Herbert W. Armstrong

An Apostle of God

Counting Pentecost

Because the first day of ULB was on a Sunday this year as it was in 2001, some intend to keep Pentecost wrongly on June 19th, instead of June 12th, not counting the fifty days as taught to us by God through His apostle. They are confused from which Sunday we are to count Pentecost. IF we review the apostle’s teaching on counting Pentecost, this will not be a problem.

Please read the following quotes: “ MARK WELL THIS POINT: GOD PUT HIS TRUTH INTO HIS CHURCH THROUGH CHRIST AND THROUGH THE APOSTLES!”

“ ...the apostles were the teachers who instilled in the Church the BELIEFS, TEACHINGS, PRACTICES AND CUSTOMS of the Church. And all members of the Church were required by God to BELIEVE and SPEAK THE SAME THING!”

“Let’s GET THIS STRAIGHT, once and for all! The SOURCE of the beliefs, teachings, customs and practices in the Church of God is GOD HIMSELF! Not any man. Jesus said, “I have spoken nothing of myself” --- the FATHER had instructed Him! Jesus, in turn, taught His apostles in Person! THERE WAS NO DOCTRINAL BOARD! The teachings of the Church did not come from a COUNCIL of ministers and/or lay members, who voted on what to believe.”

“ So now let it be MADE OFFICIAL --- by Christ’s present-day apostle --- that this binding and loosing PLAINLY, CLEARLY, was given to Christ’s chief APOSTLE --- not to lower-rank ministers ordained by his authority --- not by the CHURCH as a body --- but by the APOSTLE!” (Herbert W. Armstrong, HOW CHRIST GIVES THE CHURCH ITS BELIEFS, GN 11/20/78).

1986 Bible CC, page 13: “But only one human has already been born of God---more than 1950 years before the first resurrection. He is the first of the firstfruits, and was pictured in the Old Testament rituals by the symbolic ceremony during the Feast of Unleavened Bread, 50 days before the Feast of Firstfruits.”

This lesson also says Jesus Christ was represented by the wavesheaf (sheaf) offering, and it was done during the days of ULB. Let’s proceed a little further.

Same lesson, page 15: “The day of the wave offering , the Sunday during the Feast of Unleavened Bread, was day one. Day seven would be the next weekly Sabbath. Day 49 would be the seventh Sabbath, and the 50th day would be a Sunday.”

This lesson was given out shortly after Mr. Armstrong died. Is it in accord with what was taught when he was alive? Read on.

1985 Bible CC, page 10: “At this point we need to understand the symbolism of a ceremony associated with the Feast of Unleavened Bread, and how it ties in with the third annual festival.” ......“The Spring harvest began in the following manner: On a morning of the first day of the week (Sunday) during the Feast o f Unleavened Bread, a sheaf of newly cut barley, cut the night before, was prepared and brought to the priest, who waved it in the air to be accepted by God. This was called the “wavesheaf offering” and represented the first of the firstfruits harvest.”

Same lesson, page 11: “ This was the first day of the week (Sunday) during the Feast of Unleavened Bread .” Both these courses are in agreement on which day the wave sheaf was offered.

Now please look at the booklets, Pagan Holidays--or God’s Holy Days--Which? by Mr. Armstrong.

1974 edition, page 29 : “This fulfillment of the wave-sheaf offering actually occurred on Sunday, the morrow after the Sabbath during the days of unleavened bread.”

Same booklet, page 30: “The Pharisees, who gained complete control of Jewish religious observances shortly after the middle of the first century A.D., figured (incorrectly -- that is, from the wrong starting point) from the day after the first annual Sabbath.

Before that time, however, the high priests of the family of Boethus, who were Sadducees, had been in control of matters concerning the festivals in Jerusalem. The Boethusians always counted from the morrow after the weekly Sabbath, the day we call Saturday, which usually fell within the Days of Unleavened Bread or immediately before the first day of Unleavened Bread .” Pease notice the wording: “ OR IMMEDIATELY before”the first day of ULB.” )

Those observing Pentecost a week later this year may suggest that Mr. Armstrong changed his wording in the 1976 edition of this booklet. And indeed he did. But did he change how to count Pentecost? Absolutely not!

1976 edition, pages 24-25: “Before that time, however, the high priests of the family of Boethus, who were Sadducees, had been in control of matters concerning the festivals in Jerusalem. The Boethusians always counted from the morrow after the weekly Sabbath, the day we call Saturday, which fell within the days of unleavened bread.”

As you can see wording is slightly different than the l974 edition. It still says, however, to count from the morrow (Sunday) after the weekly Sabbath, during the days of ULB. The emphasis is on the day after the weekly Sabbath, not the Sabbath). But to clear up any questions or doubts, let’s read further in this same booklet, confirming everything already quoted.

1976 edition again, page 23 : “First of these is the Passover, followed by the Feast of Unleavened Bread with the two annual Sabbaths. Beginning verse 9, (Lev. 23) we find instructions for the wave-sheaf offering. The Israelites were not allowed to harvest any of the early grain crop until this day (verse 14). Then on the day following the weekly Sabbath, in a solemn ceremony of the Levitical priesthood (the rituals were mere substitutes and therefore not practiced today), the first sheaf of grain was cut. This event always occurred during the days of unleavened bread (See Joshua 5).”

In 1986 the booklet, “Pagan Holidays or God’s Holy Days--Which?” was revised. On page 19, it reads that we are to count Pentecost from the “ Sunday during the days of Unleavened Bread,” in full agreement with Mr. Armstrong’s ruling.

All these references are in total agreement. God’s apostle made it clear how to count Pentecost according to the Bible. That counting method remained consistent in publications of the Church since he correctly changed the day of Pentecost from Monday to Sunday in 1974 through 1986. We must continue to speak the same things as the apostles (Acts 2:42).

Some have already become deceived about counting Pentecost, and so could we if we don’t stay close to HIM who cannot be deceived, Jesus Christ. He gave us an apostle to remove any doubts we may have about doctrine.

The Bible makes it clear to us that those “ doing their own thing”, those who will not observe these festivals as God instructs, will be cut off from Him. The Church in this era is becoming more blinded to God’s truth as time goes on. Keep Alert! Watch! Are you?

God’s apostle, Mr. Armstrong, used the Word of God to make certain judgments to help clarify doctrine for us. There is an all-out attempt by Satan to alter, pollute, and destroy the doctrines of the Church delivered to us through Mr. Armstrong.

Speaking of Mr. Armstrong, Revelation 3:8 says: “..for thou hast a little strength, and has KEPT MY WORD, and hast NOT DENIED MY NAME” Please stop right here for a moment and read Matthew 10:40-42, especially verse 41.

Mr. Armstrong did not compromise God’s truth. He had authority from God, His government. The fruits were there. We still have those teachings today. Some men want to usurp authority to override decisions already made by an apostle.

Brethren, if we want to be part of Christ’s Bride, we must be getting ourselves ready for His return. We must be qualifying to be kings and priests, which means we’re still in training of developing God’s mind and character. This training involves holding fast to doctrinal matters, counting Pentecost as taught through God’s apostle.

May God generously pour out His Holy Spirit of power, love, and a sound mind upon all of us for a most blessed and profitable Day of Pentecost on June 12th this year.

In Christ Name,

Arlen Berkey

Please request “The Work of God in the Laodicean Era”. It will open your eyes to the problems in the Church today and how they can be solved.