Questions are often raised regarding the Biblical Day, Week, Month & Year, while some even regard it worthless. The internationally accepted calendar system(known as the Gregorian Calendar) which is in use today, is not the same as the Biblical Calendar. When God created the Sun and the Moon, it was for the benefit of His creation to know His Appointed times and also the divisions of days and years as He set it to be.
Let us examine the Scriptures and find out the Day/Week/Month/Year which is Biblically accurate, and study the differences and similarities of the Standard Gregorian Calendar which is in use today, to the Biblical Calendar instituted by God.
————————————————– DAY —————————————————
Differences/Similarities between the Gregorian Day/Biblical Day
The Standard Calendar Day is calculated from Midnight to Midnight, while the Biblical day is from one Sunset to the next. The Biblical Day and Gregorian Day both seem to agree on the division of the day into a 24 Hour period. One could think that it’s strange to calculate a 24 hour day from one evening to the next. It actually is not that strange, when you think of the Gregorian day, which is calculated from one Midnight to the next. In the case of the Biblical Day, it starts with the Sunset, while the Gregorian Day starts in between the Sunset and the Sunrise.
The Biblical Day
♦ The Biblical day was divided into 12 Hours/Parts of Daytime (John 11:9) and presumably 12 Hours/Parts of Night (Mat 20:6)
♦ The Biblical day starts at Sundown
→ God’s Prophetic Appointments were to be from evening to evening [Sundown to Sundown] (Exo 12:18, Lev 23:32).
→ Nehemiah orders the Gates of Jerusalem to be closed when it was getting dark, denoting the sabbath started at evening (Neh 13:19)
→ The laws of uncleanness denotes that a person who becomes unclean because of a reason such as coming to contact with a carcass will be unclean till evening. If the person becomes unclean at night, he/she is unclean till the next evening (Lev 11:24,25, Deut 11:23)
→ A person who is put to death was supposed to be buried before the evening (Deut 21:22,23, Jos 8:28, 10:26,27)
→ Samson asks a riddle that needed to be answered within 7 days. The philistines answer him before the eve of the seventh day, denoting the end of the day was at sunset (Judg 14:12,18)
→ The sabbath was about to start when Yeshua was taken down from the cross in the eve (Luk 23:54, Joh 19:31)
————————————————– WEEK —————————————————
Differences/Similarities between the Gregorian Week/Biblical Week
Both the Gregorian and Biblical Calendar weeks consists of 7 days. In ancient times, some cultures have had weeks which contained differing number of days and some cultures still use these today. Even though the number of days in a week, is equal in both Calendars, the day numbers vary. (Eg: Most European countries consider Monday as the first day of the week, while many Middle-East countries consider Saturday as the first day)
The Biblical Week
♦ The Biblical Week has seven days
→ God’s creation took 6 days and a 7th day of rest, so that the week contains 7 days (Exo 20:9-11)
→ The feast of Weeks (Pentecost – which means 50 days) was to be celebrated by counting 7 weeks (Lev23:15,16, Deut 16:9,10)
→ The number seven is connected to the word “week” in the Scriptures (Gen29:27)
♦ The days in the Biblical week did not have names such as “Monday, Tuesday, etc.” The days in the Biblical week were numbered as 1st Day, 2nd Day, 3rd Day, 4th Day, 5th Day, 6th Day & the 7th Day which was known as the Sabbath. (Exo 16:5,22, Exo 20:11, Joh 2:1)
♦ The 7th Day in the Biblical Calendar is the day corresponding with Friday Eve/Sunset to Saturday Eve/Sunset in the Gregorian Calendar.
→ The Greek word used for the “Sabbath” in the Original Manuscripts of the New Testament “sabbato” is the same name used for Saturday in Greek even today! In other words ; In Greece, the day which is called “Saturday” is still called “Sabbato” – the same word which is in the Original Greek New Testament Manuscripts which is translated as “Sabbath” in English.
→ Look at the similarities in the names used for Saturday in other Languages and “Sabbath” – Arabic: Sabet, Armenian: Shabat, Bosnian: Subota, Bulgarian: Sabota, Corsican: Sàbatu, Croatian: Subota, Czech: Sobota, Greek: Sabbato, Indonesian: Sabtu, Italian: Sabato, Latin: Sabbatum, Polish: Sobota, Portuguese: Sábado, Russian: Subbota, Serbian: Subota, Slovak: Sobota, Slovene: Sobota, Somali: Sabti, Spanish: Sabado, Sudanese: Saptu, Ukrainian: Subota
→ The Encyclopedia Britannica, 11th ed. vol. 4, p. 988, tells us: The week is a period of seven days, having no reference whatever to the celestial motions — a circumstance to which it owes its unalterable uniformity… It has been employed from time immemorial in almost all eastern countries. The Hebrew people spoke of the days of the week by number rather than by name. The only day that had a name was the seventh day which was called Shabat, the Sabbath, or the rest day. In at least 108 different languages the name for the seventh day, corresponding to our “Saturday”, is a word meaning “rest day.”
→ Some point out the Calendar changes in history makes it impossible to know the actual day of the Sabbath. This theory is inaccurate. The change from the Julian calendar to the Gregorian Calendar, has had no effect whatsoever upon the order of the days of the week. (click here for details on this calendar change). Because of this, the Calendar changes has had no effect towards Saturday which is still the same day Yeshua celebrated the Sabbath on.
