Last Call for Repentance
Bill Goff
The Passover and Feast of Unleavened Bread are the beginning of the Spring Feasts, and pertain exclusively to the church (the members of the Body of Christ) and our coming out of sin. But the spring Feasts don’t end on the last day of Unleavened Bread. No, the spring Feasts don’t end until 50 days later on the Feast of Pentecost.
Now we are instructed to “count” to the Feast of Pentecost. And this counting is very important, Understanding the purpose of this counting brings our focus back to the importance of our High Calling, and how we better have It on the front burner of our lives, we need to be ready to meet our Lord in the air. We are approaching the time when the “midnight Cry” of Matthew 25 announcing the return of our Lord, will sound. The “Wise Virgins will be ready for our Lord, but sad to say, some are foolish virgins, and have allowed their “High Calling” to drift over to the back burner, Brethren we have no time for back burner anything, Drifting only (and always) goes down stream, and downstream ends up at the Dead Sea. (Nothing lives in the Dead Sea) not a good place to drift into. First Fruits always have to be moving upstream. (Matthew 11:12)
(That important talk is for another time.)
For now let’s look at some Scriptures concerning this counting, because there is much important meaning to this counting to Pentecost. The pulpits don’t comprehend it, and continue to follow and teach “the party line”.
This count teaches us that in order to meet our Lord in the air on Pentecost (day 50) we have to be what Scripture calls “complete” by day 49 which comes before Pentecost. The Scriptures are quite clear concerning our being “full grown” “mature” “converted” all those good things, while still in the flesh. Let’s not be influenced or persuaded by “smooth talking” the Scriptures are quite clear concerning what we need to be doing now in order to be ready to meet our Lord in the air, so let’s look at some Scriptures that pertain to this counting. First let’s remember the importance of Scripture: (2Timothy 3:16) Notice that word “reproof” that word means evidence.
(We need Scriptural evidence to back up all of our beliefs.)
In Leviticus 23:15 we are told to count seven Sabbaths or seven weeks, and those seven weeks must be “complete” Before day 50, before the day of Pentecost. Yes, there is an important “completion” that must be met by every member of the Body of Christ by day 49 of the count, the day before the day of Pentecost if they want to attend the wedding. Remember the Bride is to “make herself ready”, those who are not ready will find the wedding door shut. (Revelation 19:7) Matthew 25:10-12)
(Please look up the meaning of that word “complete” It’s not talking about seven complete (unblemished, unspotted) Sabbath days, it talking about us, being unspotted, unblemished. (Same as our Lord.)
Leviticus 23:15-16 “And you shall count unto you from the morrow after the Sabbath, from the day that you brought the sheaf of the wave-offering; seven Sabbaths shall be complete;
16:“Even unto the morrow after the seventh Sabbath, shall ye number 50 days.”
Day 49 of the 50 day count to Pentecost concerns the completion of something that directly concerns us being ready to meet our Lord and Savior in the air at His return. If we do not reach this level of “completeness” by the end of the seven weeks, by day 49, we will not be meeting our Lord and Savior in the clouds, and standing with Him on the Sea of Glass.
This word “complete” in Leviticus 23:15 (Strong’s # 8549) usually refers to our Lord and Savior, like in Exodus 12:5 where the Israelites had to select a lamb “without blemish” and in Numbers 19:2 a red heifer “without spot” or “blemish”. In those verses that word pertains to our Lord. But here in Leviticus 23:15 that same exact Hebrew word Strong’s # 8549 pertains to us, the members of the Body of Christ, the church. We also are required to be “unspotted” “unblemished” “complete” just like our Lord (our Chief corner stone) Jesus the Christ. And we are instructed (commanded actually) to be that “complete” that “Pure” before the day of Pentecost, before the day we will be changed from flesh and blood human being into spirit beings.
You can also see in 1Kings 6:7 where the “house” (the church) built of stone (that’s us, we are the stones) were “made ready” (complete – perfect) before they were brought thither (to the other side).
God always gives us the physical (which we humans understand quite well) to help us better understand the spiritual (which we humans do not understand that well.) When the physical Temple was being built, all the stones were cut, shaped and perfected at the quarry. Then after they were ready, they were brought to the other side to be erected. The stones were cut and shaped so perfectly at the quarry that no mortar was required when the Temple was erected on the other side, the stones were already cut and shaped, and fit into place perfectly.
Same as us, we are being shaped now by our Creator, the Master Potter. Our experiences, our trials, our tribulations, are for teaching us and shaping us. And all this is being accomplished by Him while we are in the flesh, Then, once He gets us exactly the way He wants us (Which include His Holy Righteous Character developed in us) He bakes us, and just like a loaf of bread, once baked it’s a finished product.) So we need to be totally changed from our old bad sinning nature, to His Holy Righteous nature now, while still in the flesh, it’s called conversion. No one (including His Elect, His First Fruit’s) will ever reach the other side (The Kingdom of God) unless converted first. Sinners will not be allowed in God’s Kingdom, (1Corinthians 6:9-19) (Galatians 5:19-21)
Brethren, in order to be ready at our Lord’s return, and to meet Him in the clouds, we have to reach this level of completeness first. We have to have the Holy Righteous Character of the Father developed in us. This counting to Pentecost means a whole lot more than just consecutive counting. There is much “Rich Meaning” in the Hebrew word translated count here. The word “count” here means “to score with a mark as a tally or a record.”
