The Omer

   Omer written in Hebrew Feast of First Fruits
Leviticus 23:10 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye be come into the land which I give unto you, and shall reap the harvest thereof, then ye shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest unto the priest: 

דבר אל בני ישׂראל ואמרת אלהם כי תבאו אל הארץ אשׁר אני נתן לכם וקצרתם את קצירה והבאתם את עמר ראשׁית קצירכם אל הכהן

  The following photograph was taken from a Torah Scroll written in Morocco on goat skin. The yad (pointer) is indicating the verse Leviticus 23:10

Torah Scroll written in Morocco on goat skin. The yad (pointer) is indicating the verse Leviticus 23:10
Torah Scroll written in Morocco on goat skin. The yad (pointer) is indicating the verse Leviticus 23:10
The barley represents a vast harvest of souls that were harvested (gathered) during this feast. They were gathered from the “Heart of the Earth”, “Paradise” and taken to Heaven to the father when Jesus arose from the dead.

 

The Lamb of God brought the omer to the Father
The Lamb of God brought the omer to the Father

 

    There are several passages of Scripture that explain the details of the time between when Jesus “gave up the ghost” and the omer was presented to the Lord.

Christ descended to the heart of the Earth Feast of Firstfruits
Christ descended to the heart of the Earth Feast of Firstfruits
 

   The idea that there is an underground chamber in the “heart of the Earth” where the departed spirits of humans go after their body dies might sound questionable to some people.  The idea that there is a Creator is probably just as questionable to these people. The choice to believe is yours to make and the result of the choice has eternal consequences.

  When Adam was created, God breathed into him the breath of life and this breath of life has been passed on to every living person. 
  And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. Genesis 2:7

וייצר יהוה אלהים את האדם עפר מן האדמה ויפח באפיו נשׁמת חיים ויהי האדם לנפשׁ חיה׃

   Each person will eternally exist in the body or outside the body. The body is just where we presently live.
   For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.  For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven:  If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked.  For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.  Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit.  Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:  (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)  We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. 2 Corinthians 5:1-8

 

The Bible is clear there is a dwelling place at the heart of the Earth for departed spirits
The Bible is clear there is a dwelling place at the heart of the Earth for departed spirits

 that soul shall utterly be cut off

תכרת הנפשׁ

  Because he hath despised the word of the LORD, and hath broken his commandment, that soul shall utterly be cut off; his iniquity shall be upon him. Numbers 15:31

 

Hell from beneath is moved for thee to meet thee at thy coming: it stirreth up the dead for thee, even all the chief ones of the earth; it hath raised up from their thrones all the kings of the nations.isaiah 14:9  Sheol

שׁאול מתחת רגזה לך לקראת בואך עורר לך רפאים כל־עתודי ארץ הקים מכסאותם כל מלכי גוים

  Yet thou shalt be brought down  to hell , to the sides  of the pit Isaiah 14:15
Bor

בור

  And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: Revelation 20:13
Hades

  And he opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit. Revelation 9:2

… the rich man also died, and was buried; …  And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, Luke 16:22

   Between Torments and Paradise there is a great barrier to keep the occupants in place.

And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence. Luke 16:26

 

Hades and Paradise , the place of departed spirits before the resurrection
Hades and Paradise , the place of departed spirits before the resurrection

  

  For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. Matthew 12:40

And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.  But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?  And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.  And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.  And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.
Luke 23:39-43

Jesus went to Paradise when He died. He did not go to the place of torments in fire.