————————————————– MONTH —————————————————
Differences/Similarities between the Gregorian Month/Biblical Month
The Gregorian Calendar system has no reason for a Month to be 28,29,30 or 31 days. This system was a main characteristic of the Gregorian Calendar, and was done so that the days of the year would equal to 365 days. Unlike the Gregorian calendar, the Biblical Calendar depends on the Moon to calculate the beginning of the month. A complete revolution of the Moon is considered a Month in the Biblical Calendar. Science determines that a Moon revolution lasts roughly about 29.5 days, and because of this reason, a Biblical Month lasts 29 or 30 days.
The Biblical Month
♦ The Biblical Month is connected to the Moon in Scripture
→ 1Ki 8:2 And all the men of Israel assembled themselves unto king Solomon at the feast in the month(H3391-ירח- yerach-month)Ethanim, which is the seventh month(H2320-חדשׁ-chôdesh-new moon). The 2 Hebrew words translated as Month in our English Versions are “Yerah” and “Kodesh”. “Yerah” means Month, while “Kodesh” means New Moon. See 1Kin 6:38 as well.
→ Gen 29:14 & Num 11:20,21 contains “space of” or “whole” month, using the Hebrew word “Khodesh” while 2Kin 15:13 & Deut 21:13 contains “full” month, using the Hebrew word “Yerah”. Both these words are clearly connected, showing the relation of Moon to Month, Biblically.
♦ The New Month, or the first day of the Month is proclaimed when there is a New Moon which is identified by the first visible sliver of the Moon.
→ The New Moon(Kodesh) is mentioned as a “particular day” in 1Sam 20:5,18, 2Kin 4:23, Eze 46:1,6 indicating that it was a day which was proclaimed in some way.
→ The word Hodesh originates from a Hebrew word called H2318-חדשׁ-châdash which means “new”, “to make new” or “renew”. The moon itself is not renewed, but with the Lunar cycle, the light of the Moon increases, becomes full, decreases and goes dark. And it is again renewed, and the cycle continues. In this way, when the first sliver of light is seen on the Moon, the beginning of the month is proclaimed.
→ Some hold to the belief that the Conjunction (Full dark Moon) is the New Moon as per Modern Astronomy. This is hard to believe, as the people in ancient times would not have been able to accurately know the day of Conjunction as the Moon can stay dark for more than 2 days
♦ Much like the sun indicates the beginning of a day, the Moon indicates the beginning of the Biblical Month.Even an uneducated person could have understood when the New Month begins, just by looking up at the sky, with this sign that God created in the Heavens.
————————————————– YEAR —————————————————
Differences/Similarities between the Gregorian Year/Biblical Year
The Gregorian Calendar system calculates a year by counting 365 days (366 days in a leap year) which is the time it takes for the earth to finish a revolution around the Sun, hence it is known as a Solar Calendar. The Biblical Calendar on the other hand, depends on the Sun and Moon both to calculate the beginning of the Year, hence being known as a Luni-Solar Calendar. Even though January 1st is regarded the day of the New Year in the Gregorian Calendar (Roman Consuls in the time of the Roman Empire, as far back as 153BC, first entered office on January 1st), The Biblical Calendar is determined completely differently.
The Biblical Year
♦ The Biblical Year began with the New Moon when the Barley Harvest was in the stage of ripening which was called “Abib” in the Scriptures. The period between Biblical New Years have 12 or 13 months or New Moons.
→ The month of the Abib is called the first month in Scripture (Exo 12:2, 13:4, 34:18)
→ Abib is a state of ripening in Grains.Exo 9:31,32 And the flax and the barley was smitten: for the barley was in the ear(Abib), and the flax was bolled. But the wheat and the rie were not smitten: for they were not grown up. (H24 – אביב – aw-beeb’ – A state of ripening)
→ Abib is the state which is, in between the stage of green colour ripening grain and completely ripe golden streaks of grain. It is the stage when the grain is a light yellowish colour.
→ The Month of Abib is also known as Nisan in the Scriptures (Est 3:7, Neh 2:1)
→ The Month of Abib is usually the month that the Spring/Vernal Equinox happens
♦ To this day, the Karaite Jews in Israel engage themselves in an exercise called the Abib Search to ascertain whether the First Month can be proclaimed. This way, when the Grain is Abib and the Sliver of the New Moon appears in the Sky, the First Biblical Month is proclaimed.
Conclusion
One could ask whether knowing the “Biblically Accurate” dates, really matter? Or whether there is any value in understanding and studying these things and knowing both the similarities and differences in our Standard Calendar and the Biblical Calendar?When God says 7th Day, He means the 7th Day and no other Day. When He says the 1st Month, He means the 1st Month and no other month. Jeroboam the 1st King of the Divided Kingdom of Israel, did just this. He instituted a Feast on the 8th Month, which was like God’s Feast, when God had specifically told people to celebrate the Feast on the 7th Month (1Kin 12:32,33).
As Messiah Yeshua quoted from the Book of Isaiah, saying “Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men (Isa 29:13/Mat 15:8,9). It is my belief that it is better to follow God, than man. It is better to follow God’s Word, than any man’s word. And it is better to follow God’s Calendar, than any man made calendar.
I am in no way saying, that we should throw the Gregorian Calendar away, as it is recognized as the standard amongst the whole world. But I am saying that all of us need to learn God’s Calendar and use His days and His ways to worship, honor and draw close to Him. The lack of knowledge of His calendar has led to so many misunderstandings and mistakes in our walk with Him. His Appointed Times/Feast all depend on His Calendar. This is the same Prophetic Calendar which Yeshua used and fulfilled by His Death(Passover), His Resurrection(Firstfruits) and Giving of the Holy Spirit(Pentecost). It is time to mend our ways and come back to Him. Are we really too technologically advanced to adhere to His Calendar by lifting up our eyes to the Sun and the Moon that He created?
