Last Sunday, May 28th, was Pentecost. In Hebrew, that day is called Shavuot which is another Biblical holiday. In the Bible, the days between Firstfruits (the day Christ rose) and Shavuot (Pentecost) were counted. They are exactly 50 days apart. Those days are called the counting of the "omer". What is an omer? An omer is a measure of barley or wheat. As shared in another, recent post on this blog, the Biblical holidays were tied to the agriculture cycle. Firstfruits was about bringing the first of the barley harvest to the Lord at the Temple in Jerusalem. The holiday of Shavuot (Pentecost) was tied to the wheat harvest.
The Bible writer says that Jesus ascended into heaven 40 days after His resurrection. (Acts 1:3) This means that Christ ascended into heaven on the 40th day of the counting of the omer. There were 10 days left to count to the 50th day which is Pentecost. (Pentecost means 50 in Greek) Shavuot means "Feast of Weeks" because 7 weeks were counted. Jesus ascended into heaven during those weeks of counting up to Pentecost, the day that God poured out His Spirit on those first Christians - those followers of Christ, the Messiah. This is when connecting the Bible to its Hebrew foundation is so deep and so meaningful.
Christ's ascension fills my heart with expectancy and joy because He promised He would return.
The Bible writer in Acts 1:9-11 says this:
"And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.
And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;
Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven."
Jesus is coming back.
The next verse says that Jesus’ disciples came from the Mount of Olives, which is where Christ ascended.
"Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet..." Acts 1:12
Thinking about the Mount of Olives reminds me of my trip to Israel five years ago in the spring of 2018. I'd been to Israel twice before, so it wasn't my first time there. There were things I hadn't gotten to see or do on my previous trips to Israel, so I was thrilled for the opportunity to go again. (a perk of being single!)
On my two, previous blogs, I shared about my trips to Israel. Sometimes, I miss my older blogs because of posts that I wrote on them, posts I no longer have. I started both of those blogs over 10 years ago (around 2012), blogs I no longer have. I’ve discovered that blogs are special, not only for inspiration, but also, for memories.
During my final day in Israel five years ago, the group I was with went to the Mount of Olives. I'd seen the Mount of Olives before, and on my first trip to Israel in 2010, I had the opportunity to walk up the Mount of Olives with a group at night. But, I'd never spent any time on the Mount of Olives during the day. I was delighted that our last day in Israel would give me an opportunity to see the Mount of Olives.
That trip to Israel included very special memories which I'll share in some pictures below.
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My plane ticket from Denver, Colorado to Newark, New Jersey where I boarded another plane to Tel Aviv, Israel. April 2018. |
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| Israel bound! April 2018. |
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| Beautiful sunrise over the Sea of Galilee from my hotel room window in Tiberias, Israel. April 2018. |
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| The Sea of Galilee, Tiberias, Israel. April 2018. |
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| Bleary eyed and so tired from jet lag here, but so happy to be back in the land of the Bible. In an ancient synagogue in Capernaum, Israel. April 2018. |
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| The Jordan River, near Jericho, Israel. April 2018. |
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| The Tower of David at night for an amazing light show on the history of Jerusalem. Old City Jerusalem. April 2018. |
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| Standing on the Temple Mount with a tour guide and friend named Katharine. Jerusalem, Israel. May 2018. |
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| A view of the inside of the Eastern Gate from the Temple Mount. |
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| A quick snapshot of the Dead Sea while riding in a van. |
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| The Qumran Caves where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found. |
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| Streams in the desert. En Gedi - a refreshing place in the desert where David once hid from King Saul. I can see why David came here. |
By this time, the Garden Tomb was becoming very familiar to me. I'd seen it three times on my second trip to Israel, and this was going to be my third time there on this trip. It's hard to stay away from a place you love.
The Mount of Olives was kind of a first for me. We got to the Mount of Olives that morning, around 11:00 a.m., I think.
There are places in Israel where you do not always know the exact spot or location of a story or event in the Bible. Even the place where Jesus died, was buried, and rose again is up for debate. There are two or three locations in Jerusalem that claim to be the place. (personally, I am convinced the Garden Tomb is that place based on evidence from Scripture) There are other places in Israel, though, where you can know, with certainty, that is the place. The Mount of Olives is one of those.
After parking and getting out of our van, we sat around as a group, opened our Bibles, and read familiar verses about the Mount of Olives. I had chills running through me. I was actually there on the Mount of Olives while reading about it! I took a few pictures of verses in my Bible about the Mount of Olives while sitting there.
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| The Mount of Olives is mentioned here in Matthew 26:30 |
After reading some verses, we were given time to walk around a little and contemplate. I glanced around at the many olive trees there. I could easily see why it was called the "Mount of Olives".
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| The Mount of Olives, Jerusalem, Israel. May 2018. |
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| The Mount of Olives with the Eastern Gate and Temple Mount in view. |
I took my little harp out of its case and played something. Someone in our group snapped a picture of me from behind. Later, someone in our group told me that they could picture Jesus sitting with His disciples where I was sitting. The Bible becomes so alive when you are sitting where Biblical events took place - or will take place! The word that comes to mind is surreal.
