The symbolism of harvest in biblical contexts is deeply tied to the agricultural imagery used to describe God's work. The Feast of Pentecost, also known as the Feast of Harvest, marks the culmination of a grain harvest that begins with the Feast of Firstfruits, symbolizing the early harvest of God's children. This early harvest is often associated with the firstfruits, paralleling Israel's spring grain harvest as opposed to the later fall harvest of fruits and vegetables. The process of reaping grain in ancient times offers a metaphor for this spiritual harvest. Grain was cut when it was white, in the transition stage between immature green and fully ripe golden brown, ensuring it was mature enough to be harvested but not so ripe as to fall from the husk. Harvesters used sharp sickles to cut the standing grain, then gathered it into sheaves, which were tied and stood upright in shocks to dry and mature, protected from ground moisture. These shocks, scattered across the field, allowed the grain to age until ready for threshing, where it was separated from the husks, followed by winnowing to remove any remaining chaff, leaving only clean grain. This agricultural process mirrors the spiritual harvest led by Christ, as depicted with Him holding a sharp sickle, ready to reap the earth when the harvest is ripe. The cutting of grain may symbolize the initial separation of God's children from their worldly nourishment, with sheaves and shocks representing small groups of believers who support each other while maturing spiritually. The journey to the threshing floor, where grain is protected and prepared, could signify a place of safety for the church, where trials refine and unify the harvest. Finally, winnowing parallels the resurrection, purifying the firstfruits as they are lifted and cleansed of all impurities, completing the harvest process.

Like a farmer laboring through the harvest season, we are engaged in a significant harvest, one symbolized by the Feast of Pentecost. This harvest demands persistent effort under challenging conditions, much like the long, arduous hours endured in the fields. We anticipate looking back on our accomplishments with warmth and satisfaction, forgetting the pain, drudgery, setbacks, and filth once the harvest is complete. The harvest we long for is near, promising a time of transformation and joy, when we shall experience true accomplishment and satisfaction in the culmination of our labor.

The image of harvest carries significant symbolism in the Scriptures, with varied applications. In one sense, harvest refers to the gathering of people, a concept tied to the immediate context of Christ's ministry in Galilee as described in Matthew 9. Here, Christ speaks of a harvest that is not prophetic or future-oriented but pertains to the current situation of the people around Him. He portrays the disoriented and distressed multitudes as a crop ready to be gathered, indicating that conditions are ripe for a successful work among them. Christ emphasizes the abundance of this harvest, using a Greek term meaning large, much, or many, yet He laments the scarcity of laborers to reap it, noting only Himself and His disciples are available for the task. Consequently, in Matthew 9:38, He urges His disciples to pray that God, the Lord of the harvest, will send more laborers to assist in gathering this plentiful harvest. Another instance reinforcing this immediate application of harvest is found in John 4, where Christ, after speaking with the Samaritan woman, tells His disciples that the field is already at the point of harvest, explicitly stating that they are the reapers sent to gather it.

The harvest, as symbolized in the memories of hard work on a farm, reflects a time of intense labor followed by satisfaction and accomplishment. Just as the crew would toil from early morning until dark to bring in the crop, enduring discipline to reap the rewards, so too are we called to work toward a wonderful harvest. This harvest is not merely physical but signifies a future time of incredible transformation and peace under the reign of Jesus Christ. It will be a spectacular period when His rule brings truth, fairness, and the binding of satan's influence for a thousand years, allowing a new era of unity with one language and a world free from deception. The harvest we look forward to involves ruling with a rod of iron, guided by love and true understanding, leading to peace even among animals and safety for children. Deserts will bloom, beauty will emerge, and the glory of God will be reflected in the earth. People, once timid from captivity, will be strengthened and encouraged, experiencing a worldwide renewal where the Lord's house and teachings will draw all to learn the way of Jesus Christ and the Father. This harvest represents a new way of living, a future of hope and truth, where controversies are settled, war is no more, and the joy of transformation from past struggles to eternal peace will be remembered forever. Our labor now is to stand for the truth and seek the Kingdom of God first, enduring challenges as we await this promised harvest.

The symbolism of harvest in Scripture extends beyond a singular event at the end of the age, encompassing an ongoing spiritual process that began during Christ's ministry. In John 4:35, 38, Christ speaks of a harvest already in progress, and the New Testament uses the term firstfruits in the present tense to describe early believers as part of this spiritual harvest. For instance, in I Corinthians 16:15, the household of Stephanas is noted as the firstfruits of Achaia, and in Romans 16:5, Epaenetus is similarly identified. James 1:18 further supports this by stating that those in Christ are a kind of firstfruits of His creatures, consecrated to Him through His Word of Truth. Baptism, symbolizing death and resurrection, also ties believers to this ongoing harvest imagery. While a future harvest at the end of the age is acknowledged, the gospels and epistles emphasize that the harvest symbolism is active and present among those who follow Christ.

God's holy days, observed in the sacred year, carry profound symbolism related to harvest, reflecting His plan of salvation through parable-like vignettes. Pentecost, known as the Feast of Harvest, depicts not only a harvest of grain—barley at the start of the seven-week count and wheat at its end—but also a harvest of people. As the first and smaller harvest festival compared to the Feast of Tabernacles, it represents an early, limited gathering of God's people. Additionally, it includes a wave offering of two leavened loaves, symbolizing God's acceptance of once-sinful individuals from two distinct groups. The Feast of Tabernacles, occurring in the fall, signifies a greater harvest, portraying a time when Christ reigns with the resurrected saints for a thousand years, and the earth flourishes abundantly.

