Tuesday, April 17, 2018

Our Biblical Heritage in Heraldry & Signs


Overview

Since the time of Noah our Father in Heaven has given us signs and symbols to remember the promises he gave us.  These signs and symbols were inherited and passed down through the generations.  The Israelites received their symbols based on the meaning of their name and the blessings they received from their father Jacob Israel and the blessing they received from Moses.  The Israelites had banners with their symbols on them that represented their tribe. These banners later became own as [bible] heraldry symbols that are inherited and passed down through the generations.   After the Exodus from Egypt, our Father in Heaven instructed the Israelites to camp in a specific order with their banners that are also known as standards.

Let the children of Israel encamp fronting each other, every man keeping his own rank, according to their standards [banner], according to the houses of their families; the children of Israel shall encamp round about the tabernacle of witness.” Sep Num 2:2 

The picture below represents each tribe’s position and banner at this camp described in Numbers chapter 2.  The inner ring is the Number camp and the outer ring is the New Jerusalem City Gates to the Kingdom that was described in Ezekiel.  For more information about this arrangement and how it represents the Zodiac which is also called the Mazzaroth, see this page.



Just prior to the Israelites receiving their Promised Land, our Father in Heaven warned them that if they did not follow the laws of Moses they would be removed from the land and scattered among the nations.  The descendants of Israel did not obey and were scatted upon the earth.  When they were scattered they brought their symbols with them and continued to use these symbols and developed new symbols represent new family lines. 

If thou wilt not hearken to do all the words of this law, which have been written in this book, to fear this glorious and wonderful name, the Lord thy God; then the Lord shall magnify thy plagues, and the plagues of thy seed, great and wonderful plagues, and evil and abiding diseases. And he shall bring upon thee all the evil pain of Egypt, of which thou wast afraid, and they shall cleave to thee. And the Lord shall bring upon thee every sickness, and every plague that is not written, and every one that is written in the book of this law, until he shall have destroyed thee. And ye shall be left few in number, whereas ye were as the stars of the sky in multitude; because thou didst not hearken to the voice of the Lord thy God. And it shall come to pass that as the Lord rejoiced over you to do you good, and to multiply you, so the Lord will rejoice over you to destroy you; and ye shall be quickly removed from the land, into which ye go to inherit it. And the Lord thy God shall scatter thee among all nations, from one end of the earth to the other; and thou shalt there serve other gods, wood and stone, which thou hast not known, nor thy fathers.” Sep Deu 28:58-64

As promised, due to our disobedience we have been receiving the curses in Deuteronomy chapter 28.

Children of Jacob Israel’s Symbols in Heraldry

Today we can use these symbols to track the Israelites migration to their new homeland; however, we must also use other historical information to track their movement also.  On this page I’m only identifying places where the each tribe’s symbol is being used; however in many situations the symbols are now being used by a different group of people that are not Israelites.  I have used the Septuagint to determine their symbols also known as bible heraldry. This table is a summary that is in birth order and more information is provided below.





Our Father in Heaven Blesses Noah

Our Father in Heaven made a covenant with Noah on the Feast of Weeks (Pentecost) where he promised that the seasons and time will not be changed. Noah’s name means ‘rest’.


Our Father in Heaven Blesses Abraham & Sarah


Abraham was promised on the Feast of Weeks that he would become a father of many nations and many of his descendants would be kings.  The sign of this covenant his covenant the circumcision of his male descendants.  Abraham’s descendants would all be blessed.  The name Abraham means ‘exalted father of a multitude’.

“And I will make my covenant between me and thee: and I will multiply thee exceedingly. Abram tell flat on his face. And God said to him: I AM, and my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father. of many nations. Neither shall thy name be called any more Abram: but thou shalt be called Abraham: because I have made thee a father of many nations. And I will make thee increase, exceedingly, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee. And I will establish my covenant between me and thee, and between thy sad after thee in their generations, by a perpetual covenant: to be a God to thee, and to thy seed after thee. And I will give to thee, and to thy seed, the land of thy sojournment, all the land of Chanaan for a perpetual possession, and I will be their God. Again God said to Abraham: And thou therefore shalt keep my covenant, and thy seed after thee in their generations. This is my covenant which you shall observe, between me and you, and thy seed after thee: All the male kind of you shall be circumcised: And you shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin, that it may be for a h sign of the covenant between me and you. An infant of eight days old shall be circumcised among you, every man child in your generations: he that is born in the house, as well as the bought servant shall be circumcised, and whosoever is not of your stock: And my covenant shall be in your flesh for a perpetual covenant. The male, whose dash of his foreskin shall not be circumcised, that soul shall be destroyed out of his people: because he hath broken my covenant.”  DR Gen 17:2-14

Our Father in Heaven also blessed Sarah stating she would be a mother of nations and she will have descendants who are kings.  Sarah means ‘lady, princes, queen’ ; therefore Sarah became a queen.

And God said unto Abraham, As for Sarai thy wife, thou shalt not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall her name be. And I will bless her, and moreover I will give thee a son of her: yea, I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of peoples shall be of her.” DR Gen 17:15-16

Paul confirms that the seed of Abraham has not been cast away in his letter to the Romans, the Latin speaking people.  He confirms that the Romans of that day are Israelites.

“I say then: Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. God hath not cast away his people, which he foreknew.” DR Rom 11:1-2

The House of Israel’s Bible Heraldry & Inheritance

The house of Israel consisted of Jacob Israel’s 12 sons.   In birth order the sons are as follows:

These are the names of the sons of Israel; Ruben, Symeon, Levi, Juda, Issachar, Zabulon, Dan, Joseph, Benjamin, Nephthali, Gad, Aser.” Septuagint 1 Ch 2:1-2

Isaac Blesses Jacob and Esau

Jacob Israel received the birth right, the blessing and the royal scepter linage.  Jacob means ‘heal catcher’ and Israel means ‘God strives’.



Jacob Israel & Rachel


Isaac’s Blessing to Esau – Esau means ‘rough

And Esau said to his father, Hast thou only one blessing, father? Bless, I pray thee, me also, father. And Isaac being troubled, Esau cried aloud and wept. And Isaac his father answered and said to him, Behold, thy dwelling shall be of the fatness of the earth, and of the dew of heaven from above. And thou shalt live by thy sword, and shalt serve thy brother; and there shall be a time when thou shalt break and loosen his yoke from off thy neck. And Esau was angry with Jacob because of the blessing, with which his father blessed him; and Esau said in his mind, Let the days of my father's mourning draw nigh, that I may slay my brother Jacob. And the words of Esau her elder son were reported to Rebecca, and she sent and called Jacob her younger son, and said to him, Behold, Esau thy brother threatens thee to kill thee. Now then, my son, hear my voice, and rise and depart quickly into Mesopotamia to Laban my brother into Charran.”  Sep Gen 27:38-43

Our Father in Heaven’s Blessing to Jacob Israel

Jacob received the covenant from our Father in Heaven on the Feast of Weeks (Pentecost).  Jacob  was promised and blessed that his seed would be a gathering of nations and royal linage.



For more information about Jacob’s pillar and the coronation stone, see this page.

The Two Olive Branches

The house of Israel is represented by two olive branches in scripture.  The house of Israel became 13 tribes when Joseph received the double portion blessing inherent (Deu 21:15).   Ruben, Simeon, and Levi were disqualified from receiving the double portion due to behavior issues. Judah received the royal scepter linage and Joseph received the double blessing of the first born.


During different times of history the tribes were associated with either Ephraim or Judah; therefore I did not assign them to a specific house because of this.  Manassah was divided since half the tribe wanted land near Ruben and Gad that was east of the Jordan.  The other half received land next to their brethren Ephraim on the west side of the Jordan.


And we inherited that land at that time from Aroer, which is by the border of the torrent Arnon, and half the mount of Galaad; and I gave his cities to Ruben and to Gad. And the rest of Galaad, and all Basan the kingdom of Og I gave to the half-tribe of Manasse, and all the country round about Argob, all that Basan; it shall be accounted the land of Raphain. Sep Deu 3:12-13

And now divide this land by lot to the nine tribes, and to the half tribe of Manasse. From Jordan to the great sea westward thou shalt give it them: the great sea shall be the boundary. But to the two tribes and to the half tribe of Manasse, to Ruben and to Gad Moses gave an inheritance beyond Jordan: Moses the servant of the Lord gave it to them eastward, from Aroer, which is on the bank of the brook of Arnon, and the city in the midst of the valley, and all Misor from Maedaban.” Sep Jos 13:7-9 

Our Father in Heaven promised to make the House of Juda and the House of Israel one nation and bring them back to their own land.  America is where this verse is being fulfilled.

