History That Involves Pentecost

Beth Bucheit

June 16, 2024

Pentecost

The first paragraph under the article The 57 Truths of God states: “THERE ARE 57 BASIC TRUTHS that God has given to His Church at this time. These truths have come out of three periods of time in this final age that precedes Christ’s second coming. God’s Church began in 31 AD and resistance to it has grown through the centuries, just as the world resisted the head of God's Church, Christ.”

We understand that we are here today because a truth was restored during one of the three periods of time in this final age. It was during the era of Philadelphia. God’s apostle during that era, Herbert W. Armstrong, restored Truth 19.

19 (16) The annual festivals. The plan of God, as shown through the Holy Days, was revealed to the Church of God only through Herbert W. Armstrong. The Passover and Holy Days picture God’s plan of salvation for mankind.

We are sitting here today celebrating one of God’s Holy Days. We are blessed to understand that this is the Day of Pentecost.

I want to start today by turning over to Leviticus 23:1. We cover these verses, for the most part, every Holy Day and there is a reason for that. God Almighty wants us to remember His plan. We as human beings steeped in carnal selfish human nature would forget if we did not do this.

So again, now Leviticus 23:1—And the Eternal spoke to Moses, saying, Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them, The appointed times of the Eternal, which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations, these are My appointed times.

We have talked a lot about holy convocations. We know that we are to gather together with those of like mind and be taught by God through Joshua the Christ as he directs His ministry in sermons. On these days we are to be taught, to learn, and bring into remembrance what the Holy Day represents in the plan of God.

Dropping down now to verse 9—And the Eternal spoke to Moses, saying, Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them, When you come into the land which I give to you, and reap its harvest, then you shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest to the priest. He shall wave the sheaf before the Eternal, to be accepted on your behalf; on the day after the Sabbath, the priest shall wave it.

And you shall offer on that day, when you wave the sheaf, a male lamb of the first year, without blemish, as a burnt offering to the Eternal. Its grain offering shall be two-tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil, an offering made by fire to the Eternal, for a sweet aroma; and its drink offering shall be of wine, one-fourth of a hin.

You shall eat neither bread nor parched grain nor fresh grain until the same day that you have brought an offering to your God; it shall be a statute forever throughout your generations in all your dwellings.

As I read these scriptures I think how easy it is to just read that and say, “Okay.” However, we should not. First, the Eternal God spoke those words to Moses. He worked with Moses molding and fashioning him so He could share those words with him. It is not by chance or accident.

God wanted to give these words to Israel, and Moses had the privilege then to take those words directly to them. He spoke these words to a physical people that had only physical understanding. But brethren, these words are for us too, spiritual Israel. We have the blessing of completely understanding the meaning. We can be thankful to God for that. And remember, you can lose what you have if you do not do your part of repenting of sin quickly. This is owed to nobody.

I want to now continue in verse 15 where we learn of how to determine when Pentecost is. This is the only Holy Day that this happens.

So, verse 15—And you shall count for yourselves from the day after the Sabbath, from the day that you brought the sheaf of the wave offering: seven Sabbaths shall be completed. Count fifty days to the day after the seventh Sabbath; then you shall offer a new grain offering to the Eternal. You shall bring from your dwellings two wave loaves of two-tenths of an ephah. They shall be of fine flour, and they shall be baked with leaven. These are the first fruits to the Eternal.

We understand and know that the two loaves made with leaven represent the 144,000. They were made with leaven because the 144,000 had sin in their lives. The Passover made it possible to be forgiven of these sins once repented of, but there was sin.

Now continuing in verse 18—And you shall offer with the bread seven lambs of the first year, without blemish, one young bull, and two rams. They shall be as a burnt offering to the Eternal, with their grain offering and their drink offerings, an offering made by fire for a sweet aroma to the Eternal.

Then you shall sacrifice one kid of the goats as a sin offering, and two male lambs of the first year as a sacrifice of a peace offering. The priest shall wave them with the bread of the first fruits as a wave offering before the Eternal, with the two lambs. They shall be holy to the Eternal for the priest.

And you shall proclaim on the same day that it is a holy convocation to you. You shall do no customary work on it. It shall be a statute forever in your dwellings throughout your generations.

We gather with those of like mind, and we do not work on this day, just like the weekly Sabbath. We come before God to be taught more of His plan. We are to do this forever.