In Psalm 90 we see this in Moses, who prays, “So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom” (v. 12). Moses is one of the great people of God in all of history, and there is only one psalm attributed to him. At the heart, at the climax of this psalm, we see him praying for wisdom. What’s interesting is that he asks God to teach him to number his days.
Friends, if we would have the wisdom that we long for, we must pray. And specifically, if we want to be wise, we need to learn to number our days.
How do we do this ourselves? What does it mean to number our days? And how will numbering our days bring us wisdom?
Learning to number our days means recognizing the unnumbered days of God (vv. 1-2).
God is the Creator; we are created. God is eternal; our lives are passing. God’s days are without end; but our days are numbered!
Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God. (vv. 1-2)
This immediately puts us in position to be wise. How? Because it teaches us where wisdom will come from. There is a being far greater than ourselves, far greater than any other human, and certainly greater than any other idea or philosophy in all of creation. Therefore, this being must be the source of all wisdom.
He has wisdom to offer to us that we cannot offer to ourselves. He has wisdom to offer us what nothing in all of creation can offer us. God is the source of wisdom. When we prayerfully consider God’s unnumbered days, we gain wisdom because we will know where to look for it. Surely, that is the beginning of wisdom: to quit looking at ourselves, to quit trusting the world, and instead to look to God. Learn to pray, “Lord, from everlasting to everlasting You are God!”
Learning to number our days means remembering that our lives are fleeting (vv. 3-6).
Here is what we read in Psalm 90 about the transience of our lives:
You return man to dust and say, “Return, O children of man!” For a thousand years in your sight are but as yesterday when it is past, or as a watch in the night. You sweep them away as with a flood; they are like a dream, like grass that is renewed in the morning; in the morning it flourishes and is renewed; in the evening it fades and withers. (vv. 3-6)
Our lives are like dust, like a watch in the night, like a sweeping flood, and like a passing dream. Our lives are like the grass, renewed in the morning, and withered by night.
Friend, grasping this truth is the great secret to wisdom. I consider some of the wisest people I’ve ever met, and what they have in common. All of them have understood the brevity of human life:
The child in the children’s hospital who already has a stirring faith in Jesus Christ. It’s because this is a child who has quickly learned to number their days.
The teenager who is “wise beyond their years.” It’s because, unlike other teenagers, they don’t think they have years to waste because they know their life is fleeting.
The older believer who doesn’t waste away in retirement, but invests those last years for the Lord. Almost everything he utters is wise because he doesn’t see these years as years to waste. He numbers his days!
What about you? Have you considered the brevity of your life?
Learning to number our days means prayerfully considering the wrath of God (vv. 7-11).
How many of us pray about the wrath of God? Most of us try to avoid this theme altogether. But look at how Moses prays to God plainly about it:
You have set our iniquities before you, our secret sins in the light of your presence. For all our days pass away under your wrath; we bring our years to an end like a sigh. The years of our life are seventy, or even by reason of strength eighty; yet their span is but toil and trouble; they are soon gone, and we fly away. Who considers the power of your anger, and your wrath according to the fear of you? (vv. 7-11)
In Moses’ prayerfulness about God’s wrath we see what it means to fear the Lord. Holy reverence comes when we understand our sin and God’s holiness and anger towards that sin. Understanding this reality makes us reverent before him. This is not being afraid of God. This is a deep awe and reverence that makes us want to honor him.
Consider how much more wisely we would live if we remembered that God sees everything – even what we think is done in secret! We too often think that we can live anonymously, and we are sinful and foolish because of it. But as we fear the Lord and honor him with holy reverence, we will be wise. It’s why the Bible says again and again, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” (Proverbs 1:7).
Please don’t miss the joy attached to this truth. Because we know the power of God’s anger, we know that his wrath against sin was poured out upon Christ on the cross. We know that his wrath and anger live in harmony with the greatest act of love and grace in all of history!
Yes, God hates sin and must punish it in order to be righteous, just, and good. But for all who receive Jesus Christ as their Savior, God will not pour out his wrath upon them. Instead he has already poured it out upon his Son. It is at the cross where wrath and mercy meet!
Friend, as you seek to walk in wisdom, ask yourself this: Am I numbering my days? What in my life would change if I did? Today, prayerfully consider the eternal nature of your Creator, the fleeting reality of your life, and the just wrath of God. Pray Psalm 90 when you need wisdom. Learn to number your days!
As part of its introduction to the Pesach offering, Exodus 12:2 declares that the month in which the exodus from Egypt will occur should be counted as the first month of the year:
שמות יב:ב הַחֹדֶשׁ הַזֶּה לָכֶם רֹאשׁ חֳדָשִׁים רִאשׁוֹן הוּא לָכֶם לְחָדְשֵׁי הַשָּׁנָה.
Exod 12:2 This month is unto you the beginning of months; it is to you the first of the months of the year.
The text here does not define the month of the exodus, though other passages clarify that it is the month of Aviv (Exod 13:4, 23:15, 34:18, Deut 16:1). The word aviv refers to a stage of ripening of the crops (see Exod 9:31), suggesting that the month of Aviv is sometime in the spring. Yet, the Torah does not clarify exactly when this month, or any other month of the year, begins and ends.
This is rather strange. Severe punishments are prescribed for those who transgress the festivals; yet we are not told how the calendar works, and thus the dates when these festivals are supposed to fall. This ambiguity is highlighted by a debate between two medieval commentators about whether the Torah assumes a lunar or solar calendar.