(God keeps a record – a book of life & a book of remembrance.)
The word also means: “To count a flock” “To Enumerate” (That means to name them one by one) That’s what our Creator does with the stars in the sky as they come out at night “one by one” He counts them and names them. Those stars in the heavens represent us. This counting is nothing to take lightly. Many in the church fail to realize the “significance” of this counting, which concern whether we will be in the marriage or on the outside when the wedding door is shut. (Matthew 25:10-12) This counting is a continuation of what we learn from keeping the feast of Unleavened Bread.
The feast of Unleavened Bread lasts seven days…. It pictures us, coming out of sin. It has to do with us becoming like Christ. It starts with the Passover Sacrifice, (Christ dying in our stead) so that we might live. During the week long feast of unleavened bread, we’re commanded to have our houses de-leavened, a physical lesson with much spiritual meaning, it teaches us to put sin out of our lives. If we stumble across some leaven during the week of UB, we know what to do, we take it and put it off of our property, and we know that we are to do the same with transgressions.
(When we find ourselves doing something wrong, we have to change and do it right.) We are also commanded to eat “Unleavened” bread each day during the seven day feast, picturing us putting “Christ” into our daily lives. Now at the end of the seven day feast of UB, we can go back to eating “leavening” but we can not go back to “sinning.”
The seven week count to “completion” is just a continuation of what the seven day feast of Unleavened Bread is all about, coming out of Egypt, coming out of sin, changing from our sinful ways, changing our walk, changing our nature.
Our journey started at the time we accepted Christ’s sacrifice, and took the plunge at baptism and had “hands” laid on us. Hands, where we receive God’s Holy Spirit. (The only thing powerful enough to change our sinful natures.) For many of us, that’s been quite some time now… Let us realize that time is running out for us to be changed from all of our old sinful ways, and walking this earth Upright. Especially now, as we SEE the day approaching.
Brethren, Scriptures tells us: “Be Ye Holy” because God is Holy, and Be Ye Perfect because God is Perfect. Those aren’t idle words of His, those are commands! He’s building a Holy House – (Standards are High.) Yes, He wants us Holy and Perfect. And don’t let that word “perfect” scare you, it means = complete, full grown in mental and moral character, of full age. (It’s quite within our reach, because we have the power of His Holy Spirit in us, and IF we use it to overcome.)
(There is an important study on the subject of being Holy and Perfect titled:”Perfect or in Part” The link is at the bottom of this article.)
Many teach & preach that we will not become Holy or Perfect, until our change. Many seem to think that there is a Magic Wand at the end of our physical life that will be used to instantaneously change our sinful natures and our hearts of stone into that Holy Righteous Character of the Father, and hearts of flesh. But the Scriptures don’t support that smooth talk Brethren. The Scriptures tell us we have to become like the Father and His Son now, changed natures, and having His Holy Righteous Character developed in us now, before we are changed into Spirit God Beings on day 50, Pentecost. We need to overcome now, (this is sobering and not to be taken lightly.)
Philippians 2:12-15 This is a “Now” thing, to become blameless and pure “now” while we are living in this warped and crooked generation.
Brethren, there is no magic wand at the end of the day that will instantly change our sinful natures, conversion takes time. If we want to fulfill our High Calling, and hope to meet our Lord in the clouds, we need to purify ourselves now. 1John3:3
We are at the end of the church age Brethren, our time to repent and completely change from our sinful ways and walk totally upright is running out. The Apostle Paul says: “When that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away”. 1 Corinthians 13:10
Brethren, What Paul is saying here can apply to us. the members of the Body of Christ. When that which is perfect is come (That word perfect means: spiritual maturity, completeness, full growth) then, that which is in part (Those who haven’t matured, haven’t continued to grow, haven’t become complete) shall be “done away”.
That Greek word translated “done away” is Strong’s #2673 (meaning entirely idle, useless, destroy, fail, loose, vanish away) that Greek word is used in only one other place in the Scriptures, and speaks directly to God’s First Fruits, and their need to be bearing fruit, where the Father comes looking (three times)for “fruit” on His “fig tree”. Fig trees, that’s us!
(Luke 13:7-9) Notice the Father says “no fruit” “cut it down” “why cumbereth the ground” That word “cumbereth” is the same Greek word Strong’s #2673. Now our Lord says He will dig it and dung it But if still no fruit then He will cut it down.
(If we still need dunging, the final dunging is soon to arrive: Matthew 24:21)
There is no turning back now Brethren! We are at the end of the day where He tells those who are unjust to just continue being unjust and those filthy continue to being filthy. But he who is holy, and walking upright, let him continue walking upright, and being holy. Our everyday walk now, demonstrates our nature, shows whether it’s changed yet from sinful to Holy? (If it’s not, shame on us.)
Our Lord is soon coming Brethren, and He’s coming quickly. And He’s coming back to His church first, and He’s looking for a Glorious one, without spot or wrinkle, or any such thing, but one that is Holy and without blemish.
(Revelation 22:11-12) (Ephesians 5:27)
https://khofh.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Perfect_Or_In_Part.pdf