In one of my previous sermons called, We are To Work, I covered a responsibility of a parent to their child. Part of that is teaching God’s ways and making sure they understand God’s plan for mankind. In quoting from the scriptures as I just did, we as adults understand what I said for the most part. We have been blessed with several sermons on the subject, and after researching for this sermon, I do mean several sermons, articles, and publications to explain it and break it down.

So, today I want to read a few things from the Bible Stories Book on the church website for our younger members sitting here today. This is in part what is said:

“Pentecost” means “count fifty.” Pentecost is seven Sabbaths, or 49 days, plus one more, which is 50, and this always ends up on Sunday. God says to start counting with the first day of the week that is during the Days of Unleavened Bread. What day is the first day of the week? Sunday.

By counting fifty days starting with Sunday during the Days of Unleavened Bread, you will know the exact date Pentecost is to be observed. It will always fall on a Sunday. All the other Holy Days can fall on any day of the week. Pentecost is the only Holy Day we can be sure always falls the same day of the week.

I have read what God inspired in the scriptures. What we are to bring into remembrance. What the day of Pentecost, and what God commanded Israel to do.

As I started to think about the Day of Pentecost I started to think about how much has happened on the Day of Pentecost or things that have transpired because of Pentecost. I want to bring into remembrance today not just what Pentecost is, but what has been delivered on the day of Pentecost too. The Day of Pentecost has much for us to learn from.

The title of today’s sermon is History That Involves Pentecost.

So much has happened on Pentecost throughout the history of the Church and at least two big challenges to the Church that involved Pentecost. I’d like to start with one of those today.

We know that originally when God revealed the Holy Days to Mr. Armstrong, one of His end-time apostles, that Pentecost was kept on a Monday. God then revealed to Mr. Armstrong that this was not correct. Some lived this and others have heard about it. We know that Mr. Armstrong took about a year to study this because he did not take it lightly. Mr. Armstrong was responsible to God and He wanted to make sure He got it right and it was what God wanted.

Once that decision was made, God’s Church was tested. Mr. Armstrong was criticized for taking a year to research and wait and rely on God for the answer. He was criticized that he did not change the day fast enough and criticized for changing it at all.

Those who criticized Mr. Armstrong forgot who Mr. Armstrong was and how God works. All truth comes from God through His Son Joshua to His apostles. This was a trial for God’s people. Several people left God’s Church over this.

There was another time, another Pentecost, in our recent past that we all lived through that had great significance, and that was May 27, 2012. We as God’s people, based on our current truth, believed that Joshua was going to return on May 27th. We all have stories we can share of our conviction.

Most of God’s people believed that this was the day that Joshua would return to up until we were told it was not. Most of God’s people believed this was the day that Joshua would return to set up God’s rule, God’s Kingdom, and then we were told it was not. Brethren, I said “most of God’s people,” because some did not believe as they should have. They were here in our midst just sitting and waiting, but not truly believing. And you know this to be true because God used it to cleanse those who did not believe out. Those who do truly believe God and what He says will be revealed in God’s time. Those who do not will be revealed in God’s time. But make no mistake, those who do not believe will be revealed.

This was another time in God’s Church that tested and tried His people, and God used it to remove those who did not put Him first. We know that when God cleanses the Church it can hurt because we see loved ones go by the wayside, but we know that it brings us one step closer to the unity needed in God’s Church before the return of our brother and soon coming King, Joshua.

Christ will return to a clean unified Church. In that, we can take joy. God and His plan must be first in our lives, or they are not. If they are first in our lives, we rejoice before God no matter what.

Now, brethren, let’s turn over to Exodus 19. God gave the Ten Commandments to the Israelites on Pentecost. The Israelites had left Egypt and crossed the Red Sea. They had kept the Days of Unleavened Bread, and God led them to Mount Sinai.

Exodus 19:1-3—In the third month after the children of Israel had gone out of the land of Egypt, on the same day, they came to the Wilderness of Sinai. For they had departed from Rephidim, and had come to the Wilderness of Sinai, and camped in the wilderness. So Israel camped there before the mountain.

I want to turn over to Deuteronomy 4. This is another place in scripture that talks about this. It was at this time on the Day of Pentecost God gave the Israelites the Ten Commandments.

Deuteronomy 14:11—Then you came near and stood at the foot of the mountain, and the mountain burned with fire to the midst of heaven, with darkness, cloud, and thick darkness. And the Eternal spoke to you out of the midst of the fire. You heard the sound of the words but saw no form; you only heard a voice.