And the word of the Lord came to me, saying: And thou son of man, take thee a stick: and write upon it: Of Juda, and of the children of Israel his associates: and take another stick and write upon it: For Joseph the stick of Ephraim, and for all the house of Israel, and of his associates. And join them one to the other into one stick, and they shall become one in thy hand. And when the children of thy people shall speak to thee, saying: Wilt thou not tell us what thou meanest by this? Say to them: Thus saith the Lord God: Behold, I will take the stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel that are associated with him, and I will put them together with the stick of Juda, and will make them one stick: and they shall be one in his hand. And the sticks whereon thou hast written, shall be in thy hand, before their eyes. And thou shalt say to them: Thus saith the Lord God: Behold, I will take the children of Israel from the midst of the nations whither they are gone: and I will gather them on every side, and will bring them to their own land.” Eze 37:15-22

More verses about the olive branches:

For if the firstfruit be holy, so is the lump also: and if the root be holy, so are the branches. And if some of the branches be broken, and thou, being a wild olive, art ingrafted in them, and art made partaker of the root, and of the fatness of the olive tree, Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee. Thou wilt say then: The branches were broken off, that I might be grafted in. Well: because of unbelief they were broken off. But thou standest by faith: be not highminded, but fear. For if God hath not spared the natural branches, fear lest perhaps he also spare not thee.”  Rom 11:16-21
For it shall be thus in the midst of the earth, in the midst of the people, as if a few olives, that remain, should be shaken out of the olive tree: or grapes, when the vintage is ended.” Isa 24:13

And I answered, and said to him: What are these two olive trees upon the right side of the candlestick, and upon the left side thereof? And I answered again, and said to him: What are the two olive branches, that are by the two golden beaks, in which are the funnels of gold? And he spoke to me, saying: Knowest thou not what these are? And I said: No, my lord. And he said: These are two sons of oil who stand before the Lord of the whole earth.” Zec 4:11-14

These are the two olive trees and the two candlesticks, standing before the Lord of the earth. And if any man desireth to hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth and devoureth their enemies; and if any man shall desire to hurt them, in this manner must he be killed.” ASV Rev 11:4-5



Ruben's Heraldry

Ruben means ‘be hold a son’.


Simeon’s Heraldry

Simeon means ‘hearing’.


Levi’s Heraldry

Levi means ‘attached or joined’.


Breast Plate Stones

Below are the stones for the breast plate of righteousness that the Levitical priesthood wore.

For more information see this page.

Judah ‘Praised Hand’.

Judah means ‘praised and hand’ Hold up hand in praise. 



Judah’s Red Hand of Praise


This 1898 news article called ‘The Writing on the Wall’ talks about a ‘red hand’ on many hieroglyphs in the United States.  http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn85066387/1898-04-17/ed-1/seq-25.pdf
Also see more pictures of the ‘red hand’ on petroglyphs here: http://geology.com/articles/petroglyphs/more-pictographs.shtml

King David’s Heraldry






The Anointing of Queen Alexandra at the Coronation of Edward VII

Sources and more information:
For more information regarding King David’ royal linage, see this page.
For more information about past coronations, see this page.
For more information about the DNA and family tree of the European monarchies, see this page.

Issachar’s Heraldry

Issachar means ‘he will bring reward’.


Zebulon’s Heraldry

Zebulon means ‘habitation’.


Dan’s Heraldry


Dan means ‘judge’.  See more about Dan here



Joseph’s Heraldry

Joseph means ‘he increases’.  Ephraim means ‘double fruit’ and Manasseh means ‘causing to forget’.






Jacob Blesses Ephraim and Manasseh



Reflected below is Jacob Israel’s blessing given to Ephraim and Manasseh:

“And it came to pass after these things, that it was reported to Joseph, Behold, thy father is ill; and, having taken his two sons, Manasse and Ephraim, he came to Jacob. And it was reported to Jacob, saying, Behold, thy son Joseph cometh to thee; and Israel having strengthened himself, sat upon the bed. And Jacob said to Joseph, My God appeared to me in Luza, in the land of Chanaan, and blessed me, and said to me, Behold, I will increase thee, and multiply thee, and will make of thee multitudes of nations; and I will give this land to thee, and to thy seed after thee, for an everlasting possession. Now then thy two sons, who were born to thee in the land of Egypt, before I came to thee into Egypt, are mine; Ephraim and Manasse, as Ruben and Symeon they shall be mine.  And the children which thou shalt beget hereafter, shall be in the name of their brethren; they shall be named after their inheritances. And as for me, when I came out of Mesopotamia of Syria, Rachel, thy mother, died in the land of Chanaan, as I drew night to the horse-course of Chabratha of the land of Chanaan, so as to come to Ephratha; and I buried her in the road of the course; this is Bethlehem. And when Israel saw the sons of Joseph, he said, Who are these to thee? And Joseph said to his father, They are my sons, whom God gave me here; and Jacob said, Bring me them, that I may bless them. Now the eyes of Israel were dim through age, and he could not see; and he brought them near to him, and he kissed them, and embraced them. And Israel said to Joseph, Behold, I have not been deprived of seeing thy face, and lo! God has showed me thy seed also. And Joseph brought them out from between his knees, and they did reverence to him, with their face to the ground. And Joseph took his two sons, both Ephraim in his right hand, but on the left of Israel, and Manasse on his left hand, but on the right of Israel, and brought them near to him.  But Israel having stretched out his right hand, laid it on the head of Ephraim, and he was the younger; and his left hand on the head of Manasse, guiding his hands crosswise. And he blessed them and said, The God in whose sight my fathers were well pleasing, even Abraam and Isaac, the God who continues to feed me from my youth until this day; the angel who delivers me from all evils, bless these boys, and my name shall be called upon them, and the name of my fathers, Abraam and Isaac; and let them be increased to a great multitude on the earth. And Joseph having seen that his father put his right hand on the head of Ephraim--it seemed grievous to him; and Joseph took hold of the hand of his father, to remove it from the head of Ephraim to the head of Manasse. And Joseph said to his father, Not so, father; for this is the first-born; lay thy right-hand upon his head. And he would not, but said, I know it, son, I know it; he also shall be a people, and he shall be exalted, but his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his seed shall become a multitude of nations. And he blessed them in that day, saying, In you shall Israel be blessed, saying, God make thee as Ephraim and Manasse; and he set Ephraim before Manasse. And Israel said to Joseph, Behold, I die; and God shall be with you, and restore you to the land of your fathers. And I give to thee Sicima, a select portion above thy brethren, which I took out of the hand of the Amorites with my sword and bow.” Sep Gen 48






Sources:



Benjamin’s Heraldry

Benjamin means ‘son of the right hand’



Naphtali’s Heraldry

Naphtali means ‘my wrestling’.   Most people do believe that Naphtali is represented by a deer based on the King James translation; however, the Septuagint was documented in 400 BC and is much older than the text of King James and it does not reflect a deer.


Gad’s Heraldry

Gad means to ‘invade or attack’.



Asher’s Heraldry

Asher means ‘blessed’.


Clothing with Decorative Hems

The children of Israel wore decorative hems as instructed by the laws of Moses in Numbers 15:38. It was a symbol to reflect who they were and to indicate they followed the laws of Moses.

Jacob-Israel’s Blessing to the 12 Tribes

Below is the full blessings given to the Jacob Israel’s sons that were to be accomplished in the last days:

And Jacob called his sons, and said to them, Assemble yourselves, that I may tell you what shall happen to you in the last days. Gather yourselves together, and hear me, sons of Jacob; hear Israel, hear your father.

Ruben, thou art my first-born, thou my strength, and the first of my children, hard to be endured, hard and self-willed. Thou wast insolent like water, burst not forth with violence, for thou wentest up to the bed of thy father; then thou defiledst the couch, whereupon thou wentest up. 

Symeon and Levi, brethren, accomplished the injustice of their cutting off [sword].  Let not my soul come into their counsel, and let not mine inward parts contend in their conspiracy, for in their wrath they slew men, and in their passion they houghed a bull. Cursed be their wrath, for it was willful, and their anger, for it was cruel: I will divide them in Jacob, and scatter them in Israel.

Juda, thy brethren have praised thee, and thy hands shall be on the back of thine enemies; thy father's sons shall do thee reverence. Juda is a lion's whelp [young offspring]: from the tender plant, my son, thou art gone up, having couched thou liest as a lion, and as a whelp; who shall stir him up? A ruler shall not fail from Juda, nor a prince from his loins, until there come the things stored up for him; and he is the expectation of nations. Binding his foal to the vine, and the foal of his ass to the branch of it, he shall wash his robe in wine, and his garment in the blood of the grape. His eyes shall be more cheering than wine, and his teeth whiter than milk.  

Zabulon shall dwell on the coast, and he shall be by a haven of ships, and shall extend to Sidon.
Issachar has desired that which is good; resting between the inheritances.  And having seen the resting place that it was good, and the land that it was fertile, he subjected his shoulder to labour, and became a husbandman [farmer].

Dan shall judge his people, as one tribe too in Israel. And let Dan be a serpent in the way, besetting the path, biting the heel of the horse (and the rider shall fall backward), waiting for the salvation of the Lord.

Gad, a plundering troop shall plunder him; but he shall plunder him, pursuing him closely.

Aser, his bread shall be fat; and he shall yield dainties to princes.  

Nephthalim is a spreading stem, bestowing beauty on its fruit.

Joseph is a son increased; my dearly loved son is increased; my youngest son, turn to me. Against whom men taking evil counsel reproached him, and the archers pressed hard upon him. But their bow and arrows were mightily consumed, and the sinews of their arms were slackened by the hand of the mighty one of Jacob; thence is he that strengthened Israel from the God of thy father; and my God helped thee, and he blessed thee with the blessing of heaven from above, and the blessing of the earth possessing all things, because of the blessing of the breasts and of the womb, the blessings of thy father and thy mother--it has prevailed above the blessing of the lasting mountains, and beyond the blessings of the everlasting hills; they shall be upon the head of Joseph, and upon the head of the brothers of whom he took the lead.