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| Playing my Davidic Harp on the Mount of Olives, Jerusalem, Israel. May 2018. |
And of course, while sitting there with the Eastern Gate in full view, directly in front of me, I thought about Christ's return. The angels who spoke to Jesus' disciples said He would return the same way He went up. The Bible says He will set His feet on the Mount of Olives when He returns to earth someday.
Zachariah 14:4 states this clearly:
"And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east..."
I couldn't help but look up into the cloudy sky above me. Jesus went up from here, right here.
I never like to complain about the weather because God is the One Who blesses us with both sunshine and rain, but I admit, I'm a sunshine girl. I love sunshine! Our last two days in Israel were overcast and cloudy which is somewhat unusual for Israel in May. Israel basically has two seasons, winter and summer, a rainy season and a dry season. We were entering their warmer, drier, summer season which usually includes sunshine. But not on this day. It was cloudy with dark clouds threatening to rain.
I sometimes pray about little, silly things. This was no exception.
“Abba Father, I wish it could be sunny on our last day here.”
I sensed God speak to my heart in a way that nearly moved me to tears.
“Erin, I wanted you to see, in a small way, what it was like here in Jerusalem on the day that my Son died.”
It was almost noon, and the clouds got darker over Jerusalem. Just as we began piling back into the van, it began to sprinkle, and on our brief drive to the Garden Tomb, it not only rained, it down poured!
When we arrived at the Garden Tomb, everything was dripping and soaking wet. But then, the sun came out, and everything seemed so fresh and clean! Drops of rain on plants and flowers sparkled in the sunlight.
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| Red-orange-yellow Lantana flowers at my favorite garden in the world, the Garden Tomb, Jerusalem, Israel. |
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| A view of Golgotha, the "place of the skull", with dark clouds overhead. I wonder how dark it got on the day that Christ died? |
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| A view of inside the Garden Tomb, where our dear Lord Jesus once laid. He is alive forevermore. Hallelujah! |
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| A broken, rifted rock very close to the crucifixion site. |
We finished our time that day at the Garden Tomb by playing our harps together and by sharing in communion as a group. We sat very close to the crucifixion site. With my small cup of grape juice in my hands, I glanced over my shoulder at the crucifixion site behind me where Christ once hung and died on a cross and shed His blood. Once again, the only word I can think of to describe such a moment is surreal.
I was seeing actual places where our Lord and Savior suffered and gave His life for you and me. Our time on the Mount of Olives and at the Garden Tomb was a fitting way to end our time in Israel. Our time on the Mount of Olives left a lasting impression on me.
I cannot help but think of the Mount of Olives on ascension day. Visiting the land of the Bible changes you. I wish every Christian could visit Israel at least once. Your faith becomes sight when you see places written about in the Bible, and when you grow up hearing Bible stories like I did.
As special as this trip was, nothing is going to compare to His return! He is coming soon.
“Soon and very soon, we are going to see the King” is a song I grew up singing. Its cheery melody is one that stays with you.
But how soon would we see our King? 20 years? 40 years?
We don't know. No one knows for sure. The Bible says that. But Jesus did say that we would know when His return was near, even "at the door". (Matthew 24:33)
Three years ago, back in 2020, when the Covid pandemic came upon the world, I wrote a post on one of my former blogs, a post that I, sadly, no longer have. It was about labor pains in comparison to Christ's return, something that Scripture mentions. Since then, I believe those "labor pains" have only increased.
In the past, I heard the majority of world news and politics through my Dad. I read things on the internet and heard things, but I was glad to hear most of it through my Dad. I knew that we lived in a sinful, evil world. I knew that Christ's return was getting closer.
But in the past three years, it feels like someone flipped on a switch. Something has changed.
I have a Christian friend who lives in the country of New Zealand, someone I met through social media three years ago. (interesting how we met!) In the past three years, she and I have shared hearts, primarily around the Word of God. It is so precious.
But we have also talked about current events, world news, and other such things. We also enjoy talking about the differences between our two countries. We both agree. Something has drastically changed in our world in the past three years. Evil is not only present in our world, it is "in your face" these days.
The best part about it all? Our Savior is coming soon, not just soon, but very soon. Things are all lining up according to Scripture.
I tend to be a visual person; I like to picture places and things. Naturally, when thinking of the return of the Lord, I like to think of the Mount of Olives. I've seen it.
I've seen many places in the Bible, and one of these days, those who belong to Christ will get to see Him!
The blind hymnwriter, Fanny Crosby, said it well when she penned these words about getting to see her Savior first of all.
When my life work is ended,
and I cross the swelling tide,
When the bright and glorious morning
I shall see;
I shall know my Redeemer
when I reach the other side,
And His smile will be the first to welcome me.
Oh, the soul thrilling rapture
when I view His blessed face,
And the luster of His kindly beaming eye;
How my full heart will praise Him
for the mercy, love and grace,
That prepare for me a mansion in the sky.
Oh, the dear ones in glory,
how they beckon me to come,
And our parting at the river I recall;
To the sweet vales of Eden
they will sing my welcome home;
But I long to meet my Savior first of all.
Through the gates to the city
in a robe of spotless white,
He will lead me
where no tears will ever fall;
In the glad song of ages
I shall mingle with delight;
But I long to meet my Savior first of all.
Refrain:
I shall know Him, I shall know Him,
And redeemed by His side I shall stand,
I shall know Him, I shall know Him,
By the print of the nails in His hand.