So He declared to you His covenant which He commanded you to perform, the Ten Commandments; and He wrote them on two tablets of stone. And the Eternal commanded me at that time to teach you statutes and judgments, that you might observe them in the land which you cross over to possess.

I’d like to read now from Chapter 8 of The Fall of the United States. It states:

Although the law of God was given to the Israelites on the day of Pentecost, God revealed to mankind that His way of life cannot be lived through human effort alone, but mankind must also have the power of His holy spirit living in them. That is what was lacking in the children of Israel. It is still lacking in the lives of all who dwell on the earth except for those in the true Church of God whom the Father has called to understand this truth.

Again, I’d like to read for our younger members, from the Bible Stories Book today. It states:

After the children of Israel came out of Egypt, God gave them the Ten Commandments on Pentecost on Mount Sinai. They were simple to understand, but without God’s spirit living in the Israelites they were impossible to keep. The Israelites never were able to keep them righteously before God. Their pride and human nature always got in the way. There was something missing - it was God’s spirit.

People needed to see that without God living in them, they would not be able to keep even ten simple commandments. Without God’s spirit, man is limited in his reasoning, his understanding, and his ability.

So, saying it again, without the help of God’s holy spirit, we are limited. We cannot understand who or what God is. We are blind. Remember, you are cut off from the flow of the holy spirit when you sin, and if unrepented of quickly, you become limited again.

Brethren, that will now take us up to another event on the Day of Pentecost. God established His Church on the Day of Pentecost, 31 AD, and gave His holy spirit. It takes the power of the holy spirit to truly observe the keeping of God’s law as intended.

On the “About” tab on the Church of God - PKG website it states:

God established His Church on the annual Holy Day of Pentecost in 31 AD, and that Church has always carried His name—the Church of God. It is the oldest and it is the original Church that calls itself Christian.

God’s true Church has continued only as a small organization since 31 AD, and it has been His purpose that His Church remain that way until His Son returns in a second coming. God’s purpose has never been that His Church should grow into the millions before He sends His Son as the Messiah—the Christ—the one anointed to reign as King of kings over the nations.

God established His Church on Pentecost 31 AD. When He established the Church, He knew we would need help. So as God established the Church of God, God sent the holy spirit, the helper or comforter that Christ had taught the disciples would come. God was about to establish you cannot understand or serve Him without the holy spirit.

Let’s turn over to Acts 2 and read of this account. Acts 2:1—When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were filled with the holy spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the spirit gave them utterance.

We are familiar with and understand that everyone was hearing in their own language, and this was because of God's holy spirit.

Let’s turn over now to Romans 8. Here we read about the holy spirit also. God is giving us even more about the holy spirit and its importance to our salvation. Without God’s spirit, we are nothing. We are open game to the influences of Satan.

Romans 8:14—For as many as are led by the spirit of God, these are sons of God. The holy spirit is what makes us sons of God. With the impregnation of the holy spirit, we are now an embryo growing until each one is complete maturity and born into the God Family.

Verse 15—For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, Abba, Father. The spirit itself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.

“Our spirit” being the spirit in man that God revealed also through Mr. Armstrong, and that is Truth 9. Truth 9 states:

9 (6) The human spirit in man. The difference between the human mind and animal brain is that there is a human spirit within the human brain that gives the ability of free thought, creativity, and memory. This human spirit must be united with the spirit of God for man to be able to come to know the true ways of God.

Verse 17—and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with him, that we may also be glorified together.

The holy spirit makes us heirs, and we can inherit just like Christ. Becoming a part of Elohim, the Family of God, utilizing the fruits of the holy spirit so we can glorify our Father.

I want to read Truth 7 now. Truth 7 is another truth that God restored to the Church during the era of Philadelphia via His apostle, Mr. Armstrong. Truth 7 states:

7 (4) Who and what is God. God is a Family into which we may be born. God’s spirit witnesses with our spirit that we are begotten children of God.

So, God’s holy spirit proves to our spirit we are begotten heirs. Without the holy spirit of God in us we have no chance to be born into the God Family; we have no chance to become Elohim.

God also established His end-time Church on the Day of Pentecost in 1998. This small group is referred to as the remnant because the Church is a very small group, and it started with those God called out of the scattered Churches after the Apostasy and gave them the blessing of knowing Him again after they had been vomited out of His mouth because they went to sleep and no longer were able to repent of their sins. God had no choice but to vomit this lukewarm group of individuals out because God cannot and will not dwell in sin. Some of us sitting here today are part of that group.

