52, helps to show how critical this issue is, since it also touches on our observance of Pentecost in 20: A curious fact arises when one compares the dates on the two letters: Garner Ted Armstrong’s letter clearly shows that a decision had been made concerning when to count Pentecost in these odd years before Charles Dorothy’s letter-stating that more study needed to be made-was sent out! Perhaps this difference was only due to a failure to communicate or coordinate properly, but it does cast a curious light upon the credulity of the decision.Īnother quote from the Pentecost Study Material, p. A letter dated March 30, 1974, under the signature of Garner Ted Armstrong, informed the ministry that the date of Pentecost was being changed to May 26. However, this suggestion was ignored, and a decision was made to count to Pentecost from the Sunday within the Days of Unleavened Bread. More study is needed and more is being done. Some brethren are concerned over this alleged "arbitrary" decision, especially since Joshua 5:10-11 seems to show the Israelites counted that Pentecost from Sunday, the High Day within Unleavened Bread. Depending on which Sunday we count from this year, Pentecost VARIES BY A WHOLE WEEK. The next day, the first annual Holy Day, is Sunday and would normally be used to count "away from." But we have thought it best to wait till the following Saturday (which is the final High Sabbath as well), so that the next day, Sunday, could be a work day, and thus start the work of harvesting. This year (as again in 19) the Passover falls on the weekly Sabbath.
The last time we faced this particular calendar configuration was 1954 when our knowledge of the calendar was not so complete as it is now. This separate problem involves whether we count Pentecost for 1974 from within or without the Days of Unleavened Bread. The chief problem which the Worldwide Church of God faces this year at Pentecost has nothing to do with the above. 74, under the heading, "Another Critical Problem": The following quote is from the Pentecost Study Material, p. At that time, Pentecost 1974, according to the God’s Sacred Calendar booklet, was scheduled for June 3. Dorothy is dated April 22, 1974, and the ministry received this material shortly thereafter. The introductory letter to the Pentecost Study Material authored by Charles V. However, the particular issue this article addresses was left unresolved in the study material given to the ministry. When the ministry received the committee’s conclusions, the Sunday-or-Monday issue was firmly resolved, and we wholeheartedly agree with the Sunday conclusion. When the Sunday-or-Monday observance of Pentecost became an issue in the Worldwide Church of God (WCG) in 1973-74, a committee was formed to research into all aspects of the issue. This new material clarifies and strengthens our position, confirming that God led us to make the correct decision. We feel moved, however, to reopen the subject because more information has surfaced in the intervening years. We received many sincere and helpful papers, whose authors diligently researched the matter to confirm it to themselves, then shared what they had learned for all to benefit. When this occurred in 1994, we sought the counsel of anyone within the church who felt moved to contribute suggestions. Within the church of God, there are differences of belief about whether it should begin counting to Pentecost from within or without the Days of Unleavened Bread when this situation arises. For a twenty-year period that ended in 1974, it occurred only in 1974 itself. Although this may occur twice within three or four years, its normal average throughout this past century is about once every nine to ten years. This is of special interest because it presents us with the infrequent situation of the Days of Unleavened Bread beginning on a Sunday and ending on the weekly Sabbath. In 2001, Passover once again falls upon a weekly Sabbath. This is the case with the count to Pentecost in years when Passover falls on a weekly Sabbath. As evidence accumulates from other parts of the Bible, however, the ambiguity dissolves and the statement becomes a clear rule.
Sometimes the Bible makes an ambiguous statement-sometimes even on vitally important matters.
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