Solar or Lunar Calendar: Yehudah Ha-Parsi versus Ibn Ezra
Yehudah ha-Parsi (Judah the Persian) is said to have argued that the calendar of the Bible was solar. He lived in or around the 9th century C.E. All that is known of him comes from Abraham ibn Ezra (1089–1167) in a handful of passages in his Pentateuch commentary (Introduction, Exod 12:2 [long recension], Lev 25:9, Num 3:39).[1] For example, in his gloss on Exodus 12:2, ibn Ezra writes:
א”ר יהודה הפרסי: כי ישראל היו מונים כפי שנת החמה, וחדשיהן חדשי החמה, כמשפט הערלים. וראיתו: ושמרת את החקה הזאת למועדה (שמות י”ג:י’), כי שנת לבנה איננה שוה, כי ימי החריש והקציר תלויים בהליכת השמש לבדו, כפי נטותה לצפון או לדרום.
R. Yehudah the Persian said: “The Israelites used a solar calendar, and their months were solar months, like the non-Israelites do.” His proof is from [the verse (Exod 13:10)]: “Keep this statute (Matzot/Pesach) at its appointed time” since lunar years are not even, since the days of plowing and harvest are dependent only on the movement of the sun, on its moving northward or southward.
R. Yehudah Ha-Parsi would have had in mind something similar to the Julian calendar (the ancestor of our Gregorian calendar): a 365-day year with an additional leap day every four years.
Abraham ibn Ezra polemicizes vehemently against him, and attempts to demonstrate that the calendar of the Bible is lunar. Yet, even he falls back on the claim that the ultimate reason we know that the lunar calendar is correct is from oral tradition (Introduction, path #2):
כי אין בתורה חקי השנה מפורשים, ואיך נחשוב החדשים?… וזה לנו האות שסמך משה על תורה שבעל פה…
For the Torah does not have the rules of [determining] a year explicit, so how can we calculate the months?… Rather this demonstrates that Moses relied on the Oral Law…
In short, arguing that one calendar or another is the one used in the Bible is no easy task, since the Bible makes no explicit statement about its nature.
Earliest Sources for the Lunar Calendar
In Jewish tradition, the calendar is lunar, with the months beginning at the new moon. Years are made up of twelve such months, but sometimes a thirteenth month is added, to keep up with the seasons, ensuring that Passover is celebrated in the spring, Sukkot in the fall, etc.
Such a lunar calendar is already assumed by Philo of Alexandria (ca. 25B.C.E.–50 C.E.) in his Special Laws (2, 41, 140–142), and of course, in rabbinic literature (e.g. Mishnah Rosh ha-Shanah). But long before them, it is already implicit in Ben Sirah (Sirach, early 2nd cent. B.C.E.), who describes the moon as “an indicator of times … a sign of the festival … after whom the month is named” (43:6-8 LXX); also “וּכְיָרֵחַ מָלֵא בִּימֵי מוֹעֵד” (“like the full moon in the days of the festival,” 50:6 Heb) implies a lunar calendar in which most festivals fall on the full moon.
Identifying with the Babylonian Lunar Calendar
Earlier still, the postexilic books of the Bible adopt Babylonian month names; this implies that the Jewish calendar was identified with the Babylonian one, which was lunar. Thus, in a number of biblical verses in exilic or postexilic works, Babylonian months such as Nisan and Sivan are used and explicitly equated with the numbered months of the Torah. For example,
זכריה א:ז בְּיוֹם עֶשְׂרִים וְאַרְבָּעָה לְעַשְׁתֵּי עָשָׂר חֹדֶשׁ הוּא חֹדֶשׁ שְׁבָט…
Zech 1:7 On the 24th day of the 11th month, which is the month of Shevat…[2]
Furthermore, the Passover Papyrus from Elephantine (419 B.C.E.) confirms that Passover was celebrated on the 14th, and Unleavened Bread, on the 15th–21st, of the Babylonian month of Nisan, indicating that his community used a lunar calendar.[3] But even though the lunar calendar seems to have been standard among Second Temple period Jews, it was not without dissenters.
The 364-Day Calendar
The Book of Jubilees (2nd cent. BCE) upholds a calendar of 364 days, one day less than a solar calendar and about ten days longer than an average lunar year. Moreover, its months do not correspond to lunar phases, and do not begin at the new moon.[4] It also explicitly polemicizes against those of who follow the lunar calendar:
There will be people who carefully observe the moon with lunar observations because it is corrupt (with respect to) the seasons and is early from year to year by ten days. Therefore, years will come about for them when they will disturb (the year) and make a day of testimony something worthless and a profane day a festival. (6:36)[5]
The Dead Sea Scrolls, dating from the 2nd century B.C.E. to 1st century C.E., only know of this 364-day calendar, and thus, at Qumran, all the biblical festivals are dated according to this non-lunar, and equally non-solar, schematic calendar. The origins of this 364-day scheme are unclear, but since the Bible does not explain how its calendar works, it would have been difficult for anyone to contradict the Jubilees-Qumran tradition.[6]
Despite the lack of any explicit indication in the Bible, Jewish commentators attempted to deduce the nature of the calendar from clues they found in the text.
