The Barley Overcomers

The Barley Overcomers

What are the Barley Overcomers? This is another very important topic in Christianity that very few know about. Remember from the Lake of Fire that God loves symbolism. Barley is a very important symbol. First let’s look at the three feasts of Israel:

The Three Feasts of Israel

1. Passover – the Passover feast was celebrated in early March/late April to commemorate the day Israel left Egypt with Moses to go to the Promised land, the day after Passover, barley was harvested, it was the first crop harvested of the year, this feast was also called the Feast of Unleavened Bread because everyone was required to remove all leaven from their houses for a full seven days, which represents sin

2. Pentecost – the Pentecost feast took place 50 days after the Passover feast, it commemorates the day the fire of God came down on Mount Sinai, wheat was harvested around this feast

3. Tabernacles – the feast of tabernacles took place around September, this commemorates (1) the building of the tabernacle in the wilderness; and (2) the time Israel was supposed to cross the Jordan into the promise land, grapes were harvested around this feast

The Symbol of Barley

The Hebrew word for barley is sehoraw. Strong’s Concordance says that sehoraw means “plant” in the feminine form and “grain” in the masculine form. Another similar Hebrew word is bar, which means “grain” or “son” as in heir. Symbolically, this is referring to the heirs or sons of God. Therefore:

sehoraw = plant, grain, barley
bar = grain, son, heirs or sons of God

This meaning is confirmed by Paul in Romans, where he tells us that bar means both the heirs and sons of God:

Romans 8:14-19 – for as many are led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God; for ye did not receive a spirit of bondage again for fear, but ye did receive a spirit of adoption in which we cry, ‘Abba – Father.’ The Spirit himself doth testify with our spirit, that we are children of God; and if children also heirs, heirs indeed, of God, and heirs together of Christ – if, indeed, we suffer together, that we may also be glorified together. For I reckon that the sufferings of the present time [are] not worthy [to be compared] with the glory about to be revealed in us; for the earnest looking out of the creation doth expect the revelation of the sons of God; (YLT)

The Value of Barley

Leviticus 27:16 – ‘And if of the field of his possession a man sanctify to Jehovah, then hath thy valuation been according to its seed; a homer of barley-seed at fifty shekels of silver, it from the year of jubilee he sanctify his field, according to thy valuation it standeth; (YLT)

This verse says that a homer of barley is worth fifty shekels of silver. Fifty represents both Pentecost and the year of Jubilee. Pentecost was to be celebrated on the 50th day. The year of Jubilee is the 50th year. This gives us more clues to the true meaning of barley.

The First Fruits

The Bible also mentions an elite group of people among God’s creations. They are called the first fruits in these verses:

James 1:18 – having counselled, He did beget us with a word of truth, for our being certain first-fruit of His creatures (YLT)

Revelation 14:3-5 – and they sing, as it were, a new song before the throne, and before the four living creatures, and the elders, and no one was able to learn the song except the hundred and forty-four thousands, who have been bought from the earth; these are they who with women were not defiled, for they are virgin; these are they who are following the Lamb whithersoever he may go; these were bought from among men – a first-fruit to God and to the Lamb – and in their mouth there was not found guile, for unblemished are they before the throne of God. (YLT)

These two verses say that a group of 144,000 called the first fruits are virgins and unblemished before the throne of God. Remember that barley was the first crop harvested in the year. So barley and first fruits represent the same thing. Barley also represents the heirs or sons of God. Therefore:

barley = first fruits = elite 144,000 = sons of God

So what is so special about these first fruits? What is the difference between them and others? Remember in addition to the first harvest of barley, there is a second harvest of wheat, and a third harvest of grapes. Look at this verse:

1 Corinthians 15:23-24 – and each in his proper order, a first-fruit Christ, afterwards those who are the Christ’s, in his presence, then – the end, when he may deliver up the reign to God, even the Father, when he may have made useless all rule, and all authority and power – (YLT)

This verse speaks of three groups in order that stand before God. First, the first fruits which are elite and blameless. Next, the believers of Christ. Finally, the unbelievers. Remember the three feasts of Israel? The first feast is associated with barley, which is the first fruits. The second feast is associated with wheat, which are the believers of Christ. The third feast is associated with grapes, which are the unbelievers.

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