Previously, the first annual festival was laid out in vivid detail. Lasting a little over a week, this first gathering time for the children of Israel began with Passover and continued with the Feast of Unleavened Bread, including the day of First Fruits. As has already been discussed, Elohim designed these three mo’edim to teach us a vital lesson about how we can be made free from sin.

The experience of walking with Elohim in perfect harmony with His will is the first step in becoming the First Fruits unto Elohim. Called the First Fruits, this special group is also known as the 144,000. Having fully surrendered to the will of Elohim, they follow the Lamb’s every example, and stand "without fault" as spiritual "virgins" (a symbol of purity in doctrine and commitment to Elohim) before the throne of Elohim.

The physical sequence of the annual mo’edim directly parallels the spiritual order in which Christians progress on the path of life. Through Passover and the Week of Unleavened Bread the observer experiences forgiveness and cleansing from sin. Having been made clean, one may effectively pray for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit promised in Pentecost. In the Day of Trumpets, the spiritually cleansed and Spirit-empowered Christian is ready to join the ranks of Elohim’s messengers giving the last call to the world.

Once cleansed, empowered and commissioned to give the gospel call, Elohim’s people stand ready to face the time of judgment, upon the Day of Atonement. Those who keep the feasts are now fully prepared for the experience of the final holy days. As Tabernacles arrives, these cleansed and empowered Christians are ready to meet their Redeemer and spend eternity with Him in a sinless universe. Thus, we find that the order in which the mo’edim occur is also a lesson on the steps the Christian will take during the process of "growing in grace."

Having already discussed the lessons of Passover and Unleavened Bread, we have studied the first step a Christian will spiritually take. To begin "growing in grace," we will be forgiven for our past sins and accept heaven’s power to keep us from sinning in the future. In essence, the fact that we may be forgiven, cleansed, and spiritually transformed to live a victorious life is the good news of the Gospel.

Once we have accepted this Gospel message and it has become real in our own lives, we are ready to experience the last of the spring mo’edim: Pentecost. This is the outpouring of the wonderful gift that our heavenly Father is anxious to bestow upon us.

The single most prayed about subject in churches today is the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Yet our prayers seem to go unheard. We pray to see the gospel message carried to the whole world, as occurred after the apostles received the former fulfillment of Pentecost. Through the power of Pentecost, a mere handful of men once carried the gospel to the entire earth. What could a church do with such power? The prophet Joel tells us what the Latter Rain will be like.

In Acts we see the record of what happened after the followers of Christ received the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. The sick were made well, thousands were converted in a single day, and the spiritually and physically dead were restored to life again. All this was the fruit of Pentecost. The outpouring of the Holy Spirit in this early taste of the Latter Rain was like spiritual lightning in its power.

Even more than a loving parent wishes to give his child good things, Elohim desires to give us the Holy Spirit. Yet we are still waiting for the final fulfillment of Pentecost to come upon us. Why does YHWH delay in sending His spiritual lightning to fall upon us, empowering us to finish the Gospel work?

Physical lightning is intense. From it, we may draw a spiritual parallel enabling us to better understand how to receive the promised heavenly lightning. Just how powerful is lightening? A bolt’s current is up to 30,000 Amperes and its strike carries in excess of 1,000,000 volts. In less than one second, lightning heats the air up to somewhere between 15,000 to 60,000 degrees. It is this quick heat, which causes rapid air expansion, and results in a thunderous boom that is heard for miles around.

Lightning is undoubtedly impressive. But, it is NOT random! It does not strike merely by chance or accident. Scientists have discovered that for lightning to strike, a channel must first be opened from the ground! This happens when enough positively charged ions are collected near the earth. Then an invisible pathway called an Upward Positive Leader is formed. Lightning strikes through this prepared channel.

In the strike of a lightning bolt we find a spiritual parallel to the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Unless we are preparing our hearts to receive Him, we will never become a channel for the power of Pentecost. If we would receive this heavenly blessing, we will first, through the grace and strength of Elohim, be made ready in righteousness.

Again we see that even the order in which the mo’edim occur was by heavenly design. First, comes the righteousness then comes the rain. When we have let the lessons of the first mo’edim sink in and take root unto righteousness, we are prepared for Pentecost.

The reason that we have not yet received the experience of Pentecost is that we have not fully received the life-changing messages of Passover, Unleavened Bread and First Fruits. Thus we see that the problem is not with Elohim, it is with us. In fact, rather than becoming spiritual lightning rods, many of us have been insulators.

The most effective spiritual "lightning-insulation" is the Laodicean condition. This Laodicean apathy is really a lack of commitment to Elohim. Coupled with dimmed spiritual perception, the individual views him or herself as eternally acceptable and spiritually without any need.