“Appointed Times”
Genesis 1:14 states that the celestial bodies were created “וְהָיוּ לְאֹתֹת וּלְמוֹעֲדִים וּלְיָמִים וְשָׁנִים” (“to be for signs and for appointed times, days and years”). Which of these bodies were created for what, and what is meant by “appointed times” (מוֹעֲדִים) is unclear. Ibn Ezra suggests that this verse refers to festivals (על מועדי השם המקודשים), though in the context of the creation story, this is unlikely.[7]
Other commentators, in contrast, suggest it refers to the signs used to determine lunar month. This is possible but not definitive since the term “appointed times” (מוֹעֲדִים) could also mean “seasons,” as it is often translated.
Another instance of “appointed times” (מוֹעֲדִים) deployed as a prooftext for the biblical origin of the lunar calendar is Psalm 104:19:
עָשָׂה יָרֵחַ לְמוֹעֲדִים
שֶׁמֶשׁ יָדַע מְבוֹאוֹ.
He made the moon for appointed times,
The sun knows its setting.
Genesis Rabbah 6:1 interprets the opening phrase as a reference to the lunar calendar (Theodor-Albeck ed.):
אמר רבי יוחנן לא נברא להאיר אלא גלגל חמה בלבד, אם כן למה נבראת לבנה למועדים, כדי לקדש בה ראשי חדשים ושנים.
R. Yohanan said: “Only the ball of the sun was created to shine light [upon the earth]. If so, why was the moon created? ‘For appointed times,’ in order to sanctify through it the new moons and years.”
But again, we must question whether the peshat of the verse really refers to festivals, or rather to some natural phenomenon.
Even Abraham ibn Ezra, who strongly supports the lunar calendar, admits that the context of the psalm as a whole militates against this verse having any connection to the calendar, suggesting that it instead refers to the lunar phases. Moreover, the second half of the verse functions as a poetic parallel to the first part, and thus the sun could also be taken as belonging to the first half, and may be seen as the subject of מוֹעֲדִים “appointed times.”[8]
In passing, the non-halakhic, aggadic nature of this midrash is noteworthy. Its purpose—unlike halakhic midrash—is to explain why the moon was created, not to prove that the calendar is lunar. In fact, such a proof is surprisingly absent in the entire corpus of rabbinic literature.
Evidence from Terminology: Chodesh versus Shanah
It has long been argued that the main Biblical Hebrew term for month, חֹדֶשׁ (chodesh), indicates a lunar calendar. The related term חָדָשׁ means “new,” and newness cannot apply to the sun, but only to the moon, which disappears and renews itself every month. Likewise, the less common Hebrew word for month, יֶרַח, is derived from the term יָרֵח, “moon,” proving, some state, that the biblical calendar was lunar.
On the other hand, Abraham ibn Ezra (Exod 12:2) points out that the term for year is שָׁנָה (shanah), meaning “repetition” or “change,” and that this only works for a solar year, in which the sun re-commences its cycle. The termshanah does not suit a lunar calendar, which can have twelve or thirteen months, and where the new year is not always a repetition of the previous one.
This leaves us with a complex situation. The two words in biblical Hebrew for month fit only with a lunar calendar while the word for year in biblical Hebrew, shanah, is only suited to a solar calendar.
Ibn Ezra makes this point explicit in his gloss on Leviticus 25:9:
ועוד כי פי’ חדש יכחיש הפרסי… דע כי אין ללבנה שנה כלל, רק בקשו המחשבים מספר חדשים קרובים לשנת החמה ומצאום י”ב כאשר אין לחמה חדש והמחשבים בקשו מספר לחדש שיהיה נחלק קרוב לחדש מימות חדשי הלבנה, על כן חדשינו הם ללבנה, ושנותינו ישובו בסוף לשנת החמה.
Moreover, the meaning of chodesh(new) contradicts [Yehudah] HaParsi… Know that the moon has no “year” at all. Only those who made calculations (for the calendar) wished for a number of months that would approximate a solar year, and they came up with twelve. At the same time, the sun has no “month,” and those who made calculations (for the calendar) wished for a number [of days] to comprise a month, such that it would approximate the days in a lunar month. Therefore, our months are lunar, and our years return in the end (i.e., through leap year adjustment) to the solar years.
We are thus forced to conclude that the Hebrew terminology does not favor the existence of either a solar or lunar year in ancient Israel.
Evidence from Biblical Narratives: The Flood versus Sinai
Some scholars have tried to deduce the nature of the biblical calendar from dates in certain narratives, but these proofs cut both ways.
The narrative of the Flood has been used, by some, as evidence that the calendar was lunar. According to Genesis 7-8 (following the Masoretic Text and the Samaritan Pentateuch), the Flood began on the 17th of month 2 (Gen 7:11; the LXX has 27th) and ended on the 27th of the same month the next year (Gen 8:14). It thus lasted one year and ten days.
As pointed out already in Genesis Rabbah 33, these ten days seem to represent the difference of 10–11 days between the solar year (c. 365 days) and the lunar one (c. 355 days):
ולא היה צריך קרייה למימר אלא בששה עשר יום לחדש יבשה הארץ ומה תלמוד לומר בעשרים ושבעה לחדש השיני יבשה הארץ, אלא אילו י”א יום שימות החמה יתרים על ימות הלבנה,
The verse should have said “on the 16thof the month the land dried up,” [which would have been 12 full months] what does the verse teach us by saying “on the 27th of the second month the land dried up”? These are the 11 extra days in a solar year that are not part of the lunar year.
