Today we reach Day #49 of Counting the Omer. By the
4
9th day of counting, the barley harvest is complete (the first fruits) and the wheat harvest begins. Jesus, of course, was described as the first-fruit and we are to be like Him.
For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. But each in his own turn: Christ the firstfruits; then at His Coming, those who belong to Him.
~ 1 Corinthians 15:22-23
The number "
forty-nine" is found only 1 time in 1 scripture verse to describe the 7x7 sabbaths of years:
And thou shalt number seven sabbaths of years unto thee, seven times seven years; and the space of the seven sabbaths of years shall be unto thee
forty and nine years.
~ Leviticus 25:8
The symbolic meaning of the number
49 is derived from the fact that it is a result of 7 times 7. With seven representing "completion" in scripture, 7x7 (
49) represents the penultimate perfect ending. If day #7 represents a Sabbath rest, then 7x7 represents a "MEGA-rest" leading to a Jubilee year when the captives will be set free.
It is quite interesting that the "Counting of the Omer" occurs only during the Barley Harvest. Barley is very easily threshed. To separate the kernel from the chaff, barley is sifted by throwing it in the air and letting the wind (symbol of the Holy Spirit) separate it. Barley represents those with a soft heart towards repentance. They are easily separated from the world as those who readily submit to the Lord's separation process and they are the very first to REPENT.
As we reach the end of Omer counting, those who are easily moved by the gentle blowing of the Holy Spirit have already been harvested, and now the rest of the harvest begins.
In the wheat harvest, it is more difficult to separate the "fruit" or seed from the chaff. Here are some very descriptive terms of what is required to harvest wheat:
To Harvest Wheat, first the wheat is CUT DOWN with either a pruner, a sickle or a scythe to separate the wheat from the chaff. Then the wheat sheaves are bundled and dried out before the threshing process. Typically, this is a 7 day "curing" process. Perhaps this is indicative of a 7 year tribulation period. A desert walk or "drying out" period.
The haughty looks of man shall be brought low, and the lofty pride of men shall be humbled, and the LORD alone will be exalted in that day. ~ Isaiah 2:11 (ESV)
Then, the threshing process begins. This separates the "fruit" head from the worthless straw and involves beating with a wooden bat, banging the seed heads inside a metal trash can and treading under foot. Beating is done with a flail. We see this symbolic concept in scripture:
Strike him with a rod (a flail), and you will deliver his soul from Sheol.
~ Proverbs 23.14
God's Holy Word is often described as a "rod of correction."
Next, the Straw (worthless works) are burned up but unlike the worthless tares, the "body" of the seed is saved.
If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay or straw, his workmanship will be evident, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will prove the quality of each man's work.
~ 1 Corinthians 3: 12-13
Then, the sifting process begins which involves a whole lot of shaking.
The words, "Once more," signify the removal of what can be shaken-that is, created things-so that the unshakable may remain.
~ Hebrew 12:27
After threshing and sifting comes winnowing. Winnowing involves pouring from one container to another. It is done in front of a fan with more blowing wind.
His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.
~ Matthew 3:12 (NKJV)
Finally, for the finest flour, STONE-GRINDING in a mill is necessary. Too much heat reduces the quality.
You shall beat some of it very fine and put part of it before the testimony in the tent of meeting where I will meet with you; it shall be most holy to you.
~ Exodus 30:36
While reading this description, I could not help but wonder at God's amazingly descriptive symbolism! There are many of us who are resistant to submitting to God's ingathering by repenting. We should all pray to be like the BARLEY HARVEST because, after the Omer is counted, one might describe the next season of harvest as "let the beatings begin."
Like any good parent, those who remain stubbornly unrepentant will continue to be corrected with the rod of God's Holy Word, a few heads may get banged to get some brains released. Worthless works, those not of precious metals, are "trash canned." A little stomping under foot happens next.
You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.
~ Matthew 5:13
Lastly, God will pour out what remains into a new container while the powerful wind of the Holy Spirit is blowing as a fan-sifter.
I will scatter them with a winnowing fork at the gates of the land. I will bereave and destroy My people who have not turned from their ways.
~ Jeremiah 15:7
The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will weed out of His kingdom every cause of sin and all who practice lawlessness.
~ Matthew 13:41
While this may sound very harsh on the surface, the alternative is to have a reprobate child, a bad seed, who will go on to be a danger to himself and others. A seed that bears no fruit.
For the Lord disciplines whom He loves, and He scourges every son whom He receives.
~Hebrew 12:6
For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His Holiness. Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
~Hebrews 12:10-11
After the Wheat Harvest comes the Olive Harvest. Olives are PRESSED into service. This process is even more intense. During the olive harvest there will be great pressure on all sides, but we will rejoice in an increase of prophetic understanding of the times. Some of us will need multiple pressings to create the Extra-Virgin lamp oil which is necessary to be prepared for the Bridegroom as in the Parable of the Ten Virgins. (Matthew 25:1-13). The very word "Gethsemane" means oil press. It is where Jesus sweated great drops of Blood as He contemplated with prophetic understanding what was necessary for Him to go through.
After the Olive Harvest, comes the Fig Harvest. Ripe figs represent churches and church leaders who provide the correct gospel teaching so that we may be taught how to be partakers of His Holiness. Churches must pray to be examples of "early figs" lest they be cursed like the unproductive fig tree that Jesus came upon. The ripe ones will go on to bear much fruit. The others will shrivel and die in their apostasy.
Finally, let us prepare our hearts for the last stage of separation of the sheep from the goats. The Church will have to endure persecution, war, bloodshed and, for some, martyrdom. We know this will be God's final merciful attempt to bring all nations to repentance.
Today, with Day #49 completed, tomorrow we reach the 50th Day, also known as the Jubilee. As we can see from the symbolism found in the various harvests, this is a time of glaring juxtapositions. For some this is a time of Jubilee (freedom/release), for others it is a time of levelling (getting cut down).
In the final Jubilee, which no one except The Father knows for sure when that might be, it is the end of the countdown to Christ's return in Victory for His people. For the remaining impenitent it is the beginning of the countdown to the apocalypse. He comes in both Mercy AND Judgment unto Victory. We must understand that for many, Judgment IS Mercy! Better to be disciplined by the rod of God's correction NOW than be destroyed by Satan later!
With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.
~ Isaiah 26:9 (KJV)
A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory.
~ Matthew 12:20
It's Harvest time. Fear the Reaper. Repent NOW.
Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Instead, fear the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.
~ Matthew 10:28