Not only does the Laodicean "Christian" believe himself to be spiritually acceptable in the eyes of heaven, but also, he considers himself to possess all the truth he needs to reach the kingdom. Such a person, when presented with "new light" reveals his Laodicean identity by asking, "Is that a salvational issue?" By which he means, "I already have all the information, doctrine, and truth I need to be saved. This extra teaching is not important, and I need not heed it."

What many don’t realize is that in rejecting further enlightenment, they have rejected the process of creating the lightning channel. Consequently, they effectively insulate themselves against the possibility of being struck by heaven’s greatest and most energizing spiritual power.

Spiritual light is truth that shines from the Word of Elohim. As David explained, "Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path" (Psalm 119:105). To be enlightened, we will not only listen to "new light," but we will also study it carefully. Never will the true follower of Christ reject a teaching merely because it is new. If a message is to be shunned, it will only be because one HAS studied it, and thereby proved it to be out of harmony with the teachings of Scripture.

Once tested against Scripture and proven to be Biblical truth, light will be fully embraced through a life that is transformed to be in harmony with it. Learning more and more truth from the Word of Elohim and adjusting our life to obey each precious teaching is called "growing in grace." Peter stated this idea succinctly when he wrote, "But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Adonai and Saviour, Y’shua Christ" (2 Peter 3:18).

This process of growing in grace is more than knowledge. We will embrace and obey every Biblical truth we find. We are to walk in harmony with Elohim’s holy Law. The light that we have been given is to transform our character. Only in this obedient lifestyle will we continually abide in heavenly light and be prepared to receive Christ’s promised "lightning."

Hating to modify their lives, many reject hearing truth for fear it might convict them of their need for change. Still more hear the message, but set aside the teaching rather making any life-changes. Such ones do not love truth. Ones who do not love truth demonstrate a deep-seeded love for self-righteousness. Not only will these ones no longer receive any more of Elohim’s precious light, but also Elohim will cause that one to be utterly deceived (which is the epitome of spiritual darkness).

Actually the outpouring of Biblical doctrine, accepting the Early or Former Rain is vital in preparing for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit (the Latter Rain). Just as building a lightning channel is an essential first step in enabling the lightning to strike, so accepting Elohim’s doctrine is the pre-requisite to receiving the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.

To all Laodiceans, this is a strong message. They don’t have all the needed light. They don’t have every salvational doctrine already in their possession, yet they want no more. They do not love truth for it requires them to change. They say that they love YHWH, but their lives and choices demonstrate that they love the world too much to renounce their grasp upon it. They consider themselves part of Elohim’s church but, without a deep love for truth, they are wholly lost.

Laodiceans must awake to see their own need for truth that they might be drawn to love and embrace it when it comes from heaven. There is only one solution to Laodicea’s spiritual poverty. Elohim offers pure gold, righteous clothes, and spiritual eye drops.

How does a Laodicean lightning insulator become a lightning rod? By living up to the light one has, being open to study and embrace the promised new light. Then, by the grace of Elohim, we will be filled with heavenly fruit (see Galatians 5:22-23), demonstrating that our hearts are truly transformed by the Spirit.

Do we truly want to see the gospel carried to the entire world? Do we desire to be instrumental in bringing thousands to salvation? Do we truly have an interest in seeing the power of heaven mercifully unleashed, bringing hundreds in a single day to their knees in repentance and conversion? Do we really want Elohim’s lightning to strike us? If our answer is "yes," then we will take the first step.

Pentecost, or the Feast of Weeks, was specifically given to mankind for the purpose of focusing man’s attention on his need for the Holy Spirit. It was a day of rest – an annual Sabbath (see Leviticus 23:15-21). The disciples in the Early Christian Church understood that Pentecost was the key to reaching the world with the Gospel.

Happenstance did not bring the disciples together on Pentecost. They weren’t merely praying on that day by chance. They were keeping Pentecost, as Elohim had instructed His followers to do. However, this particular Pentecost was to be unprecedented. It was a fulfillment of this annual Sabbath, which had been kept by Elohim’s people for centuries. Clearly demonstrating that this festival was not fulfilled at Calvary, this fulfillment of Pentecost occurred after Christ’s death.

From this powerful Pentecost, a handful of humans were empowered to carry the gospel to the entire then-known world. In the same way, Elohim’s people will be empowered to take the Gospel to the whole world just before His return. Once again Pentecost will be fulfilled, this time in its ultimate fulfillment. The Holy Spirit will empower every person who has prayerfully prepared for this spiritual lightning.

