An overview of the correct way to count for Pentecost observance
Answer:
Question: Why is Pentecost on May 27 in 2001, instead of on June 3? The latter date appears to be seven weeks from the Days of Unleavened Bread, and the May date seems to be a week too early.
Answer: The instruction for counting Pentecost is found in Leviticus 23:15-16. It tells us to count 50 days from the day after the Sabbath that falls during the festival of Unleavened Bread.
Normally, the task of counting is straightforward. However, when the Days of Unleavened Bread begin on the first day of the week and end on the weekly Sabbath, the Sabbath and the day after it do not both both fall during the festival. There are conceivably two ways to count Pentecost in this circumstance-begin counting from the first Holy Day, or, begin counting from the day after the last Holy Day.
Which way is correct? Thankfully, there is a scriptural example that answers this question. In the year described in Joshua 5, the Unleavened Bread festival began on the first day of the week, just as it does in 2001. In verses 11 and 12, we find that the Israelites ate of the spring harvest on the day after the Passover, something they could not do until the wave sheaf offering had been made (Leviticus 23:9-14). The wave sheaf, an offering taken from the spring crop before harvesting began, was offered on the same day from which Pentecost was to be counted (Leviticus 23:15).
The only way for the scene described in Joshua 5:11-12 to take place was that the wave sheaf was offered on the first Holy Day of Unleavened Bread, allowing the Israelites to begin eating the spring crop immediately. It also meant that Pentecost fell seven weeks from that day.
This example shows us how to calculate Pentecost in a year when the festival of Unleavened Bread begins on the first day of the week and ends on the weekly Sabbath, as it does in 2001. That is why we know that Pentecost falls on May 27 in 2001.
Q&A: Pentecost Follow-Up
Cecil E. Maranville
Since the November issue of United News ran a Q&A column addressing a question about the correct date for Pentecost in 2001, we have received a variety of follow-up questions via regular and e-mail. While it's not possible or feasible to address all of them here, we want to provide you with some additional information.
Some of our readers have assumed that the UCG IA is merely acting upon what was studied and published by the Worldwide Church of God on the subject in the mid-1970s. Others thought that the column was presenting a new teaching about counting Pentecost. The column wasn't based upon old information, nor did it present a new teaching. Rather, it was based upon a 19-page United Church of God Doctrinal Study Paper titled "Pentecost and Its Observance."
The study paper is not merely the republication of old research. To the contrary, a doctrinal team commissioned by the Council of Elders researched the subject thoroughly. Additionally, the team did a full review of previously written material along with recent submissions. Their conclusions were reported to the Council, which subsequently approved and distributed the entire Doctrinal Study Paper to all UCG IA elders in September 1997.
Some of our readers have sent research that they think the UCG IA should take into account. As the study paper outlines, all available credible research was already taken into consideration by the team during its research and review process. The study's conclusions did not alter how the Church of God has counted and observed Pentecost for the past few decades.
We don't want this additional information to generate hundreds of requests for the study paper, but we want to respond to all questions about the subject of Pentecost observance. The paper is not formatted for general distribution, but rather was intended to serve as a resource for our ministry. Anyone who would like to read the study paper in its entirety may borrow or obtain a copy from any UCG IA elder. If you do not attend a United Church of God congregation, please contact our home office at: United Church of God, P.O. Box 541027, Cincinnati, OH 45254-1027. UN
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