Benjamin, as a ravening wolf, shall eat still in the morning, and at evening he gives food.
All these are the twelve sons of Jacob; and their father spoke these words to them, and he blessed them; he blessed each of them according to his blessing. And he said to them, I am added to my people; ye shall bury me with my fathers in the cave, which is in the field of Ephron the Chettite, in the double cave which is opposite Mambre, in the land of Chanaan, the cave which Abraam bought of Ephron the Chettite, for a possession of a sepulchre.  There they buried Abraam and Sarrha his wife; there they buried Isaac, and Rebecca his wife; there they buried Lea; in the portion of the field, and of the cave that was in it, purchased of the sons of Chet. And Jacob ceased giving charges to his sons; and having lifted up his feet on the bed, he died, and was gathered to his people.” Sep Gen 49:1-33 

Moses’ Blessing to the Children of Israel

Below is the blessings that Moses give to the children of Israel that were to be an inheritance.

“And this is the blessing with which Moses the man of God blessed the children of Israel before his death. And he said, The Lord is come from Sina, and has appeared from Seir to us, and has hasted out of the mount of Pharan, with the ten thousands of Cades; on his right hand were his angels with him. And he spared his people, and all his sanctified ones are under thy hands; and they are under thee; and he received of his words the law which Moses charged us, an inheritance to the assemblies of Jacob. And he shall be prince with the beloved one, when the princes of the people are gathered together with the tribes of Israel.

Let Ruben live [Lily, Fleur-de-lis sign of new life], and not die; and let him be many in number.
And this is the blessing of Juda; Hear, Lord, the voice of Juda, and do thou visit his people: his hands shall contend for him, and thou shalt be a help from his enemies.

And to Levi he said, Give to Levi his manifestations, and his truth to the holy man, whom they tempted in the temptation; they reviled him at the water of strife. Who says to his father and mother, I have not seen thee; and he knew not his brethren, and he refused to know his sons: he kept thine oracles, and observed thy covenant. They shall declare thine ordinances to Jacob, and thy law to Israel: they shall place incense in the time of thy wrath continually upon thine altar. Bless, Lord, his strength, and accept the works of his hands; break the loins of his enemies that have risen up against him, and let not them that hate him rise up.

And to Benjamin he said, The beloved of the Lord shall dwell in confidence, and God overshadows him always, and he rested between his shoulders.

And to Joseph he said, His land is of the blessing of the Lord, of the seasons of sky and dew, and of the deeps of wells below, and of the fruits of the changes of the sun in season, and of the produce of the months, from the top of the ancient mountains, and from the top of the everlasting hills, and of the fullness of the land in season: and let the things pleasing to him that dwelt in the bush come on the head of Joseph, and on the crown of him who was glorified above his brethren. His beauty is as the firstling of his bull, his horns are the horns of a unicorn; with them he shall thrust the nations at once, even from the end of the earth: these are the ten thousands of Ephraim, and these are the thousands of Manasse.

And to Zabulon he said, Rejoice, Zabulon, in thy going out, and Issachar in his tents. They shall utterly destroy the nations, and ye shall call men there, and there offer the sacrifice of righteousness; for the wealth of the sea shall suckle thee, and so shall the marts of them that dwell by the sea-coast.

And to Gad he said, Blessed be he that enlarges Gad: as a lion he rested, having broken the arm and the ruler. And he saw his first-fruits, that there the land of the princes gathered with the chiefs of the people was divided; the Lord wrought righteousness, and his judgment with Israel.

And to Dan he said, Dan is a lion's whelp, and shall leap out of Basan.

And to Nephthali he said, Nephthali has the fulness of good things; and let him be filled with blessing from the Lord: he shall inherit the west and the south.

And to Aser he said, Aser is blessed with children; and he shall be acceptable to his brethren: he shall dip his foot in oil. His sandal shall be iron and brass; as thy days, so shall be thy strength. 

There is not any such as the God of the beloved; he who rides upon the heaven is thy helper, and the magnificent One of the firmament. And the rule of God shall protect thee, and that under the strength of the everlasting arms; and he shall cast forth the enemy from before thy face, saying, Perish. And Israel shall dwell in confidence alone on the land of Jacob, with corn and wine; and the sky shall be misty with dew upon thee. Blessed art thou, O Israel; who is like to thee, O people saved by the Lord? thy helper shall hold his shield over thee, and his sword is thy boast; and thine enemies shall speak falsely to thee, and thou shalt tread upon their neck.” Sep Deu 33:1-29

Jesus Christ

Christ also has symbols that represent HIM.



Early Israelites painted Jesus with a halo which is a crown of light rays or circle that surrounds a person’s head in art work.  The halo meant the person in the artwork was holy.  Christ is shown many times with the cross within his halo which is known today as the Celtic cross.  The Celtic cross was used as a staff to find direction similar to how we use a compass today; therefore the picture is stating that Jesus provides directions for us to live and follow.

Jesus spoke to them, saying: I am the light of the world: he that followeth me, walketh not in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” John 8:12

For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God, in the face of Christ Jesus.” 2 Cor 4:6

Sources:

Conclusion

The tribes of Israel were never really lost since our Father in Heaven always knew where they were located.  The tribes were only stated as lost since they forgot who they were and they stopped following the laws of Moses. In the verse below James addressed the twelve tribes in his opening statement.

“James the servant of God, and of our Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.” DR James 1:1

It is important we understand that these symbols represent our heritage; therefore it is important that we preserve them for future generations. Our heritage is America.

Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known.” ASV Mat 10:26


Bible Heraldry Sources

http://www.ngw.nl/heraldrywiki/index.php?title=Kluftern


Saturday, April 7, 2018

First Fruit Offerings for the First Day of the Week


Overview

Throughout history the Israelites have always presented their first fruit offerings on the first day of the week which is now called Sunday.  This is why church services are today held on the first day of the week.  We give the first day of the week to our Father in Heaven and present first fruit offerings on this day for the sole use of the priests.  The Sabbath day of rest on the 7th day (Gen 2:3) is ours but the first work day of the week belongs to our Father in Heaven.  In the ancient days it was work presenting offerings to the priest and that is why church business is still (usually) conducted on Sunday today. In prophecy we will be the offerings that fulfill the First Fruit laws.



The Biblical and Dead Sea Scrolls Temple Calendar dates for the First Day of the week First Fruit Offerings are:




In the Teachings of the Twelve Apostles written in the first century called the Didache, it confirms that the ‘Lord’s day’ was when the early congregations assembled:

But every Lord’s day do ye gather yourselves together, and break bread, and give thanksgiving after having confessed your transgressions, that your sacrifice may be pure.”  Didache 14:1

In the New Testament, Paul referred to the Lord’s Supper which was probably on the Lord’s Day:

When you come therefore together into one place, it is not now to eat the Lord's supper.” 1 Cor 11:20

In this verse Paul confirms that assembled to break bread on the first day of the week now called Sunday.

And on the first day of the week, when we were assembled to break bread, Paul discoursed with them, being to depart on the morrow: and he continued his speech until midnight.”  DR Act 20:7

In this verse Paul confirms that collections were to be taken on the first day of the week:

 

“Now concerning the collection for the saints: as I directed the churches of Galatia, so you also are to do. On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, so that there will be no collecting when I come.”  1Co 16:1-2

 
 The Apostle John did reference the Lord’s Day in the book of Revelations:

I was in the spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet” DR Rev 1:10

I have documented proof on this page that the biblical weekly cycle of 7 days has never been broken and that they always tracked the Sabbath day and ‘Kyriakí day’ which is translated to the Lord’s Day in our bibles.

The dates for all of the Feasts days are here.

This article focuses on the Barley, Wheat, Corn, Wine Oil and Wood first fruits.  I have written an article regarding Christ and the priest first fruits of the spring harvest.

Offering Calendar Dates

If you use a proper calendar as documented by Enoch, the book of Jubilees and the Dead Sea Scroll Temple calendar, these days for offerings will always be held on the first day of the week known as Sunday provided that the first day of the calendar year is the 4th day of the week known as Wednesday.   The 4th day of the week is when the sun and moon were created and placed in orbit; therefore that is when time began  (Gen 1:14-19).

The Dead Sea Scrolls tells us that the Feast of Barley or Grain was on the 26th day of the first month.  The New Wine feast is the 3rd day of the 5th Month and day after the Sabbath day.  The Feast of New Oil is the 22nd day in the 6th Month and the Wood Offering is the week after. 

On the twenty-fifth (day) in (the first month) is the sabbath of (the week of) Jedaiah. During the same week is [the Feast] of Barley on the twenty-sixth (day) in (the first month), after the sabbath. 
On the thi[r]d (day) i[n (the fifth month) is the Feast of the New Wine after the sabbath of Immer.
On the twenty-]second (day) in (the sixth month) is the Feast of New Oil. After the Feast of New Oil is the Feast of the Offering of Wo]od.” DSS Calendar, Mishmarot D (4Q325), Fragment 1

First Month – “On the 26th (day) in it:] feast of the Gr[ain after the Sabbath. In the first month] 30 (days).” DSS Calendar, 4Q326

Our bibles are not clear on which date the first fruit offerings are to be brought to the priests.  I believe that is because there were different first fruits offers that become ripe at different times:  barley, corn or wheat, wine and oil.  According to the Dead Sea Scrolls above, the first offering of the agricultural year is the barley harvest on the 26th day of the 1st Month. 