On the Church of God – PKG website, in The 57 Truths of God, it states: “The death of Herbert W. Armstrong in 1986 also brought an end to the era of Philadelphia.” This, of course, is referring to an era that was part of the Church of God that was established on Pentecost of 31 AD.

Going on: “Then the seventh and final era of Laodicea began, which led up to the prophesied Apostasy that would mark the beginning of a countdown to Christ’s second coming. That era of Laodicea continued until it came to an end on Pentecost of 1998. During this entire period of the era of Laodicea, NO additional truths were revealed to God’s Church.”

I want to turn over to Revelation 3. We should understand that God could not reveal truth to Laodicea because Laodicea was lukewarm and steeped in their own pride.

Revelation 3:14—And to the angel of the Church of the Laodiceans write, These things say the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God, I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. Because you say, I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing — and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked.

When I read that, and I think that that was me, it makes me sick. Yet when I look back and I remember me at that time, it is so true. We were disgusting and we need to always remember that so we do not return to that spirit because we easily could without God in our lives.

Going on in The 57 Truths of God introduction: “It was after God reestablished His remnant Church on Pentecost 1998 that He began to once again restore and add more truth to His Church. God did this in preparation for the second coming of His Son to become King of kings over the nations of this world.”

Each and every one of us who was blessed to be awakened has a story to tell when that was for them. I love the beauty of God’s plan and how this was done in varying times and circumstances. This is only to enhance how God works intricately with each one of us. No two of us are the same.

Today, I will share my time. It was in the Kelly’s basement at the time God’s apostle came to the Cincinnati area to speak to a handful of us. Some of you sitting here with me today were in that basement. Unfortunately, some who were sitting there are not.

The bible study we heard was on the ten virgins. We are familiar that this was the first time the story of the ten virgins was expounded on, revealing all ten virgins went to sleep. For the sake of time, I am not going to go into any more of that except to say afterward on our drive home, I turned to my husband, and I said, “I know where God’s Church is.” At that moment God helped me to understand that I was home.

I want to also interject, brethren, while not all here today were part of Laodicea and were called afterward, you have a story to tell too, and someday you will share it.

Every one of us has a part to play in God’s end-time Church. Every one of us is equally important to the plan of God. God is in charge, and He is doing the calling, and He knows what is best.

In the sermon on the Sabbath of June 8, 2019, the day before Pentecost of 2019, in the sermon titled, The First Count for Pentecost, Part 1, it states:

There are times we don’t grasp what’s happening in a spirit world. There have been battles there in massive ways in this end-time. One day we’ll learn a whole lot more about that. There are battles then because of that that have happened around the Church and in the Church over and over and over again. Even after the Apostasy we went through battle after battle after battle after battle, wearisome battles at times. Because as a family we draw closer together; we want to see each person be a part and share.

I think of that song, “We walked to God’s house side by side, and counsel blended sweet,” and then in the background a dagger, another dagger, another dagger, and all looking forward to plunging them into your back. That’s the mind and it’s against God. It’s about God. It’s about an attitude toward God and God’s way of life and God’s truth because it comes down to it that there are people when they get into a certain frame of mind that they really are against God. They don’t grasp that on a spiritual plane but that’s what happens.

We experience those things and it’s good that we do. It’s because of those things, and even what’s more important than all that, the victories. Do you know what the victories are? News Watch, Time is Running Out, Time Has Run Out, The Prophesied End-Time, 2008—God’s Final Witness, those are the victories. All the truths that God has given through this period of time, those are the things that give us the courage, the strength, the boldness, the confidence to see what we see.

Because as long as we hold on to those things, that is our power, that is our life. It takes God’s spirit to have those things and to retain those things and to see those things. It is by God’s spirit. But the fact that we’re able to have them, the fact that we’re able to have them in our minds and to see them, what an incredible thing.”

Brethren, what I think is awesome are the victories that God has given His Church since June of 2019. My speaking to you today is one of those victories.

We know that God reestablished His Church on Pentecost of 1998. We know that our commission as God’s end-time Church is in our name, Church of God-PKG, Preparing for the Kingdom of God.

This got me thinking about the sermon that would have been given on Pentecost 1998. The church website does not go back that far, and I got rid of my cassette tapes a long time ago, but I have every note I have taken since the Kelly basement, so I went back and found my notes from that day. I was really amazed by some of the things I have written down in that some of it is the same message we are being given now. But of course, that should not be surprising because it is all inspired by God.