The use of these two dates suggests, Genesis Rabbah argues, that the biblical calendar year was lunar. Since, for whatever reason, the flood had to last one solar year, ten days were added to the lunar, calendar year.[9]
This argument may be attractive, but actually, the exact reverse can be inferred from the stay of the Israelites at Sinai. For they arrived at mount Sinai, after the Exodus, on the 1st of month 3 (Exod 19:1); and they left the next year on the 20th of month 2 (Num. 10:11). This suggests that they stayed at Sinai for one year less ten days. On this basis it could be argued that the biblical calendar was solar. Since, for whatever reason, the Israelites had to stay in Sinai for one lunar year, they left ten days before the end of the solar, calendar year.[10]
The Earliest Month: R. Abraham bar Chayya’s Proof
To resolve this conundrum, a more adventurous inference is proposed by Abraham bar Chayya, who wrote perhaps in France, in 1123, the earliest surviving, complete treatise on the Jewish calendar, commonly called Sefer ha-Ibbur (The Book of Calendar Calculation).[11] In chapter 2:5 of this treatise, he offers a new exegesis of Exodus 12:2, whose literary structure calls for creative exegesis, in rabbinic thinking:
הַחֹדֶשׁ הַזֶּה לָכֶם רֹאשׁ חֳדָשִׁים
רִאשׁוֹן הוּא לָכֶם לְחָדְשֵׁי הַשָּׁנָה.
This month is unto you the beginning of months;
it is to you the first of the months of the year.
Abraham bar Chayya proposes that the repetition in the verse indicates not only that the Passover month is the first of the year, but also that in the year of the Exodus, this month fell earlier than in any other year:
כל ראש חדש שיהא בתוך ימי החדש הזה ראשון הוא לכם לחדשי השנה, ואם יהיה קודם לימי החדש הזה אינו ראשון אלא החדש הבא אחריו אשר יהיה בתוך ימי החדש הזה. ומשם רמז לעבור השנה.
Any Rosh Chodesh (New Moon) that falls within the days of this month [the agricultural or solar month of Aviv] is unto you the first of the months of the year, but if it falls before the days of this month, it is not the first [month] but rather the month that follows, whose [new moon] falls within the days of this month. From there is an allusion to the intercalation of the year.[12]
This only works, however, if the calendar is lunar. For as we have seen, in a lunar calendar the year can be of twelve or thirteen months. This means that sometimes the year can start earlier, and sometimes later.
By the Middle Ages, the Jews had adopted a 19-year cycle of twelve and thirteen-month years, at the end of which the lunar year returns to the same position in relation to the sun. Assuming that the same cycle was used in biblical times (which is very unlikely), Abraham bar Chayya calculates that in the year of the Exodus, Nisan would have fallen the earliest in the whole cycle. This was the meaning of the “beginning of months … the first of the months of the year.”
This calculation fails, however, because Abraham bar Chayya chooses the wrong date for the exodus—2448 from the creation—whereas the year was 2450 (according to our count of years), as he acknowledges himself later in the same book (chapter 3:8). In that year, the first month would have fallen rather later.
But Abraham bar Chayya’s inconsistency, the intricacies of his calculation, and its inherent problems, should not concern us here. Suffice it to note that through this ingenious exegesis, Abraham bar Chayya claims to prove that the 19-year cycle was used, and that the calendar was lunar. The reader can decide.
Archaeological Evidence for the Lunar Calendar
An entirely different approach to the problem is to look for archaeological evidence about calendars in this period. A number of very small artefacts, discovered in the area of ancient Judah and dating from Iron Age II (early first millennium), have been convincingly identified as calendars.
These pocket-size, animal-bone plaques are all perforated with three rows of ten holes, which were probably designed for tracking the days of the month: a peg would be inserted and moved along the holes on a daily basis, so as to keep track of the current date. One such plaque from Aroer, contains an additional twelve-hole row, for tracking the twelve months of the year.
This common artefact might tell us something about the calendar of ancient Israel or the Hebrew Bible. Thirty peg holes are well suited for a lunar calendar. Solar calendars can have 31-day months, but the lunar month never has more than thirty days.[13]
Lunar Calendars Were the Standard
The Jewish tradition that the Torah’s calendar was lunar finds support, finally, from the mere fact of the Torah’s silence. This silence is inherently significant. As far as we know, in the second-first millennia B.C.E., the calendars of the whole of the Ancient Near East, from (pre-Achaemenid) Persia and Mesopotamia to the Levant, were all lunar.[14] Perhaps it is precisely because the lunar calendar was the norm in Near Eastern culture that the Torah does not bother to mention it.[15]
The Bible tells us that the Earth was created in six days. We know that these were literal 24-hour periods because Genesis describes them with the Hebrew word yom, which is consistently used in Scripture to describe a 24-hour cycle. Genesis 1:5 also tells us that "the evening and the morning were the first day," showing that these days were equal to the 24-hour cycle of the Earth's rotation.
The Bible records roughly 4,000 years until the time of Christ, approximately 2,000 years ago. If we go by the biblical record, this would make the Earth about 6,000 years old.
This number is significantly lower than the estimates of secular science, which place the age of the Earth at anywhere from 30 million to 4.5 billion years old. But keep in mind that those numbers are propagated by the theory of evolution.
If you examine the actual evidence on planet Earth, you will find the oldest living thing to be a bristlecone pine tree, which is about 4,900 years old. This evidence fits with what the Bible declares about the Earth's age, rather than the calculations of secular science.
I would remind you to dispense truth in the spirit that God requires: "Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect" (I Peter 3:15).
It is in that gentleness and respect that we reflect the goodness of God that makes us "good" Christians, not in our biblical knowledge. But be not deceived Jesus requires knowledge of Him! He desires it more than burnt sacrifices.