And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, Speak to the children of Israel, and thou shalt say to them, When ye shall enter into the land which I give you, and reap the harvest of it, then shall ye bring a sheaf, the first-fruits of your harvest, to the priest; and he shall lift up the sheaf before the Lord, to be accepted for you. On the morrow of the first day the priest shall lift it up. And ye shall offer on the day on which ye bring the sheaf, a lamb without blemish of a year old for a whole-burnt-offering to the Lord. And its meat-offering two tenth portions of fine flour mingled with oil: it is a sacrifice to the Lord, a smell of sweet savour to the Lord, and its drink-offering the fourth part of a hin of wine. And ye shall not eat bread, or the new parched corn, until this same day, until ye offer the sacrifices to your God: it is a perpetual statute throughout your generations in all your dwellings.” Sep Lev 23:9-14

The Feast of Weeks is to be held 50 days after the first offering and it must fall on the day after the Sabbath which is the 1st day of the week. Therefore, the Feast of Weeks is on the 15th day of the third month.  The book of Jubilees does confirm that the Feast of Weeks is on the 15th day of the third month. The Feast of Weeks offering is brought to the temple in Jerusalem (Deu 16:16).

And ye shall number to yourselves from the day after the sabbath, from the day on which ye shall offer the sheaf [δράγμα (drágma) sheaf, stalks of bundled grain] of the heave[επιθέματος (epithanatios) at the point of death ] [or patch to cover sins] -offering, seven full weeks: until the morrow after the last week ye shall number fifty days, and shall bring a new meat-offering to the Lord. Ye shall bring from your dwelling loaves, as a heave-offering, two loaves: they shall be of two tenth portions of fine flour, they shall be baked with leaven of the first-fruits to the Lord. And ye shall bring with the loaves seven unblemished lambs of a year old, and one calf of the herd, and two rams without blemish, and they shall be a whole-burnt-offering to the Lord: and their meat-offerings and their drink-offerings shall be a sacrifice, a smell of sweet savour to the Lord. And they shall sacrifice one kid of the goats for a sin-offering, and two lambs of a year old for a peace-offering, with the loaves of the first-fruits. And the priest shall place them with the loaves of the first-fruits an offering before the Lord with the two lambs, they shall be holy to the Lord; they shall belong to the priest that brings them. And ye shall call this day a convocation: it shall be holy to you; ye shall do no servile work on it: it is a perpetual ordinance throughout your generations in all your habitations. And when ye shall reap the harvest of your land, ye shall not fully reap the remainder of the harvest of your field when thou reapest, and thou shalt not gather that which falls from thy reaping; thou shalt leave it for the poor and the stranger: I am the Lord your God.” Sep Lev 23:15-22




The Feast of Purim is when they brought  offerings of grain and salt to the tombs of their dead ancestors to cover over sin.  This is not a First Fruit offering; however it was an offering performed on the first day of the week.

The Enoch calendar reflects below that offerings for the local priests were scheduled for the 1st day of the week which we currently call Sunday.   I have circled these dates in red.




Calendar legend:
·               Red circle is offering dates
·               NM – New Moon
·               G-SA – The Sabbath date on our current Gregorian calendar.
·               Red text – Holy feast day where no work is to be performed other than the work required to have the feast; however, the Sabbath is rest only.
·               Colored text – feast day

The Threshing Floor or Press

The first fruit offerings for the first month of the year was barley that was brought to the Levitical priesthood to be blessed and accepted for use.  Then the barley was threshed at the threshing floor. 

King Solomon did acquire a threshing floor and the temple was built next to it.  

So David bought the threshing-floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver. And David built there an altar unto Jehovah, and offered burnt-offerings and peace-offerings. So Jehovah was entreated for the land, and the plague was stayed from Israel.”  ASV 2 Sam 24:24-25

Then Solomon began to build the house of Jehovah at Jerusalem on mount Moriah, where Jehovah appeared unto David his father, which he made ready in the place that David had appointed, in the threshing-floor of Ornan the Jebusite. And he began to build in the second day of the second month, in the fourth year of his reign.” 2 Chr 3:1-2




The ancient threshing floors were circular and could be solar aligned like a sundial.  These circular threshing floors were probably the origin of the word church.  The origin of the word church is circle:  the Greek Kirke [κρῐ́κος (kríkos) ring] became Circe [circus (genitive circī) orbit, circle, ring] in the Anglo-Saxon, which became Chirche in Church Latin and then became Church in English.  The Middle English alternative words for chirche were:  chirch, cherche, cherch, circe, kyrk, kirke, churche, chyrche, chyrch, chireche, church. 

So the ancients brought their offerings to the circle to be threshed and today many Christians still bring their offerings to the Church which means circle on the first day of the week called Sunday.

There are several places in our bibles called ‘Gilgal or Galgal’ which means ‘circle of stones’ or ‘wheel’.  There are many ancient circles of stone on earth that do track the circuit of the sun as Enoch described in the Book of Enoch. The word temple means ‘pertaining to time’ and the ancients did use solar time.

And the people came up out of the Jordan, the tenth day of the first month, and camped in Galgal, over against the east side of the city of Jericho. And the twelve stones which they had taken out of the channel of the Jordan, Josue pitched in Galgal, And said to the children of Israel: When your children shall ask their fathers, to morrow, and shall say to them: What mean these stones? You shall teach them and say: Israel passed over this Jordan through the dry channel.” DR Joshua 4:19-22

Below are ‘circle of stones’ that are solar aligned and can also be used to thresh grain.


Threshing separates the grain from the straw or chaff (husks).  Then they wind winnowed the grained.  They used the wind and later a fan to carry away the chaff and the heavier grain fell to the ground.   Threshing floors were normally placed where more wind would occur; like the top of a hill.  Threshing floors have a bank around them or rocks around them to hold in the grain; this is where the term threshold began.  The picture below shows a piece of wood at the floor of the door way to hold in the grain while they threshed; therefore it is a threshold.


“And Anna rose up after they had eaten in Selom, and stood before the Lord: and Heli the priest was on a seat by the threshold of the temple of the Lord.”  Sep 1Sa 1:9

Wine presses can also be circular like this one in Isaiah. So this is another example why a Church comes from the word circle.

And I made a hedge round it, and dug a trench, and planted a choice vine, and built a tower [πύργος (pýrgos) central tower] in the midst of it, and dug a place for the wine-vat in it: and I waited for it to bring forth grapes, and it brought forth thorns.”  Sep Isa 5:2 


 The verses below demonstrate the importance of the threshing floor and press. First fruits of grain go to the threshing floor or press for wine or oil.

Thou shalt not keep back the first-fruits of thy threshing floor and press. The first-born of thy sons thou shalt give to me.” Sep Exo 22:29 

The priest must bless the first fruits from both the threshing floor and press before they can be consumed.

“... he shall take off from (the grain of) the threshing-floor one tenth of a ho[mer (measure of volume, c. 220 litres), that is one eph]ah [or bath (22 litres), as is established]. The ephah and the bath are both the same measure. And from [the wheat o]ne sixth of [an ephah out of a homer and one tenth of a bath] for the fruit of trees. Let no one separate himself (from the norm of I out of 200, cf. Ezek. xlv, 15) by offering one lamb out of a hundred. Let [no] man eat [from the threshing-floor] and from the garden before [the prie]sts have stretched out their hand [to ble]ss first.” Dead Sea Scrolls, 4Q 271, fr. 2 (4Q269, fr. 8 i-ii; 270, fr. 3 iii)

Israelites were required to separate out part of their offering from the threshing floor and use it to make dough for the Feast of Weeks offering.

Speak to the sons of Israel, and thou shalt say to them, When ye are entering into the land, into which I bring you, then it shall come to pass, when ye shall eat of the bread of the land, ye shall separate a wave-offering, a special offering to the Lord, the first-fruits of your dough. Ye shall offer your bread a heave [αφαίρεμα (faírema) removable] -offering: as a heave-offering from the threshing-floor, so shall ye separate it, even the first-fruits of your dough, and ye shall give the Lord a heave-offering throughout your generations.” Sep Num 15:18-21 


The Israelites were to provide the Levites offerings from the threshing floor and wine press that was for their consumption only.  Then they were to tithe also from the threshing floor and wine press a portion for their consumption at their local Levite place of worship where a threshing floor would be.

So shall ye also separate them from all the offerings of the Lord out of all your tithes, whatsoever ye shall receive from the children of Israel; and ye shall give of them an offering to the Lord to Aaron the priest. Of all your gifts ye shall offer an offering to the Lord, and of every first-fruit the consecrated part from it. And thou shalt say to them, When ye shall offer the first-fruits from it, then shall it be reckoned to the Levites as produce from the threshing-floor, and as produce from the wine-press. And ye shall eat it in any place, ye and your families; for this is your reward for your services in the tabernacle of witness. And ye shall not bear sin by reason of it, for ye shall have offered an offering of first-fruits from it, and ye shall not profane the holy things of the children of Israel, that ye die not.” Sep Num 18:28-32

Cain & Abel First Fruits

The laws regarding first fruits were established right away.  Abel’s first fruits were accepted and Cain’s was not.  It is possible that Cain’s fruits were not his first fruits since the verse below does not indicate his fruit was the first to become ripe.

