tramm speculates as to the actual day of Pentecost. While this may not seem to be a big deal to many believers; however, to those watchers who may embrace the Pentecost Rapture theory, it matters to them. While I am not about date setting, Rapture rushing, or the knowing of any actual dates for Pentecost, what impress me is the timing and convergence of all that is happening in the world right now; Pentecost being one of them.
Brother Tramm put a lot of work into this article, as he does all of his articles. I have provided some commentary as to the relevance, nature, and timing of this particular blog, which was posted a few days ago. Brother Steve Fletcher from Trumpet for My People YouTube channel posted and commented on it. I have taken the liberty to ‘typeset’ edit the article to streamline the read, but you can go to Tramm’s website at http://www.theseasonofreturn.com for the unedited version.
Pentecost Date Speculation T.W. Tramm – (06/19/24)
In a previous study, I speculated that the Pentecost-convergence on June 16th could be “a sign or marker, pointing to a near, but still undisclosed time.” While only the Lord knows the time, here are 12 reasons it (Pentecost) could be on June 23rd.
1. Jesus said it will be like the “days of Noah” when He returns (Matt. 24:37).
Since God gave Noah a seven-day notice ahead of the flood (Genesis 7:4), it is conceivable that the Pentecost-convergence on June 16th was a seven-day notice ahead of June 23rd.
2. With the June 16th– 23rd date range in view – and also the fact that Hebrew numeric ranges are written right-to-left; it’s striking that Exodus ‘23:16’ tells us to observe Pentecost: “Celebrate the Festival of Harvest with the firstfruits of the crops you sow in your field.” Leviticus ‘23:16’ tells us how to calculate Pentecost: “Count off fifty days up to the day after the seventh Sabbath.”
3. The Eastern Orthodox Church, geographically descended from the churches founded by the apostles in the first century, reckons that Pentecost is June 22nd – 23rd this year.
4. With the June 22nd – 23rd date in view, it’s significant that Leviticus ‘23:22’ mentions the reaping of the harvest at Pentecost: “When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field.”
5. In the Book of Jubilees, Pentecost is observed at the full moon of Sivan. The full moon of Sivan lands on June 22nd this year.
6. In Proverbs, the full moon (June 22nd) is when the “husband,” or “goodman,” a type of Jesus, is expected to return: “My husband is not at home; he has gone on a long journey. He took with him a bag of money and will not return until the moon is full” (Proverbs 7:19,20).
7. Since the moon is symbolic of the Church, or Bride, the full moon (June 22nd) is a picture of the Bride in a state of fullness, or readiness for the wedding (Romans 11:25).
8. The full moon of Sivan corresponds to the 15th day of the month. Since Hebrew dates are written right-to-left, the date of Sivan 15 would appear as “15/3.” This is significant because 153 is the number of fish who are “caught up” and brought to the Lord — a picture of the Rapture (John 21).
9. With the 3/15 Pentecost date in view, it’s significant that in Ruth ‘3:15,’ Boaz gives Ruth six measures of barley, as a token to seal the marriage contract. Boaz then takes Ruth to be his wife that same day (Ruth 4).
10. With the 6/23 date in view, it is interesting that the final verse of the most quoted psalm in the Bible, Psalm ‘23:6’ states, “I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.”
11. An average pregnancy term is 280 days. Counting 280 days from the “birth” sign in Virgo at last year’s Feast of Trumpets, we arrive at June 22nd – 23rd.
12. A June 22nd – 23rd Pentecost is reconcilable with Leviticus 23, where we are told to keep the spring festivals as follows: Observe Passover (v. 4,5). • Observe the week of Unleavened Bread (v. 6–8). • Offer up the “firstfruits,” and begin counting the seven weeks from the day after the Sabbath (vs.9–15).
Based on a plain chronological reading of the above, one could argue that the count of seven weeks begins at the Sunday after the week of Unleavened Bread. This way of reckoning finds support elsewhere in Scripture. When Jesus presented Himself to the Father as the “firstfruits” of the resurrection, He was acting as the ultimate High Priest (Hebrews 9;
1 Corinthians 15:20-23). According to biblical law, the high priest was forbidden to come into contact with anything ceremonially unclean (e.g. a dead body, burial clothes, etc.), as this would disqualify him from entering into God’s presence (Numbers 19:12). This is why there is a seven-day consecration period for priests (Exodus 29). It is also why, during the seven days prior to entering the Holy of Holies (God’s inner sanctuary) on the Day of Atonement, the high priest was sequestered to a special chamber in the Temple, to avoid becoming unclean.