Doctrine is a focal issue in preparing for Pentecost. Before we may receive the outpouring of the Holy Spirit we will first absorb every ray of spiritual light that will shine forth from the Word of Elohim, growing up in the knowledge of the truth. This doctrinal connection to the experience of Pentecost gains definition in light of the Torah.

How is Pentecost connected to the Law of Elohim? First, consider when the Torah was given on Mount Sinai. The children of Israel arrived at Mount Sinai and received the Torah in the third month.

The first month of the Biblical year is called Abib, and is the month of Passover. The Israelites had left Egypt on Passover, which occurs during the modern calendar month of April. The third month of the year coincides with the contemporary month of June. This is the time of Pentecost.

Thus, we begin to see that the Law was likely given on Sinai at Pentecost. Fittingly then, Elohim’s Law is the doctrinal foundation we will embrace if we would experience the final fulfillment of Pentecost. This concept will be strengthened as we further delve into the light of the fourth angel, from Revelation eighteen. For now, let us leave the doctrinal issues of this special time while we continue with the more metaphysical aspects of the Pentecostal experience.

The whole book of Joel is about the final conflict and the Great Tribulation, which will be faced at the end of the world. Couched significantly within this theme, we find the beautiful promise of a heavenly rainstorm. The Latter Rain will fall to prepare the spiritual harvest of souls.

This ultimate outpouring, fulfilling the annual Sabbath of Pentecost will enable Elohim’s people to carry the gospel to every corner of the world. This will happen before our Saviour returns.

Looking at this text, which prophecies the preaching of the gospel to whole world, some have mistakenly believed that the end of time must be centuries away. Men have calculated the length of time it will take to spread the Gospel to every language, civilization, and people, and have come up with hundreds of years –even with our present technological advances.

Yet this humanistic calculation does not take into account the power of the imminent, heavenly rainstorm. In the first Pentecostal outpouring, which the Bible characterizes as a "moderate" outpouring (see Joel 2:23) a roomful of people were empowered and commissioned to carry the Gospel message to the entire world. Fueled by the power of Pentecost, the Early Christians reached the entire then-known world with the Gospel message in a very short amount of time.

Talk about a flash of heavenly lightning! This first outpouring of the Holy Spirit revolutionized the world! But, in the final Pentecost, Elohim’s gathering rainstorm will be fully unleashed upon the world. What would have taken hundreds of years to accomplish -even with technology- will happen with lightning speed through the power of the Holy Spirit.

By the ultimate fulfillment of Pentecost, this heavenly lightning will flash upon the earth with such dazzling brilliance that every sin-darkened corner will be bathed in its beauty.

Does this sound like a message we should do away with, claiming that this holy day was fulfilled at the Tree of Calvary? Such an idea is wholly without Biblical merit. The very experience we most need to finish the work upon the earth is foreshadowed in this sacred day. No wonder our Torah-Giver instructed His people to keep it in every generation until the end of time.

There can be no doubt that the rainstorm of the century –of the millennia- is coming. The Latter Rain will fall and the heavenly lightning will strike. The only question is: Will the lightning strike you? Are you preparing your soul temple to receive the outpouring of the Holy Spirit? Are you becoming a channel through which heaven’s power may reach the darkest corners of this old world?

Now is the time to become a channel through which the heavenly lightning will flash. Now is the time to shake off every piece of Laodicean insulation. The rainstorm is coming. Get ready to receive it that you may have a powerful part in the work of carrying the gospel to the entire world!

• The experience of Pentecost will only fall upon those who have first accepted the message of Passover, have experienced the cleansing process exemplified in the Feast of Unleavened Bread, and have become the righteous first fruits of the harvest to come.
• These "First Fruits", also known as the 144,000, are a special group of Elohim’s people, which will carry the last message to the world and bring in the final harvest.
• Pentecost is an annual holy day that takes place during the third month of the Biblical year – which falls during June in a modern calendar.
• Pentecost is to be kept like a Sabbath. Its focus is the acceptance of all Biblical doctrine while prayerfully awaiting the final outpouring of the latter rain.
• Because of its refreshing and revitalizing qualities, the outpouring of the Holy Spirit is likened to rain.
• When the Early Rain of the Holy Spirit, upon Pentecost, was poured out upon the disciples, they were empowered to speak languages they didn’t know, to drink poison without being harmed, to heal the sick and to raise the dead. Most importantly because of Pentecost, a roomful of people was empowered to spread the Gospel to the entire world.
• Each year, as we observe Pentecost, we look forward to the final outpouring of the Holy Spirit, and we do a Spirit-lead self-check to see whether we are becoming lightning insulators or lightning channels.
• If we are to receive the Pentecostal experience, we will be preparing for it now by loving and embracing all Biblical truth.