And it was so after some time that Cain brought of the fruits of the earth a sacrifice to the Lord. And Abel also brought of the first born of his sheep and of his fatlings, and God looked upon Abel and his gifts, but Cain and his sacrifices he regarded not, and Cain was exceedingly sorrowful and his countenance fell.” Sep Gen 4:3-5

First Fruits Offering Laws

The bible mentions the first fruits of grain (barley, wheat, and corn), wine and oil many times.  Plus it also mentions the first fruits of man and beast many times.  The Levites were responsible for all of these first fruits that were considered holy; set apart for dedicated use.

And the Lord said to Aaron, And, behold, I have given you the charge of the first-fruits of all things consecrated to me by the children of Israel; and I have given them to thee as an honour, and to thy sons after thee for a perpetual ordinance.” Sep Num 18:8 

And this shall be to you of the first-fruits of their gifts, of all the wave-offerings of the children of Israel; to thee have I given them and to thy sons and thy daughters with thee, a perpetual ordinance; every clean person in thy house shall eat them. Every first-offering of oil, and every first-offering of wine, their first-fruits of corn, whatsoever they may give to the Lord, to thee have I given them. All the first-fruits that are in their land, whatsoever they shall offer to the Lord, shall be thine: every clean person in thy house shall eat them. Every devoted thing among the children of Israel shall be thine.  And every thing that opens the womb of all flesh, whatsoever they bring to the Lord, whether man or beast, shall be thine: only the first-born of men shall be surely redeemed, and thou shalt redeem the first-born of unclean cattle. And the redemption of them shall be from a month old; their valuation of five shekels--it is twenty oboli according to the holy shekel.   But thou shalt not redeem the first-born of calves and the first-born of sheep and the first-born of goats; they are holy: and thou shalt pour their blood upon the altar, and thou shalt offer the fat as a burnt-offering for a smell of sweet savour to the Lord. And the flesh shall be thine, as also the breast of the wave-offering and as the right shoulder, it shall be thine.” Sep Num 18:11-18

Here again, the tithes were to be eaten by the person providing the tithe at the church or temple.

But in the place which the Lord thy God shall choose in one of your cities to name his name there, and to be called upon, ye shall even seek him out and go thither. And ye shall carry thither [ δέκατος (dékatos) tenth] your whole-burnt-offerings, and your sacrifices, and your first-fruits, and your vowed-offerings, and your freewill-offerings, and your offerings of thanksgiving, the first-born of your herds, and of your flocks. And ye shall eat there before the Lord your God, and ye shall rejoice in all the things on which ye shall lay your hand, ye and your houses, as the Lord your God has blessed you.” Sep Deu 12:5-7  


All offerings and tithes were to be eaten at the local priest office or temple and they were to rejoice before our Father in Heaven as they ate.

And there shall be a place which the Lord thy God shall choose for his name to be called there, thither shall ye bring all things that I order you to-day; your whole-burnt-offerings, and your sacrifices, and your tithes, and the first-fruits of your hands, and every choice gift of yours, whatsoever ye shall vow to the Lord your God. And ye shall rejoice before the Lord your God, ye and your sons, and your daughters, and your men-servants and your maid-servants, and the Levite that is at your gates; because he has no portion or inheritance with you. Take heed to thyself that thou offer not thy whole-burnt-offerings in any place which thou shalt see; save in the place which the Lord thy God shall choose, in one of thy tribes, there shall ye offer your whole-burnt-offerings, and there shalt thou do all things whatsoever I charge thee this day. But thou shalt kill according to all thy desire, and shalt eat flesh according to the blessing of the Lord thy God, which he has given thee in every city; the unclean that is within thee and the clean shall eat it on equal terms, as the doe or the stag. Only ye shall not eat the blood; ye shall pour it out on the ground as water. Thou shalt not be able to eat in thy cities the tithe of thy corn, and of thy wine, and of thine oil, the first-born of thine herd and of thy flock, and all your vows as many as ye shall have vowed, and your thank-offerings, and the first-fruits of thine hands. But before the Lord thy God thou shalt eat it, in the place which the Lord thy God shall choose for himself, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, thy man-servant, and thy maid-servant, and the stranger that is within thy gates; and thou shalt rejoice before the Lord thy God, on whatsoever thou shalt lay thine hand.” Sep Deu 12:11-18

The offerings are only for the priests:

And every first-fruits in all the sanctified things among the children of Israel, whatsoever they shall offer to the Lord, shall be for the priest himself.” Sep Num 5:9 

“And they shall have no inheritance among their brethren; the Lord himself is his portion, as he said to him. And this is the due of the priests in the things coming from the people from those who offer sacrifices, whether it be a calf or a sheep; and thou shalt give the shoulder to the priest, and the cheeks, and the great intestine: and the first-fruits of thy corn, and of thy wine, and of thine oil; and thou shalt give to him the first-fruits of the fleeces of thy sheep: because the Lord has chosen him out of all thy tribes, to stand before the Lord thy God, to minister and bless in his name, himself and his sons among the children of Israel.” Sep Deu 18:2-5

And the first-fruits of all things, and the first-born of all animals and all offerings, of all your first-fruits there shall be a share for the priests; and ye shall give your earliest produce to the priest, to bring your blessings upon your houses.”  Sep Eze 44:30 

And all their wave-offerings. All their firstling male [bea]sts and all ... of their beasts and all their holy gifts which they shall sanctify to me together with all their holy gifts of praise and a proportion of their offering of birds, wild animals and fish, one thousandth of their catch, and all that they shall devote, and the proportion of the booty and the plunder.” LX Dead Sea Scrolls

No one can eat first fruits until they are blessed by the priest:

“[Let no man eat wheat, wi]ne or oil unless [the priest has waved] their best, the firstfruit of the produce. No man shall delay, for [wine] is the firstfruit of the produce, [and] the wheat. The juice ... (cf. Exod. 22:28). The firstfruits are the leavened loaves which they bring [on the d]ay of the [firstfruits.] These are firstfruits: let no man eat new wheat ... until the day of the bread of the firstfruits has come.” Fragment 9 of the Dead Sea Scrolls

The corn, wine and oil were only for that years use and were not to be used the next year:

On the days of the firstfruits of the corn, of the w[ine (tirosh) and the oil, and at the festival of the offering of] wood. On these days (the tithe) shall be eaten. They shall not put aside anything from it from one year to another. For they shall eat it in this manner. From the feast of the Firstfruits of the corn of wheat they shall eat the corn until the next year, until the feast of the Firstfruits, and (they shall drink) the wine from the day of the festival of Wine until the next year, until the day of the festival of the Wine, and (they shall eat) the oil from its festival, until the next year, until the festival, the day of offering the new oil on the altar. Whatever is left (to last beyond) their festivals shall be sanctified by being burnt with fire. It shall no longer be eaten for it is holy. Those who live within a distance of three days’ walk from the sanctuary shall bring whatever they can bring. If they cannot carry it, they shall sell it for money and buy with it corn, wine, oil, cattle and sheep, and shall eat them on the days of the festivals. On working days they shall not eat from this in their weariness for it is holy. On the holy days it shall be eaten, but it shall not be eaten on working days.” XLIV Dead Sea Scrolls

The Levites need the oil to keep the light shining on the testimony.

And do thou charge the children of Israel, and let them take for thee refined pure olive-oil beaten to burn for light, that a lamp may burn continually in the tabernacle of the testimony, without the veil that is before the ark of the covenant, shall Aaron and his sons burn it from evening until morning, before the Lord: it is a perpetual ordinance throughout your generations of the children of Israel.” Sep Exo 27:20-21

Oil was used to anoint new kings, new priests, unleavened bread, the tabernacle and the tabernacle furniture.  Oil is a preservative that provides protection naturally.  The word Christian means the ‘anointed ones’.

And Sadoc [Zadoc] the priest took the horn of oil out of the tabernacle, and anointed Solomon, and blew the trumpet; and all the people said, Let king Solomon live.” Sep 1Ki 1:39 
And unleavened loaves kneaded with oil, and unleavened cakes anointed with oil: thou shalt make them of fine flour of wheat.” Sep Exo 29:2 

And Moses poured of the anointing oil on the head of Aaron; and he anointed him and sanctified him.”  Sep Lev 8:12 

And it came to pass in the day in which Moses finished the setting-up of the tabernacle, that he anointed it, and consecrated it, and all its furniture, and the altar and all its furniture, he even anointed them, and consecrated them.” Sep Num 7:1 

And to the angels indeed he saith: He that maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire. But to the Son: Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of justice is the sceptre of thy kingdom. Thou hast loved justice, and hated iniquity: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.” Hebrews 1:7-9

Oil is used for cleansing and it is a long standing tradition to make bar soap out of oil and wood ash (lye).

Then she said to her maids, Bring me oil and washing balls, and shut the garden doors, that I may wash me.” Sep Dan 13:17  

Oil is used for healing. It is great for many skin ailments.  I try putting coconut oil first on every skin ailment I have had and it normally works and it works great for burns.