God established His holy days around the two major harvests of the year, a small one in the spring and a larger one in the fall, typifying two spiritual harvests. Pentecost, occurring in late spring, symbolizes the first spiritual harvest, revealing that this is not the only period of salvation. Those whom God calls now are a pilot group, specifically selected to be His firstfruits. Pentecost, also known as the Feast of Firstfruits, represents the first part of God's spiritual harvest, where He calls a small number of people into His church to train as leaders for the future. The end time is depicted as a spiritual harvest, referring to the time of Christ's second coming and the resurrection of the dead, when God will reap the firstfruits of His harvest. The fifty days between the wavesheaf offering and Pentecost symbolize the time from the founding of the church to the end of the age, marking the small harvest of the firstfruits.

The symbolism of harvest within the context of God's appointed times carries profound meaning, reflecting both literal and metaphorical significance. Biblically, harvest represents a time of evaluation, where the consequences of one's actions, whether good or bad, come to fruition. This is evident in the Feast of Harvest, also known as Pentecost, where the firstfruits of labors are brought before God for His inspection. The principle of sowing and reaping underscores this symbolism, illustrating that whatever is sown will inevitably be reaped, extending the laws of agriculture to human behavior. If harmful seeds are planted, the outcome will be negative, while sowing good seeds yields positive results over time. The Feast of Harvest emphasizes God's centrality, as it is a time set apart to glorify Him through the fruit of our labors. The agricultural focus of the festival seasons, including the Feast of Harvest and the Feast of Ingathering, serves as a reminder of God's providence and the natural laws that govern life, urging dependence on Him. During these times, the fruit of spiritual labors is of utmost concern to God, as it is held up for His examination and acceptance. The wave offerings associated with the Feast of Weeks further highlight this evaluation, symbolizing God's close inspection of what is presented to Him. Moreover, the harvest metaphor extends to the appointed weeks of time, ordained by God, during which efforts are cultivated and eventually assessed. Just as physical harvests follow predictable cycles, the spiritual harvest in our lives operates within divinely appointed spans, culminating in moments of evaluation by God. The Feast of Harvest, therefore, not only marks a literal gathering of crops but also serves as a powerful symbol of accountability and alignment with God's will, pulling focus back to Him as the ultimate purpose of all labor.

The symbolism of harvest in relation to Pentecost carries profound meaning, reflecting both agricultural and spiritual dimensions. Each crop, whether barley, wheat, olives, grapes, figs, or honey, has firstfruits, an early sample that belongs to God, signifying the start of a harvest rather than its completion. This concept of firstfruits extends metaphorically to various spiritual harvests, emphasizing an ongoing process of gathering and growth. In the present age, beginning with Christ's ministry, harvest imagery represents a gathering of people bearing fruit from the word preached to them, as seen when Jesus surveyed the Samaritans and declared the area ready for harvest, not of physical death and resurrection, but of spiritual readiness and labor. The two leavened loaves of the Pentecost offering, identified as a grain offering of the first part of the wheat harvest, symbolize service and devotion to others, yet they are tainted by corruption, as leavening typically represents in Scripture. These loaves, presented as firstfruits, underscore that the harvest is not complete but has begun, reflecting the imperfect works of God's people in this life. The number two in the loaves suggests differences, often leading to division or strife among God's servants, yet the harvest continues through their labors. Additionally, the New Testament reveals a harvest already in progress, with firstfruits like the household of Stephanas and Epaenetus, early examples of spiritual maturity in Achaia, and believers baptized into Christ, the Firstfruits, producing fruit of the Spirit to glorify God. Thus, the harvest symbolism, intertwined with Pentecost, illustrates a current, ongoing spiritual gathering, marked by both imperfection and divine acceptance through Christ's perfect work.

God commands His people to keep feasts at various seasons of the year, rooted in agriculture, which has been humanity's mainstay for much of history. These festival seasons return our focus to Him and His works, reminding us of His providence as our Creator, Deliverer, and Provider. With each harvest cycle, we are drawn to consider the spiritual principles of sowing and reaping, reflecting how our actions yield corresponding fruit in our lives. Just as seeds planted in the ground produce more of their kind, our choices—whether aligned with His Spirit or with the flesh—bring forth outcomes of either everlasting life or corruption. This harvest imagery underscores the importance of living by His Word, which guides us to sow wisely and produce good fruit, glorifying Him in every season of our lives.

The symbolism of the harvest, particularly in relation to the Feast of Tabernacles and Pentecost, carries profound meaning in God's design for His feasts. At both Pentecost and Tabernacles, the Israelites were likely to bring portions of their harvest, such as winter wheat for Pentecost and fall grains for Tabernacles, as offerings to share with Him and others. This act of bringing sheaves, as mentioned in Psalm 126, symbolizes prosperity bestowed by God, which is then shared at the feast, fostering a spirit of rejoicing. This rejoicing arises from the act of sharing one's blessings, reflecting a deeper purpose beyond mere celebration. The harvest also embodies both physical and spiritual dimensions. Just as a farmer must labor and receive God's blessings like timely rain to produce a crop, so too must individuals engage in spiritual works to yield spiritual fruits. God expects His people to bring these spiritual fruits to the Feast of Tabernacles, sharing them with others through kindness, compassion, and generosity. This sharing is not merely about material offerings but about embodying the fruits of God's Spirit, produced through the year, to uplift and serve those gathered. Furthermore, the harvest imagery extends to the future time of the Millennium, a period of great spiritual harvest. Yet, even in this time, challenges will persist, requiring effort and cooperation with God's blessings to produce fruit. The Feast of Tabernacles serves as an ideal environment to practice using these spiritual fruits, mirroring God's desire for His people to act in His image by giving of themselves. Thus, the harvest symbolizes not only abundance but also the responsibility to labor, receive divine blessings, and share the resulting fruits, both physical and spiritual, in a spirit of rejoicing and service.