   There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:  And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,  And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.  And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;  And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.  And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.  But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.  And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.  Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house:  For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.  Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.  And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.  And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead. Luke 16:19-31

    Because thine heart was tender, and thou hast humbled thyself before the LORD, when thou heardest what I spake against this place, and against the inhabitants thereof, that they should become a desolation and a curse, and hast rent thy clothes, and wept before me; I also have heard thee, saith the LORD.  Behold therefore, I will gather thee unto thy fathers, and thou shalt be gathered into thy grave in peace; 2 Kings 22:19-20
לכן הנני אספך על אבתיך

   It is sad to believe that one of the men who was crucified with Jesus went to hell when he died. Jesus did not say anything about him. However, Jesus said to the other man who was also crucified with Him that on that very day they would both be in Paradise. Jesus went there to fulfill the feast of the barley harvest. He is going to gather all the grain and set aside some in what is symbolized in the Omer.

Jesus went to Paradise when He died He did not go to the place of torments
Jesus went to Paradise when He died He did not go to the place of torments

 

    The question is asked, “what happened to the Old Testament Saints who died before Jesus came to Earth? What happened to Adam and Eve, Abraham and Sarah, Ruth and Boaz, Daniel, Job, David?” They could not go to Heaven because their sins were not forgiven. There is only one way sins can be forgiven and that is with the shed blood of Jesus The Messiah. All other sacrifices only covered over them.

  For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.  For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins.   But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year.  For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.  Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me:  In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure. Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.  Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law;  Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.  By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.  And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:  But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; Hebrews 10:1-12

   The following photograph is from a Scroll of Isaiah written in Russia early in the 20th century. The Scripture shown is Isaiah 6:1-5.

Scroll of Isaiah written in Russia early in the 20th century. The Scripture shown is Isaiah 6:1-5.
Scroll of Isaiah written in Russia early in the 20th century. The Scripture shown is Isaiah 6:1-5.

Isaiah 6:1-5 In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple.  Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.  And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke.  Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.

Before the shed blood of the Promised Messiah, Jesus, no man could be in God’s presence.
Before the shed blood of the Promised Messiah, Jesus, no man could be in God’s presence.

 

Their body returned to dust but their soul went to Paradise

Adam

  And unto Adam he said, …  In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return. Genesis 3

Job

All flesh shall perish together, and man shall turn again unto dust.    Oh that my words were now written! oh that they were printed in a book!   That they were graven with an iron pen and lead in the rock for ever!  For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:  And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God:   Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, Job 19:23-27; Job 34:15

When Old Testament saints died their spirits went to Paradise
When Old Testament saints died their spirits went to Paradise

 

God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,  Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; Hebrews 1:1-3

    For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:  By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison; 1 Peter 3:19-19

When Jesus Died He went to Paradise and presented Himself. He did not go to the place of torments.
When Jesus Died He went to Paradise and presented Himself. He did not go to the place of torments.

 

  Jesus emptied Paradise because the ones there  finally had their sins  completely forgiven, once for all time. The Saints could now be in God’s presence.

    Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.   (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?  He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.) Ephesians 4:8-10

     Therefore hell hath enlarged herself, and opened her mouth without measure: and their glory, and their multitude, and their pomp, and he that rejoiceth, shall descend into it.
Isaiah 5:14

Jesus took all saints from Paradise upon His resurrection
Jesus took all saints from Paradise upon His resurrection

 

The Omer  rme

  Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye be come into the land which I give unto you, and shall reap the harvest thereof, then ye shall bring a sheaf rme of the firstfruits of your harvest unto the priest: Leviticus 23:10

The Omer rme was a very small part of the overall barley harvest. It was just a representation of the overall blessing of God.

Threshed and winnowed, Clean grain at Boaz threshing floor at Bethlehem
Threshed and winnowed, Clean grain at Boaz threshing floor at Bethlehem

 

   The omer rme is only this small representation of the entire harvest, that is to be brought to the Lord. As Jesus The Messiah left Paradise, He separated an omer’s worth of old Testament Saints for the fulfillment of this feast. Only these Saints from the entire number received their glorified bodies and they went into Jerusalem with the Lord before He went to the Father to present them.

But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. 1 Corinthians 15:20

  Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.  And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;  And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,  And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.
Matthew 27:50-53

  Some people ask, “What did they look like, did they glow in their glorified bodies?” The Bible says we will have bodies like His.

  Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 1 John 3:2

  And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.  But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit.  And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts?  Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.  And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet. And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat?  And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb.  And he took it, and did eat before them. Luke 24:36-43

  And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.  Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. John 20:26-27

   As far as we know from the Scripture these are the only people with glorified bodies including Moses and Elijah and Enoch. (Moses and Elijah are mention in the lesson of Tabernacles and Enoch is mentioned in the Feast of Trumpets.)

After the resurrection many saints appeared in Jerusalem
After the resurrection many saints appeared in Jerusalem

 

 

Jesus stopped in Jerusalem on His way back to Heaven
Jesus stopped in Jerusalem on His way back to Heaven

 

   And he shall wave the sheaf before the LORD, to be accepted for you: on the morrow after the sabbath the priest shall wave it. Leviticus 23:11

  What day did our Lord rise from the dead? To get involved with the circular reasoning of the Talmud and arguing about this Sabbath, that Sabbath, it seems the only reason for the confusion is that there are some who would do anything to get away from what the New Testament says. Jesus arose from the dead on the first day of the week which is the day after the Sabbath.

   And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him.  And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun. Mark 16:1-2

Jesus arose from the dead early on Sunday morning
Jesus arose from the dead early on Sunday morning

 

    In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.  And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.   His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men.  And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. Matthew 28:1-6

Jesus took back His body at the resurrection
Jesus took back His body at the resurrection

 

There have been several first century burial tombs with rolling rock doors found in Israel.
There have been several first century burial tombs with rolling rock doors found in Israel.

 

   But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre,  And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.  And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him.  And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus.  Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.  Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.  Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God. John 20:11-17

Jesus stopped Mary from touching Him
Jesus stopped Mary from touching Him
 

   Jesus the Lamb of God just arose from Paradise and before going on to Heaven and presenting Himself to the Father He stops in Jerusalem. At this time he allows no one to touch Him. Later when He returns He tells Thomas the following.

  Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.  And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.  Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed. John 20:27-29

What does the Bible mean by worship?
What does the Bible mean by worship?

 

Jesus took the omer to Heaven
Jesus took the omer to Heaven

 

 Jesus is the Priest who fulfilled the Scripture

And he shall wave the sheaf before the LORD, to be accepted for you:
Leviticus 23:11

והניף את העמר לפני יהוה לרצנכם

  He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. Isaiah 53:11

   And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Matthew 3:17

 

Only a small part of the saints received their bodies when they left Paradise
Only a small part of the saints received their bodies when they left Paradise

 

  Revelation 4:4  And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold.
4:10  The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying,
5:5  And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.
5:6  And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.
5:8  And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.

The Father accepted the Omer
The Father accepted the Omer

 

    When a person who has been “born again” dies the person is separated from the body and that person goes to Heaven in spirit form. When the Messiah Jesus in the clouds before the time of “Jacob’s Trouble”return the Tribulation He will bring these people in spirit form with Him to be reunited with their bodies. Their bodies will be put back together even if they were cast to the four winds or eaten by a wild beast.  The spirit and body will be reunited. The body at that time and for evermore will be in the glorified state never to see corruption again.

  There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another.  There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory.  So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:  It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power:  It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.  And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.  Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.  The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.  As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.  And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.  Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.  Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,  In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.  For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.  So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. 1 Corinthians 15:40-54

When a believer dies today their spirit goes to the Father to await the resurrection
When a believer dies today their spirit goes to the Father to await the resurrection

But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.  For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.  For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.   For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:  Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.  Wherefore comfort one another with these words. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17

Absent from the body, present with the Lord
copyright and credit line: Art used from Pat Marvenko Smith, copyright 1992.”Revelation Illustrated”

 

Some day there will be a huge harvest Feast of Firstfruits
Some day there will be a huge harvest Feast of Firstfruits
One of the great harvests will come out of the Tribulation

    After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;  And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.  And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God,  Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen. Revelation 7:9-12