And going forth they preached that men should do penance: And they cast out many devils, and anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them.” Mark 6:12-13

The wood offerings could only be from specific trees for burnt offerings at the altar:

“... s[p]lit [woo]d, [and first examine it for worms and the]n [offer it, for] thus did I see Abraham, [my father, taking care]. He s[ai]d to me [that any of the twel]ve (kinds of) trees [is fit for] offering on the altar, [the fragrance of whose smoke] goes up. And these are [their] names: [the cedar, the juni]per, the almond tree, [the fir, the pine, the ash,] the cypress, the ..., the olive tree, the laurel, the myrtle and the ... These are (the trees) which he [said to me that they are fit to offer] below the burnt offerings [on the altar. And when you have offered any of] these [trees] on the altar [and the fire has started to burn them, then you will start to sprinkle the blood] on the walls of the altar. And again [you will wash your hands and feet of the blood and start to offer] the sa[lte]d [l]im[bs].”  Dead Sea Scrolls, 4Q214b, frs. 2-6

The wood was required to keep the fire at the altar always burning plus I’m sure they needed it for warmth in the winter.
And the fire on the altar shall always burn, and the priest shall feed it, putting wood on it every day in the morning, and laying on the holocaust, shall burn thereupon the fat of the peace offerings.
This is the perpetual fire which shall never go out on the altar
.”  DR Lev 6:12-13

Cedar wood was used for purification:

And he shall take the cedar wood, and the spun scarlet, and the hyssop, and the living bird; and shall dip it into the blood of the bird slain over running water, and with them he shall sprinkle the house seven times. and he shall purify the house with the blood of the bird, and with the running water, and with the living bird, and with the cedar wood, and with the hyssop, and with the spun scarlet.” Sep Lev 14:51-52

The law for picking corn and grapes:

When thou reapest the corn of thy land, thou shalt not cut down all that is on the face of the earth to the very ground: nor shalt thou gather the ears that remain. Neither shalt thou gather the bunches and grapes that fall down in thy vineyard, but shalt leave them to the poor and the strangers to take. I am the Lord your God.” DR Lev 19:9-10

An example of the Israelites giving corn, wine and oil and other first fruits from the book of Chronicles:

And they told the people who dwelt in Jerusalem, to give the portion of the priests and the Levites, that they might be strong in the ministry of the house of the Lord. And as he gave the command, Israel brought abundantly first-fruits of corn, and wine, and oil, and honey, and every fruit of the field: and the children of Israel and Juda brought tithes of everything abundantly.  And they that dwelt in the cities of Juda themselves also brought tithes of calves and sheep, and tithes of goats, and consecrated them to the Lord their God, and they brought them and laid them in heaps. In the third month the heaps began to be piled [when Feast of Weeks is held], and in the seventh month they were finished [when Tabernacles is celebrated].  And Ezekias and the princes came and saw the heaps, and blessed the Lord, and his people Israel. Then Ezekias enquired of the priests and the Levites concerning the heaps. And Azarias the priest, the chief over the house of Sadoc, spoke to him, and said, From the time that the first-fruits began to be brought into the house of the Lord, we have eaten and drunk, and left even abundantly; for the Lord has blessed his people, and we have left to this amount. And Ezekias told them yet farther to prepare chambers for the house of the Lord; and they prepared them, and they brought thither the first-fruits and the tithes faithfully: and Chonenias the Levite was superintendent over them, and Semei his brother was next. and Jeiel, and Ozias, and Naeth, and Asael, and Jerimoth, and Jozabad, and Eliel, and Samachia, and Maath, and Banaias, and his sons, were appointed by Chonenias and Semei his brother, as Ezekias the king, and Azarias who was over the house of the Lord commanded. And Core, the son of Jemna the Levite, the porter eastward, was over the gifts, to distribute the first-fruits of the Lord, and the most holy things, by the hand of Odom, and Benjamin, and Jesus, and Semei, and Amarias, and Sechonias, by the hand of the priests faithfully, to give to their brethren according to the courses, as well to great as small; besides the increase of males from three years old and upward, to every one entering into the house of the Lord, a portion according to a daily rate, for service in the daily courses of their order.” Sep 2Ch 31:4-16
Note:  the courses are rotating priestly course that King David established.

During the time of Nehemiah they collected offerings of wood, corn, wine, oil, and other first fruits:

And we will impose ordinances upon ourselves, to levy on ourselves the third part of a didrachm yearly for the service of the house of our God; the shewbread, and the continual meat-offering, and for the continual whole-burnt-offering, of the sabbaths, of the new moon, for the feast, and for the holy things, and the sin-offerings, to make atonement for Israel, and for the works of the house of our God. And we cast lots for the office of wood-bearing, we the priests, and the Levites, and the people, to bring wood into the house of our God, according to the house of our families, at certain set times, year by year, to burn on the altar of the Lord our God, as it is written in the law: and to bring the first-fruits of our land, and the first-fruits of the fruit of every tree, year by year, into the house of the Lord: the first-born of our sons, and of our cattle, as it is written in the law, and the first-born of our herds and of our flocks, to bring to the house of our God, for the priests that minister in the house of our God. And the first-fruits of our corn, and the fruit of every tree, of wine, and of oil, will we bring to the priests to the treasury of the house of God; and a tithe of our land to the Levites: for the Levites themselves shall receive tithes in all the cities of the land we cultivate. And the priest the son of Aaron shall be with the Levites in the tithe of the Levite: and the Levites shall bring up the tenth part of their tithe to the house of our God, into the treasuries of the house of God.” Sep Neh 10:32-38

During the time of Nehemiah they established a treasure for the first fruit offerings and the tithes.  They had singers had porters.  This sounds like a Sunday service on the first day of the week to me.

And in that day they appointed men over the treasuries, for the treasures, the first-fruits, and the tithes, and for the chiefs of the cities who were assembled among them, to furnish portions for the priests and Levites: for there was joy in Juda over the priests and over the Levites that waited.   And they kept the charges of their God, and the charges of the purification, and ordered the singers and the porters, according to the commandments of David and his son Solomon. For in the days of David Asaph was originally first of the singers, and they sang hymns and praise to God. And all Israel in the days of Zorobabel, and in the days of Neemias, gave the portions of the singers and the porters, a daily rate: and consecrated them to the Levites: and the Levites consecrated them to the sons of Aaron.” Sep Neh 12:44-47

And before this time Eliasib the priest dwelt in the treasury of the house of our God, connected with Tobias; and he made himself a great treasury, and there they were formerly in the habit of bestowing the offerings, and the frankincense, and the vessels, and the tithe of the corn, and the wine, and the oil, the ordered portion of the Levites, and singers, and porters; and the first-fruits of the priests.” Sep Neh 13:4-5 

They established specific dates to deliver wood and other first fruits:

And the offering of the wood-bearers was at certain set times, and in the times of the first-fruits. Remember me, O our God, for good.” Sep Neh 13:31 

During the time of Malachi, the Israelites stopped bring their offerings and tithes to the temple. This was an insult to our Father and he took away HIS blessings.

For I am the Lord your God, and I am not changed: but ye, the sons of Jacob, have not refrained from the iniquities of your fathers: ye have perverted my statutes, and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you, saith the Lord Almighty. But ye said, Wherein shall we return? Will a man insult God? for ye insult me. But ye say, Wherein have we insulted thee? In that the tithes and first-fruits are with you still. And ye do surely look off from me, and ye insult me. The year is completed, and ye have brought all the produce into the storehouses; but there shall be the plunder thereof in its house: return now on this behalf, saith the Lord Almighty, see if I will not open to you the torrents of heaven, and pour out my blessing upon you, until ye are satisfied.” Sep Mal 3:6-7

 First Fruit Parables & Prophecy

Below are New Testament parables and prophecy regarding the 1st day of the week (Sunday) Offerings.  In prophecy we will be the offerings that HE gathers and disposes of according to HIS will that is documented in the laws of Moses.

Barley Offerings

The barley loaves are connected to Passover and gathering up of the tribes; maybe not all of them though.  It may just be the first born priests from each tribe who were redeemed at the first Passover.  The age of Pisces ended on December 21, 2012 according to the Mayan calendar that is more accurate than our calendars today.  We are now in the Age of Aquarius.

Now the pasch [Passover], the festival day of the Judeans, was near at hand. When Jesus therefore had lifted up his eyes, and seen that a very great multitude cometh to him, he said to Philip: Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat? And this he said to try him; for he himself knew what he would do. Philip answered him: Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one may take a little. One of his disciples, Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, saith to him: There is a boy here that hath five barley loaves [about five thousand years before Christ & age of Pisces is when Adam was formed], and two fishes [age of Pieces, 2160 years]; but what are these among so many? Then Jesus said: Make the men sit down. Now there was much grass in the place. The men therefore sat down, in number about five thousand. And Jesus took the loaves: and when he had given thanks, he distributed to them that were set down. In like manner also of the fishes, as much as they would. And when they were filled, he said to his disciples: Gather up the fragments that remain, lest they be lost. They gathered up therefore, and filled twelve baskets [12 tribes] with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above to them that had eaten. Now those men, when they had seen what a miracle Jesus had done, said: This is of a truth the prophet, that is to come into the world. Jesus therefore, when he knew that they would come to take him by force, and make him king, fled again into the mountain himself alone.” DR John 6:4-15

Corn & Wheat Offerings

Christians have been being baptized for the last 2000 years in preparation for Christ’s return in the Age of Aquarius.  Aquarius is Jesus pouring out water of life. 

