Counting Down of the Omer
What is the Counting Down of the Omer? How does it affect the lifestyle of a modern-day Christian Believer?
This is a time to purge and prepare for receiving new instructions needed for future success. It is a ‘spring cleaning’ of mind and attitudes.
JewishLearning.com explains it like this…
“The Counting Down of the Omer, the period between Passover and Pentecost, is referred to as the Counting Down of the Omer; this is a time to purge and prepare for receiving new instructions needed for future success. It is a “spring cleaning” of mind and attitudes.
“The omer refers to the 49-day period between the second night of Passover (Pesach) and the holiday of Shavuot. This period marks the beginning of the barley harvest when, in ancient times, Jews would bring the first sheaves to the Temple as a means of thanking God for the harvest. The word omer literally means, ‘sheaf’ and refers to these early offerings.
“Passover celebrates the initial liberation of the Jewish people from slavery in Egypt, Shavuot / Pentecost marks the culmination of the process of liberation, when the Jews became an autonomous community with their own laws and standards. Counting up to Shavuot reminds us of this process of moving from a slave mentality to a more liberated one.”[i]
I believe this is a process of being delivered from an orphan spirit, and instead becoming sons or daughters of God. It is a time to remove the poverty spirit in exchange for a prosperity mentality. It is a chance to exit the wilderness and enter into our promised land.
The Counting Down of the Omer is a time of preparation to be honored by the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob to receive an impartation of the fire of Torah—instruction from the love of our Father God.
At Passover, we are freed from slavery by the blood of the Lamb. Then 50-days later, during Shavuot / Pentecost, we are empowered by the same Fire of the Holy Spirit that once burned the ten commandments into the tablets of stone!
“But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.”—Jeremiah 31:33
These are the days to celebrate the birthday of Torah and the Church!
Still, many of you have experienced a very difficult year. Why has this Jubilee year been so difficult? Why is this year different than all other years? Because of the battle going on in the heavenlies over the status of Jerusalem is more significant that it has ever been.
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Timing is everything with God!
Take a look at current events in juxtaposition with a study of biblical numerology.
President Trump visiting Israel during significant anniversaries.
2017 marks the 70th year anniversary of UN Resolution 181, adopted on November 29, 1947—the resolution that paved the way for the re-establishment of the Jewish Nation of Israel. 2017 is also the 50-year anniversary of Israel re-taking Jerusalem in the Six-Day War, which ended on June 11, 1967.
“(Central Israel) — The Israeli media today is buzzing with speculation that President Trump is coming to Israel in May, and make Jerusalem his first foreign destination since taking office in January.
“Big question: If the speculation is accurate, is the President planning to announce that he is moving the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, as he repeatedly promised during the campaign and in the early weeks of his administration?
“The timing of the President’s potential visit is certainly curious, as it could come one day before the 50th anniversary of the reunification of Jerusalem under Israeli sovereignty during the Six Day War of 1967.”[ii]
Jerusalem Fiftieth Anniversary
“Fifty also symbolizes deliverance or freedom from a burden. God commanded ancient Israel that every 50th year, on the Day of Atonement, that a Jubilee was to be declared with the sound of a trumpet (Leviticus 25). During the Jubilee year ALL debts were settled in favor of the debtor and inheritances were returned to their rightful owners. Also, those who worked as slave laborers in order to repay a debt were granted their freedom to return home to their families and land.”[iii]
Numerological Significance
“70 years, seventy has a sacred meaning in the Bible that is made up of the factors of two perfect numbers, seven (representing perfection) and ten (representing completeness and God’s law). As such, it symbolizes perfect spiritual order carried out with all power. It can also represent a period of judgment.”[iv]
“Jesus, as mankind’s new High Priest in heaven, had to first offer the blood of his sacrifice (30 symbolizes this sacrifice) to God upon the heavenly atonement altar (which 20 represents) before the Holy Spirit could be available to all. The number 30 plus 20 equals 50, which points directly to the Feast of Pentecost.”[v]
“50 Jubilee also means In the New Testament the word Pentecost comes from the Greek word for fiftieth (Strong’s Concordance #G4005). Also known as the Feast of Weeks or Firstfruits, it was on this special Holy Day that God first poured his Holy Spirit upon about 120 believers who had gathered to keep the day (Acts 1:15, 2). They became the firstfruits of God’s spiritual harvest of humans.”[vi]
Major shifts are taking place as the God-given Cyrus Anointing (President Donald J. Trump) arrives in Jerusalem. At this biblical and prophetic time in world history, every king and priest is feeling the prophetic pressure on all sides!
A spiritual shaking of immense proportions is taking place, which explains the shifting occurring worldwide as nations compete for attention, rattling their swords… but this is Jerusalem’s hour of power. God is writing another chapter of the book of Acts before our very eyes!
What should we believe God for during this High Holy season of Shavuot/ Pentecost?
“You have multiplied the nation and increased its joy; they rejoice before You according to the joy of harvest, as men rejoice when they divide the spoil.”—Isaiah 9:3
“For You have broken the yoke of his burden and the staff of his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, as in the day of Midian.”—Isaiah 9:4
“I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go into the house of the Lord.’ Our feet have been standing within your gates, O Jerusalem! Jerusalem is built as a city that is compact together, where the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord, to the Testimony of Israel, to give thanks to the name of the Lord. For thrones are set there for judgment, The thrones of the house of David. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: ‘May they prosper who love you. Peace be within your walls, prosperity within your palaces.’ For the sake of my brethren and companions, I will now say, ‘Peace be within you.’ Because of the house of the Lord our God I will seek your good.”—Psalm 122:1-9
We, as Believers, must recognize that even through tribulation and trials, it is God’s desire to bless us so that we might be a living testimony of the goodness that comes from serving a loving heavenly Father. Just as the farmer waits patiently for the wheat to ripen, we too await for this year’s Shavuot / Pentecost celebration.
During this time of the Counting Down of the Omer, won’t you prepare your hearts with us?
[i] https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/how-to-count-the-omer
[ii] https://flashtrafficblog.wordpress.com/2017/04/28/israel-abuzz-that-president-trump-will-visit-jerusalem-in-may-if-it-happens-will-trump-announce-hes-moving-us-embassy-to-jerusalem-heres-what-we-know-so-far/
[iii] https://www.biblestudy.org/bibleref/meaning-of-numbers-in-bible/50.html
[iv] https://www.biblestudy.org/bibleref/meaning-of-numbers-in-bible/70.html
[v] https://www.biblestudy.org/bibleref/meaning-of-numbers-in-bible/50.html
[vi] https://www.biblestudy.org/bibleref/meaning-of-numbers-in-bible/50.html