I want to share with you a couple of those things that I noted from the sermon and make some comments about them. Also, I think it is interesting that we were literally just coming out of being asleep. Remember that with the reestablishment of God’s Church on Pentecost of 1998, Laodicea had stopped. While some of the notes below I’m about to read may seem like a “Duh” at this time, we need to start to be reminded again.

My first comment: “We should feel more of the spirit of God on God’s High Days.” Brethren, we know and understand that on the High Day we are in a holy convocation with God and Christ. God is teaching us more about His plan on these days. If we are repentant of our sins, we should feel this.

“We don’t hear God because of sin.” We know that God cannot be around sin. God cuts us off from the flow of His holy spirit, and without God’s spirit working with the spirit of man, we know nothing. We become very limited.

“If our relationships with people aren’t right then we cannot hear God or have a relationship with God.” We know we’ve heard this a lot, and this is because it’s a sin. We have no right to hold anything against anyone. If we harbor anything against God’s people who belong to God, who are God’s, who are to become God’s, then we have no relationship with God.

“We have forgotten about the true meaning of Pentecost.” And again, of course, we did. We were vomited out of God’s mouth and cut off from God Almighty. This is the price you pay when the flow of God’s spirit stops.

“Why are we here? Because we were called.” Brethren, we have a calling. We’ve heard this so many times and it is up to us to make our calling and election sure. Stay close to God.

“We must come to a point where we are willing to give our life to God.” Joshua set us an example. Are we willing to put God first in our lives and sacrifice self up to and including dying for God Almighty? We better be.

“God did not call us to sit on the fence. We will be sifted.” God’s Body will be clean before Joshua returns. If you are sitting here and not repenting, and that means changing, you will be removed. We learned that very clearly on Passover this year. Heed God’s warning.

“We are the Church of God.” We are the called-out ones. We are the only group that truly belongs to God. We are Church of God-PKG.

“We are called to be a part of the God Family.” The Family of God was lost during Laodicea. It was not spoken of. We are to become Elohim.

“[Joshua the] Christ so loved and believed God’s plan that He gave His life for us.” Joshua believed his Father and he set us an example. He became our Passover. We must believe, live, and love the plan of God. It is all we have.

“This is not a time to play games.” We will either listen and repent and change or God will remove us. We will either leave on our own or God’s apostle will tell us to leave. We get away with nothing.

“We brought things into the Church we shouldn’t have brought in.” As God called us back, those of us that had been vomited and had been cut off for so long, we had to change our lives again. We had to learn to love God and put Him and His Family first. We cannot allow what we were then, weak and groggy, to ever happen again.

“We have been invited to be a first fruit.” Joshua fulfilled his purpose and is now the first of the firstfruits. God has invited us to join Joshua. Brethren, accept that invitation and say “Yes.” It is up to you.

I’d like to now turn over to Romans 8:22—For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body.

Brethren, we have talked about some of our history that revolves around the Day of Pentecost, showing us how much value this Holy Day has. Now, let’s read a couple of the truths that deal with Pentecost. Most or part of these truths will be fulfilled on the Day of Pentecost. Let’s start with Truth 27. This truth has happened.

27 (6) All in God's Church during the era of Laodicea were Laodicean (This was me. This is others hearing the words of Truth 27 right now. But let me continue now.) (referring to the period after Mr. Armstrong’s death in January 1986 up to the Pentecost of 1998).

This is referring to the last era of God’s Church in regard to the list of eras in the book of Revelation. Brethren, some of us lived during the Philadelphia era of God’s Church. That era ended on January 16, 1986, when Mr. Armstrong died. The era of Laodicea started. This was a time when all were removed from God Almighty’s presence.

Then, on Pentecost of 1998, our Great God decided in His timing, Laodicea would stop and He blessed some to now become a part of His end-time Church, His remnant, the Church of God-PKG. Those who were vomited out of God’s mouth and sit here today hearing my words should be filled with a joy that words cannot explain. Those who are here today and are faithful to the work are the most blessed who have ever lived. Do not mess that up!

Now I want to read Truth 6:

6 (3) God’s purpose for mankind. God is reproducing Himself and no other church knows or preaches this truth. We are to be born of God and become God—in the God Family: Elohim.

On a Pentecost in the very near future, the first step of this truth will be fulfilled. It will be when the 144,000, God’s firstfruits, with Joshua, the first of the firstfruits, will make up the Family of God to this point. The 144, 000 will become spirit and join Joshua.