But the water that I will give him, shall become in him a fountain of water, springing up into life everlasting.” DR John 4:14

And he said to me: It is done. I am Alpha and Omega; the beginning and the end. To him that thirsteth, I will give of the fountain of the water of life, freely.” DR Rev 21:6

Past Christian tradition was to baptize on the Feast of Weeks wearing white. In preparation for the Feast of Weeks the wheat was threshed at the threshing floor so that the leaven bread required for the Feast of Weeks celebration could be made.  Jesus will make sure that all the good wheat grains (HIS chosen people) are in HIS Kingdom.  This maybe when the rest of the elect is taken to the kingdom since the first born priest may go earlier.

I indeed baptize you in the water unto penance, but he that shall come after me, is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear; he shall baptize you in the Holy Ghost and fire. Whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly cleanse his floor [threshing floor] and gather his wheat into the barn [kingdom]; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.” DR Mat 3:11-12

This parable confirms that the enemy is considered the cockle and will be burnt around the Feast of Weeks.  The wheat or elect will be gathered to the Kingdom during the wheat harvest. During Noah’s flood, the flood started just before the Feast of Weeks and everyone but Noah’s family was drown by the time the Feast of Weeks occurred.

Another parable he proposed to them, saying: The kingdom of heaven is likened to a man that sowed good seeds in his field. But while men were asleep, his enemy came and oversowed cockle among the wheat and went his way. And when the blade was sprung up, and had brought forth fruit, then appeared also the cockle. And the servants of the goodman of the house coming said to him: Sir, didst thou not sow good seed in thy field? whence then hath it cockle? And he said to them: An enemy hath done this. And the servants said to him: Wilt thou that we go and gather it up? And he said: No, lest perhaps gathering up the cockle [Greek is zizania, Latin Vulgate is Zizania, wild rice] you root up the wheat [Greek is sitos which is corn or wheat] also together with it. Suffer both to grow until the harvest, and in the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers: Gather up first the cockle, and bind it into bundles to burn, but the wheat gather ye into my barn.” DR Mat 13:24-30

An Angel will harvest the earth when it is ripe (Rev 14:14).

And he said: So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the earth, And should sleep, and rise, night and day, and the seed should spring, and grow up whilst he knoweth not. For the earth of itself bringeth forth fruit, first the blade, then the ear, afterwards the full corn in the ear. And when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come.” DR Mark 4:26-29

Jesus wants HIS grains or chosen to follow HIM.  Jesus wants them to be looking forward to HIS return and that is when the wheat or corn will be ripe.

Now there were certain Greeks among those that went up to worship at the feast: these therefore came to Philip, who was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and asked him, saying, Sir, we would see Jesus. Philip cometh and telleth Andrew: Andrew cometh, and Philip, and they tell Jesus.  And Jesus answereth them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a grain of wheat fall into the earth and die, it abideth by itself alone; but if it die, it beareth much fruit. He that loveth his life loseth it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will the Father honor.”  ASV John 12:20 

Bread Offerings

Our instructions for life are documented in our bibles.

Who answered and said: It is written, Not in bread alone doth man live, but in every word that proceedeth from the mouth of God.” DR Mat 4:4

The essential bread is the truth found only in HIS Word.

Thus therefore shall you pray: Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our supersubstantial [essential, necessary] bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation. But deliver us from evil. Amen.” DR Mat 6:9-13

Ask daily for Jesus to reveal the truth of HIS Word to you; this is the bread of life.

Ask, and it shall be given you: seek, and you shall find: knock, and it shall be opened to you. For every one that asketh, receiveth: and he that seeketh, findeth: and to him that knocketh, it shall be opened. Or what man is there among you, of whom if his son shall ask bread, will he reach him a stone? Or if he shall ask him a fish, will he reach him a serpent? If you then being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children: how much more will your Father who is in heaven, give good things to them that ask him?” DR Mat 7:7-11

Leaven or yeast makes bread grow larger; bad doctrine also gets larger and spreads.  Check every fact since we are in the end times where it was prophesied that there would be many false prophets.

And when his disciples were come over the water, they had forgotten to take bread. Who said to them: Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees. But they thought within themselves, saying: Because we have taken no bread. And Jesus knowing it, said: Why do you think within yourselves, O ye of little faith, for that you have no bread? Do you not yet understand, neither do you remember the five loaves among five thousand men, and how many baskets you took up? Nor the seven loaves among four thousand men, and how many baskets you took up? Why do you not understand that it was not concerning the bread I said to you: Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees? Then they understood that he said not that they should beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”  DR Mat 16:6-12

The bread is HIS word that we must read and digested.

And whilst they were at supper, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and broke: and gave to his disciples, and said: Take ye, and eat. This is my body.” DR Mat 26:26

Our fathers did eat manna in the desert, as it is written: He gave them bread from heaven to eat. Then Jesus said to them: Amen, amen I say to you; Moses gave you not bread from heaven, but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is that which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life to the world. They said therefore unto him: Lord, give us always this bread. And Jesus said to them: I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall not hunger: and he that believeth in me shall never thirst. But I said unto you, that you also have seen me, and you believe not. All that the Father giveth to me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me, I will not cast out. Because I came down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him that sent me.”  DR John 6:31-38

You must confess your sins and repent and be baptized before you eat the bread and drink from the chalice.

For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, that the Lord Jesus, the same night in which he was betrayed, took bread. And giving thanks, broke, and said: Take ye, and eat: this is my body, which shall be delivered for you: this do for the commemoration of me. In like manner also the chalice, after he had supped, saying: This chalice is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as often as you shall drink, for the commemoration of me. For as often as you shall eat this bread, and drink the chalice, you shall shew the death of the Lord, until he come. Therefore whosoever shall eat this bread, or drink the chalice of the Lord unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and of the blood of the Lord. But let a man prove himself: and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of the chalice. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh judgment to himself, not discerning the body of the Lord.” 1 Cor  11:23-29

Grapes & Wine Offerings

Eating sour grapes is living by the false doctrine which causes fear.  If you live by HIS word you will only fear our Father in Heaven.  Believing false doctrine will cause the death of the sinner when judgement time comes.

Behold the days come, saith the Lord: and I will sow the house of Israel and the house of Juda with the seed of men, and with the seed of beasts. And as I have watched over them, to pluck up, and to throw down, and to scatter, and destroy, and afflict: so will I watch over them, to build up, and to plant them, saith the Lord. In those days they shall say no more: The fathers have eaten a sour grape, and the teeth of the children are set on edge. But every one shall die for his own iniquity: every man that shall eat the sour grape, his teeth shall be set on edge. Behold the days shall come, saith the Lord, and I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Juda” Jer 31:28-31

And the word of the Lord came to me, saying: What is the meaning? That you use among you this parable as a proverb in the land of Israel, saying: The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the teeth of the children are set on edge. As I live, saith the Lord God, this parable shall be no more to you a proverb in Israel. Behold all souls are mine: as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, the same shall die. And if a man be just, and do judgment and justice, And hath not eaten upon the mountains, nor lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel:”  DR Eze 18:1-6

We all must read the bible for ourselves to determine right and wrong.  You will produce righteous fruit only if your actions are in agreement with the laws of Moses.  If you do not agree and do the laws of Moses, your actions will produce bad fruit.

Or how canst thou say to thy brother: Brother, let me pull the mote out of thy eye, when thou thyself seest not the beam in thy own eye? Hypocrite, cast first the beam out of thy own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to take out the mote from thy brother's eye. For there is no good tree that bringeth forth evil fruit; nor an evil tree that bringeth forth good fruit. For every tree is known by its fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns; nor from a bramble bush do they gather the grape. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth that which is evil. For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.” DR Luke 6:42-45

After the grape harvest new wine is made and put in new bottles.  The new bottles maybe our new immortal bodies.

And the disiples of John and the Pharisees used to fast; and they come and say to him: Why do the disciples of John and of the Pharisees fast; but thy disciples do not fast? And Jesus saith to them: Can the children of the marriage fast, as long as the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast. But the days will come when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them; and then they shall fast in those days. No man seweth a piece of raw cloth to an old garment: otherwise the new piecing taketh away from the old, and there is made a greater rent. And no man putteth new wine into old bottles: otherwise the wine will burst the bottles, and both the wine will be spilled, and the bottles will be lost. But new wine must be put into new bottles.” DR Mark 2:18-22

Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I tell you a mystery: We all shall not sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. But when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.” DR 1 Cor 15:50-54

The Gentiles [the same gens or family] are the Israelites that were scattered due to misbehavior including the excess drinking of wine.

For the time past is sufficient to have fulfilled the will of the Gentiles, for them who have walked in riotousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and unlawful worshipping of idols. Wherein they think it strange, that you run not with them into the same confusion of riotousness, speaking evil of you.” 1 Pet 3:3-4

The verse below shows the harvest of the wheat and barley is completed and their fate has been determined since they have value.  The wine and oil values have not been determined and they are about to be judged.