With the seven days of consecration or separation in view, it is significant that after Jesus’ first appearance to the disciples on resurrection Sunday, He was not seen or touched again until a week later (John 20:26). It is thus conceivable that, while the Lord was resurrected after three days, He did not present Himself as the “firstfruits” until the seven days of consecration were complete the following Sunday. Counting the seven weeks from this same Sunday—the one after the week of Unleavened Bread— Pentecost lands on June 22nd – 23rd this year.
SUMMARY: For the reasons noted above, it is conceivable that true Pentecost is June 22nd-23rd.
This date marks: • Pentecost as observed by the Eastern Church. • Pentecost as per the Book of Jubilees. • The full moon that denotes the Bride in a state of fullness or readiness. • The conclusion of a pregnancy term of 280 days since the “birth” sign on the Feast of Trumpets lasts year. Most importantly, a June 22nd – 23rd Pentecost is reconcilable with Leviticus 23, the seven-day consecration period of the high priest, and Jesus’ absence during the week after His resurrection.
If June 22nd – 23rd is God’s true Pentecost, it means that the Pentecost-convergence on June 16th was a seven day notice, or sign, ahead of the festival.
My thoughts on this article.
T.W. Tramm is very well read and written. He has speculated many dates before and posted the same. He has been criticized by some and followed by others. As a fellow watcher, it’s not about date setting for me so much as it is watching for the near and soon season of the Lord’s return. I have found that many brothers and sisters are quick to criticize the work and study of other watchers who are trying to express their thoughts in a format that invokes comments and exchanges of information from fellow watchers that enhance our perspective as to the season of the Lord’s return.
This article by T.W. Tramm expresses a similar mindset and heart. It’s clear to me that brother Tramm loves the Lord and like those soldiers on the battlefield, he longs to be home with Him and all those who love His appearing. If this is it, per say, and the Master returns in this season, than this sign will finally be an event. If this is not it, and we continue on through the summer months and into the fall feasts and such, than this was just another sign. Either way, the work put into this article is significant and needs to be considered in light of all that is happening in the world right now.
One thing is for sure, we’re living in unprecedented times; things are NOT going back to normal. I am watching what is happening in China, and more specifically, in Taiwan; which involves a massive Chinese naval armada being sent into the Taiwan Strait. I am watching Vladimer Putin visit Kim Jong Un of North Korea to make alliances with them as Russia attempts to up their game in the Ukraine. I am watching Israel and the multifaceted front they are now waging with her enemies, and I realize that they really are alone in this; but God.
It looks like something very big is about to happen and we believers need to be watching and praying as we work, plan, and advance in what God has called us toward. I have observed other watchers carefully rebuking their fellow watchers for having different opinions regarding the actual Pentecost date and such, but that doesn’t matter. We are to embrace our differences as we share our perspectives. In the end, we are all longing for home and these posts, vlogs, and articles are varied versions of our ‘letters from the front,’ just like those soldiers of yeasteryear.
I want to encourage you my brothers and sisters to make yourself and your families ready, to be in prayer, and to get your life in order. God loves you too much to leave you in a state of flux, denial, or even unconfessed sin. We need to be right in God’s sight and do our best to be our best when He returns for us. It’s not by our works that we are saved, but by God’s grace through our faith in Jesus. If we confess the Christ as Lord and receive His forgiveness, we will be saved. (1 John 1:9) If we are saved, then we need to conduct ourselves in a way that reflects what the Lord would expect of us as His children, just before His return.
As far as the actual date of Pentecost goes, I am a Spirit-filled Christian who prays in the Spirit and worships the Lord every day. I celebrate Pentecost daily and I long for the kingdom as well. One thing that I know, as long as I am here, I am working for the Lord and making a difference . When that moment finally comes and He calls us home, then I can put this all to rest. Until then, let’s get to it, Pentecost is upon us!
Maranatha!
Encouragemen is a blog written by Pastor Rob Lee, recently relocated to Northwest Missouri. He lives with his wife of 35-years, near their three adult children, their spouses, and children (their grandchildren). Pastor Rob is an Ordained Assemblies of God minister, a former Lead Pastor (25 years), police chaplain, and community advocate. He continues to serve, consult, and disciple men of God, including those who are in the ministry.
Encourage Men 