14 (11) The Millennium. The Kingdom of God will rule the nations on earth during this 1,000 year period. Joshua the Christ and the 144,000 who are resurrected to become kings and priests will rule and bring prosperity to the entire earth. For the first time in the history of mankind, since Adam sinned and God closed the way to the tree of life, salvation will finally be opened to all.

So again, we have talked about what happened on the Day of Pentecost. We have talked about truths that deal with the Day of Pentecost. God’s Church has so much that happened on the Day of Pentecost.

Today I want to end the sermon by talking about another truth that has not happened yet but will happen on a Pentecost in the future, and we can be sure of this because God revealed this to His apostle, Ron Weinland, to give to His people, to His Church, the Church of God-PKG.

Before I read that truth, I did want to read one more time from the Bible Stories Book.

Pentecost is an exciting Holy Day for God’s Church. This is the day that Christ will return and set up His Kingdom. 144,000 faithful people, most of whom have already died, will be brought back to life to rule alongside him. People such as Abraham, Sara, Isaac, Jacob, David, Daniel, Mary, and many more will be resurrected back to life, but not as human beings. They will be resurrected into a spirit body and become a part of God’s Family.

Christ will take over the governments of the world and will rule with fairness and justice. The 144,000 will have an opportunity to be a part of that government to help people. The rest of the people will also have an opportunity later on.

We live every day of our lives with the anticipation of Pentecost being fulfilled. We are sitting here right now having hoped it would be this Pentecost it would be fulfilled. And even though it was not this year, we immediately and obediently start looking to Pentecost of 2025. This is what drives God’s faithful servants.

So, brethren, I now want to read Truth 49:

49 (28) Joshua the Christ will return to this earth on a Pentecost, along with the 144,000. Pentecost in Old Testament times was the day the Wave Loaves were waved before God to be accepted by Him. These Wave Loaves represented this future group of the 144,000 who return with Christ in the Kingdom of God. They will then be in God’s Family—the firstfruits of God’s creation of Elohim. Indeed, this truth concerns the revelation given by God of the actual timing of Joshua the Christ’s return to establish the Kingdom of God that will reign over all nations. The Church of God has long believed that Joshua would return as the King of kings on the Feast of Trumpets. This is not true! The Feast of Trumpets is about the sounding of trumpets that lead up to Christ’s coming and of finally heralding that he has now become the King of kings over all nations.

Pentecost is about the firstfruits of God’s creation of Elohim. These 144,000 firstfruits of God are those called by God from among mankind over the past 6,000 years who were molded and prepared by Him to be in His government at Christ’s coming. Joshua the Christ is called the first of the firstfruits, and he is pictured by the Wave-Sheaf offering that was waved before God to be accepted by Him. This always occurred on a Sunday during the Feast of Unleavened Bread. It was from this point that people were to count forward by 50 days to know when to observe the annual Holy Day of Pentecost.

So it is on a Pentecost that the first of the firstfruits (Joshua) is united together with the rest of the firstfruits of God (the 144,000) to begin their reign on earth in God’s Kingdom. The Wave-Sheaf offering and the Wave Loaves offering are uniquely tied together in timing and purpose.

God reserved this revelation, for this very end-time, to be revealed at the time of the beginning of His final witness that He has been establishing. This “final witness” began on Trumpets of 2008. The scope and complete meaning of that witness has not yet been fully revealed. What has been given is that it will continue right up to the time when the destruction from the first four Trumpets begins to be poured out upon the earth. God’s final witness is about His Church, the world, and an evil spirit realm led by Satan. This final witness is about establishing a complete and final judgment upon these three groups.

Brethren, as we end I want to turn over to Ephesians 4:1-6. These scriptures were read at the end of the Pentecost sermon in 1998 and I want to end with it today.

Ephesians 4:1—I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

We in the Church of God-PKG, God’s remnant Church that was reestablished on Pentecost 1998, should too be a prisoner. We should be living our lives completely for God and Joshua. Nothing else should matter to us.

We received a calling, and we need to be living our lives glorifying God by our actions and showing Him daily that we want that calling. We desire that calling. We should give all we have for that calling.

Brethren, we will continue to strive to humble ourselves achieving a contrite heart, loving each other so that we are of one mind and have true peace. We are to be one with no drama or divisions among us. We are to follow what God gives us via His end-time apostle, Ron Weinland. We will work and fight so that when Joshua returns on whatever Pentecost God decides, we will be ready to do whatever our next stage is, whether it is as one of the 144,000 or to live into the Millennium.

Brethren, we must be clean. We must be ready.

1. Chapter 1