The authority and dominion that was given to the human race was for a limited period of time. Notice that it was at the end of the sixth day that man was created. When He saw His creation at the end of the sixth day, He said that it was very good. Genesis 2:1 says that His works were brought to perfection at the end of six days. When we apply the concept “a day as a thousand years and a thousand years as a day” (2 Peter 3:8), the implication seems to be that the six days of the Genesis account reveal man’s dominion to be six one thousand year days. This also indicates that this will finish the first stage of God’s plan of dealing with man.
Then in Genesis 6:3 God said, “My Spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.” There are two things profiled in this period of 120 years. It seems that God revealed to Noah that there was going to be 120 years before judgement would come upon the wicked of the Earth through the flood. However, the 120 years have a greater prophetic implication concerning the Earth lease.
In Leviticus 25, God had established that every fiftieth year was to be a year of Jubilee. I believe the 120 years mentioned in Genesis 6:3 is a profile revealing there will be 120 Jubilees of 50 years (120 x 50 = 6,000 years) before Judgement comes again upon the wicked of the Earth.
This seems to be God’s way of revealing that the Earth lease will expire after 6,000 years of human history. After the fall of man, God began to make Covenants with men because He had given man dominion over this planet. God’s influence in the earth was now limited to finding a person willing to listen and partner with Him to establish godliness in the earth.
God could not go back in His Word and take back the dominion of the Earth until the lease expired.
When Adam fell, he allowed satan access to the Earth lease through fallen man. God could not go back on His Word and take back the dominion of the Earth until the lease expired. He began to make Covenants with righteous men so He would have access and input into things on Earth. This was done through righteous men who were willing to follow the Word from God. Because His Word was out on this matter, God could not come in the Earth and start destroying the work of the devil in His divine Godhead powers. But He worked through man to destroy the work of the enemy.
It was for that purpose that Jesus was born on this planet with a physical flesh, blood, and bone body. He walked like a man, He looked like a man, He talked like a man because He was a man. Yet, He was the Divine Son of God. God was His Father, but He had an earthly mother. Therefore, because He was flesh and blood He had authority to destroy the works of the devil. But He didn’t do any miracles nor cast out any demons until after He was baptized in the river Jordan and the Holy Ghost came upon Him at the age of 30. Now, He was a man born in the earth, but anointed and joined with the Spirit of God. Then His fame went out through all the regions round about, and He began to do great and mighty miracles. He willingly did all the Father said.
The Apostle Peter in Acts 10:38 gives us insight into why He could do mighty miracles when he said, “...God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil...”
As a man, Jesus had authority to destroy the works of the devil, but first God had to anoint Him with His ability so He could destroy the works of the devil. Jesus, the Son of God, was born on the Earth as a man, because God had given mankind authority over the Earth. Scriptural indications are that the lease will expire at the end of 6,000 years, and God will take back control of this planet.
God will take back control of this planet.
In Mark 11:28 when Jesus was challenged with the question, “...By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority...” they were evidently referring to His authority to cast out demons, heal the sick, raise the dead, stop storms, and wither fig trees with His words. When they would not answer the question that Jesus asked them, Jesus said, “…Neither do I tell you by what authority I do these things.” (Mark 11:33)
Jesus Describes the Earth Lease
Mark 12:1: “And he began to speak unto them by parables. A certain man planted a vineyard, and set an hedge about it, and digged a place for the winefat, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country.”
When after a time He sent servants to receive the fruit, and they beat some and killed others. Then he sent his well beloved son. The wicked said this is the heir, if we kill him the Earth will be ours. So they killed him and cast him out of the vineyard. (Mark 12:2-8, Paraphrased) “What shall therefore the lord of the vineyard do? he will come and destroy the husbandmen, and will give the vineyard unto others.” (Mark 12:9)
It is evident in these verses that Jesus was describing the Earth lease. He reveals that at an appointed time, the owner of the vineyard will come back, and He will bring judgement upon the wicked husbandmen. He then will give the vineyard to others. His well-beloved son, who was the heir in this parable, is a perfect profile of Jesus. It seems that the devil and his crowd said, “Let us kill him and the earth will be ours.” This is clearly a profile of the Earth lease and also its expiration.
This parable by Jesus gives us insight into the true meaning of the statement in Genesis 6:3 that man’s days shall be 120 years. Although it may allude to the judgement of God through the flood of Noah’s day, there is no doubt that it also is in reference to 120 Jubilee years which will end after 6,000 years of human history.
Understanding the Earth Lease
Generally speaking, wicked men have dominated planet Earth for nearly 6,000 years. Demons and evil spirits have usurped the authority of wicked men here on Earth. It’s quite clear from the Scriptures in John 10:1-2 that you must be born on Earth to have authority here. (This teaching can be found in the offer made in this pamphlet, #6411 “Authority Series.”) Demons and evil spirits were not born here, and they have no authority of their own. They are essentially illegal aliens to this planet. They must get in or influence somebody to usurp their authority before they can do anything on this planet.
Demons and evil spirits are illegal aliens on this planet.
The physical body is the authority factor. There is very little that demons or evil spirits can do unless they can inhabit or influence somebody. It is obvious that demons are using wicked men by accessing their authority. Demons can’t vote, but wicked people can. Laws are passed that promote the agenda of destroying godliness. Demons can’t kill children in their schools, but wicked, possessed people can. “Why doesn’t God stop it?” “Why don’t you stop it?” God asks you. He can’t until the lease expires, unless men stop it, because He gave mankind dominion over this planet. But there is good news on the horizon: THE EARTH LEASE IS ABOUT TO EXPIRE, AND GOD IS ABOUT TO TAKE BACK CONTROL OF THIS PLANET. When that happens, there are going to be some major changes here on Earth.