And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature saying: Come, and see. And behold a black horse, and he that sat on him had a pair of scales in his hand. And I heard as it were a voice in the midst of the four living creatures, saying: Two pounds of wheat for a penny, and thrice two pounds of barley for a penny, and see thou hurt not the wine and the oil.” DR Rev 6:5-6

Babylon falls again for the second time.  In earlier history the tribe of Judah was taken into captivity by Babylon from 586BC to 539BC.  In 539BC, Babylon fell and then Persian became the ruler of the tribe of Judah and the Promised Land (see timeline).  Mystery Babylon is the 8th and final beast (Rev 17:11).  Babylon is a beast system (financial, religious, and military: unclean spirits Rev 16:13) that deceives the whole world causes them to partake of the wine of wrath (sour grapes) that is fornication and idolatry (consumerism).  Babylon is ruled by the ancient serpent who is the deceiver of the whole world (Gen 3:1 & Rev 12:9).

And another angel followed, saying: That great Babylon is fallen, is fallen; which made all nations to drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication [a selling off of sexual purity; idolatry] [ [πορνείᾱ (porneíā) prostitution] And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice: If any man shall adore the beast and his image, and receive his character [mark or impress] in his forehead [between eyes, memory], or in his hand[an instrument for blessing & oaths]; He also shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is mingled with pure wine in the cup of his wrath, and shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the sight of the holy angels, and in the sight of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torments shall ascend up for ever and ever: neither have they rest day nor night, who have adored the beast, and his image [shown on TV & media], and whoever receiveth the character of his name.” DR Rev 14:8-11

The people that side with Mystery Babylon the ancient serpent will be harvested and pressed with the beast.

And another angel came out from the altar, who had power over fire; and he cried with a loud voice to him that had the sharp sickle, saying: Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vineyard of the earth; because the grapes thereof are ripe. And the angel thrust in his sharp sickle into the earth, and gathered the vineyard of the earth, and cast it into the great press of the wrath of God: And the press was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the press, up to the horses' bridles, for a thousand and six hundred furlongs.” DR Rev 14:18-20

And he cried out with a strong voice, saying: Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen; and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every unclean spirit, and the hold of every unclean and hateful bird: Because all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication; and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her; and the merchants of the earth have been made rich by the power of her delicacies. And I heard another voice from heaven, saying: Go out from her, my people; that you be not partakers of her sins, and that you receive not of her plagues.” DR Rev 18:2-4

The worldwide merchants of Mystery Babylon lose the ability to control the first fruits offerings and Jesus takes control (Rev 19:1).

And the merchants of the earth shall weep, and mourn over her: for no man shall buy their merchandise any more. Merchandise of gold and silver, and precious stones; and of pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and all thyine wood, and all manner of vessels of ivory, and all manner of vessels of precious stone, and of brass, and of iron, and of marble, And cinnamon, and odours, and ointment, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves, and souls of men. And the fruits of the desire of thy soul are departed from thee, and all fat and goodly things are perished from thee, and they shall find them no more at all.” DR Rev 18:11-14

Grapes and Oil Offerings

The Judgement of the World is associated with oil, grapes and wine.

The vintage hath mourned, the vine hath languished away, all the merryhearted have sighed. The mirth of timbrels hath ceased, the noise of them that rejoice is ended, the melody of the harp is silent. They shall not drink wine with a song: the drink shall be bitter to them that drink it. The city of vanity is broken down, every house is shut up, no man cometh in. There shall be a crying for wine in the streets: all mirth is forsaken: the joy of the earth is gone away. Desolation is left in the city, and calamity shall oppress the gates. For it shall be thus in the midst of the earth, in the midst of the people, as if a few olives, that remain, should be shaken out of the olive tree: or grapes, when the vintage is ended. These shall lift up their voice, and shall give praise: when the Lord shall be glorified, they shall make a joyful noise from the sea. Therefore glorify ye the Lord in instruction: the name of the Lord God of Israel in the islands of the sea. From the ends of the earth we have heard praises, the glory of the just one. And I said: My secret to myself, my secret to myself, woe is me: the prevaricators have prevaricated, and with the prevarication of transgressors they have prevaricated. Fear, and the pit, and the snare are upon thee, O thou inhabitant of the earth. And it shall come to pass, that he that shall flee from the noise of the fear, shall fall into the pit: and he that shall rid himself out of the pit, shall be taken in the snare: for the flood-gates from on high are opened, and the foundations of the earth shall be shaken. With breaking shall the earth be broken, with crushing shall the earth be crushed, with trembling shall the earth be moved. With shaking shall the earth be shaken as a drunken man, and shall be removed as the tent of one night: and the iniquity thereof shall be heavy upon it, and it shall fell, and not rise again. And it shall come to pass, that in that day the Lord shall visit upon the host of heaven on high, and upon the kings of the earth, on the earth. And they shall be gathered together as in the gathering of one bundle into the pit, and they shall be shut up there in prison: and after many days they shall be visited. fend the moon shall blush, and the sun shall be ashamed, when the Lord of hosts shall reign in mount Sion [Zion], and in Jerusalem, and shall be glorified in the sight of his ancients.​”  DR Isa 24:7-23

Oil Offerings

Those who have oil in their lamp are the ones that keep testimony of Moses and Jesus in their minds (forehead).  (Exo 27:20-21, Rev 12:11 & 12:17)  You will not have time to prepare last minute when Jesus returns.  You must be a witness to HIS testimony before HE returns and do HIS work.  This oil is not for sale.

Then shall the kingdom of heaven be like to ten virgins, who taking their lamps went out to meet the bridegroom and the bride. And five of them were foolish, and five wise. But the five foolish, having taken their lamps, did not take oil with them: But the wise took oil in their vessels with the lamps. And the bridegroom tarrying, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made: Behold the bridegroom cometh, go ye forth to meet him. Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise: Give us of your oil, for our lamps are gone out. The wise answered, saying: Lest perhaps there be not enough for us and for you, go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. Now whilst they went to buy, the bridegroom came: and they that were ready, went in with him to the marriage, and the door was shut. But at last come also the other virgins, saying: Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answering said: Amen I say to you, I know you not. Watch ye therefore, because you know not the day nor the hour.” DR Mat 25:2-12

Wood Offerings

Jesus is the only firm foundation to build truth upon since wood burns.

For other foundation no man can lay, but that which is laid; which is Christ Jesus. Now if any man build upon this foundation, gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble: Every man's work shall be manifest; for the day of the Lord shall declare it, because it shall be revealed in fire; and the fire shall try every man's work, of what sort it is. If any man's work abide, which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work burn, he shall suffer loss; but he himself shall be saved, yet so as by fire.” 1 Cor 3:11-15

An idol that is made of wood or metal that you pay more attention to than our Father in Heaven is a dishonor.  Taking care of your household on a holy day (Sabbath or Feast Day) would be a dishonor.

But the sure foundation of God standeth firm, having this seal: the Lord knoweth who are his; and let every one depart from iniquity who nameth the name of the Lord. But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and earth: and some indeed unto honour, but some unto dishonour. If any man therefore shall cleanse himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified and profitable to the Lord, prepared unto every good work.” DR 2 Tim 2:19-21

English Harvest Festival

Harvest festivals are normally part of the Feast of Tabernacles where we give thanks to our Father in Heaven for the harvest.  The Last Great Day of the Feast of Tabernacles is normally associated with the expiration of sin.  It appears that England, Ireland and Scotland associated the final harvest with expelling the devil which is the same as the expiration of sin.  In America and Canada we called this feast Thanksgiving and it is associated with a corn offering. In England they also associated the harvest festival with corn.

Harvest Home, also called Ingathering, traditional English harvest festival, celebrated from antiquity and surviving to modern times in isolated regions. Participants celebrate the last day of harvest in late September by singing, shouting, and decorating the village with boughs. The cailleac, or last sheaf of corn (grain), which represents the spirit of the field, is made into a harvest doll and drenched with water as a rain charm. This sheaf is saved until spring planting.
The ancient festival also included the symbolic murder of the grain spirit, as well as rites for expelling the devil.
A similar festival was traditionally held in parts of Ireland, Scotland, and northern Europe.”

Conclusion

The churches or circles are the place we went to prepare our harvest for the feast days.  The harvest was first blessed and accepted and then either threshed or pressed before the feast began.  We were to ensure that we did not go to the feast empty handed; meaning without an offering.  I’m sure our Father in Heaven will also harvest, bless, and accept us using the same laws he did for the offerings so that we are ready to attend the feasts.  Not all offerings will be accepted and will need to be tried by Judgement.

Three times in the year shall all thy males appear before the Lord thy God in the place which the Lord shall choose in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles: thou shalt not appear before the Lord thy God empty. Each one according to his ability, according to the blessing of the Lord thy God which he has given thee.”  Sep Deu 16:16-17

No one will know the day or the hour since it depends on when the offerings are ripe; therefore we only know the approximant time that these offerings become ripe. 

But of that day and hour knoweth no one, not even the angels of heaven, neither the Son, but the Father only. And as were the days of Noah, so shall be the coming of the Son of man. For as in those days which were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and they knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall be the coming of the Son of man. Then shall two men be in the field; one is taken, and one is left: two women shall be grinding at the mill; one is taken, and one is left.” Mat 24:36-41