What Will It Mean When the Earth Lease Expires?
When the Earth Lease expires, wicked men will lose their authority. Therefore demons will lose their ability to control things on Earth. When God takes back control of this planet it will mean that God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit are again in control of the Earth. We, as believers, are considered to be one with Jesus. Remember the statement of Jesus in John 17:23, “I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one...”
The point is that wicked men will lose their authority, but the righteous will be God’s agents here on this Earth. We are the “others” Jesus referred to in Mark 12:9, when He said, “...he will… give the vineyard unto others...” When the Earth Lease expires, for those who are righteous in Christ, I believe sickness and disease will disappear like a snowball in the August sun.
Sickness and disease came with satan and his demons. When they are evicted and lose their power, I believe it will vanish as far as the righteous are concerned. Demons and evil spirits will lose their ability to control the mental faculties of men. Those bound with religious spirits will also come into their right mind, and there will be a great ingathering of souls into the Kingdom of God.
God will make a difference between the righteous and the wicked just as He did when God’s people came out of Egypt. The plagues were upon the wicked, but none were upon God’s people. Darkness that could be felt was in the land of Egypt for three days. But for God’s people, there was light in their houses. And when they came out of Egypt, they spoiled the Egyptians (unrighteous). Psalm 105:37 says, “He brought them forth also with silver and gold: and there was not one feeble person among their tribes.” I believe this is a prophetic profile of what God is about to do again in this generation.In Genesis 2:7 we read that God formed Adam of “the dust of the ground." The word “ground” is from the Hebrew word Adama, and Adam was named after the ground from whence he was taken (Gen. 3:19). His descendants were named after specific circumstances or events, which were no doubt significant to them in their personal lives, but which are not recorded. Nonetheless, God planned all things so that their names would prophesy of greater events in the overall Plan of God.
Cain and Abel were the first two sons of Adam and Eve. But when Cain murdered Abel, Adam disinherited Cain from carrying the birthright to rule the earth under the Kingdom mandate. Thus, their third son, Seth, became the birthright holder. His name means “to place, or replace," because he was placed in the position of the birthright holder in place of Cain or Abel.
Seth’s son was named Enos, or Enosh, which is one of the biblical words later translated “man." It literally means “frailty, or frail flesh." In later usage it came to refer to mankind with a special emphasis on human nature or weakness.
Enos had a son named Cainan, not to be confused with the son of Ham named Canaan. Cainan (or Kenan) means “house, a fixed possession," as distinct from a tent, which is movable.
Cainan’s son was named Mahalaleel, which means “the praise of God."
Mahalaleel’s son, Jared, means “descent."
Jared’s son, Enoch, means “teaching, or initiation." Enoch was obviously a very effective teacher. We would expect this, since He walked with God. This implies that he received much divine revelation which he taught the people of his day.
Enoch’s son was Methuselah, whose name means “when he is dead, it shall be sent” (See Bullinger’s notes on Gen. 5:21 in The Companion Bible). On page 16, we saw how his name was prophetic of the coming Flood. Knowledge of the Flood apparently had been revealed to Enoch long before the birth of Noah. He also knew by revelation that Methuselah’s life would be the timetable for the Flood. One can only imagine what might have transpired between God and Enoch regarding this revelation. Perhaps Enoch prayed that his son would not be killed by the judgment of the Flood. At any rate, Methuselah became a prophecy of the Flood and set its timing by his death at the age of 969.
Methuselah’s son, Lamech, means “powerful, or powerful one." Methuselah outlived his son, for Lamech died at the age of 777, just five years before the Flood.
Lamech’s son was Noah. He represents the culmination of this entire revelation of the Holy Spirit. Noah means “rest," but the Bible has a strange explanation for his name. It says in Genesis 5:29,
29 And he called his name Noah, saying, This same [man] shall comfort us concerning our work and toil of our hands, because of the ground which the Lord hath cursed.
We see this verse taking us full circle back to Adam and the curse on the ground. But why is the word “comfort” used, rather than “rest”?
The answer is found in the book of Jasher. In its account of Noah’s birth, we read in Jasher 4:13-14,
And the wife of Lamech conceived and bare him a son at that time, at the revolution of the year. 14 And Methuselah called his name Noah, saying, The earth was in his days at rest and free from corruption, and Lamech his father called his name Menachem, saying, This one shall comfort us in our works and miserable toil in the earth, which God had cursed.
In other words, Noah had two names, both of which were prophetic. Grandpa Methuselah called him Noah, but his father Lamech called him Menachem. The biblical account simply combines the two into a single verse, leaving out the details, but telling us his prophetic significance.
If we put all these names together, they form a prophecy that summarizes the entire Plan of God for the earth.
Earthly man was placed in frail flesh as his house; but the Praise of God (Jesus) will descend to teach (or initiate something); when He is dead, it shall be sent—the Powerful One, the Comforter.
One might also add that in the coming of the Comforter, men could enter into His Rest. Thus, the significance of Noah’s two names is manifest. He is a type of the Comforter (“Menachem”), who leads us into God’s Rest (“Noah”).
And so we see that the names of the original patriarchs from Adam to Noah reveal the entire Plan of God from beginning to end. It begins with man being placed in frail flesh, and it ends with the redemption of the body by the full anointing of the Holy Spirit. The coming of the Holy Spirit into men is, of course, in two stages. The disciples at Pentecost were given the Spirit as a “pledge” (2 Cor. 5:5), which is the “a pledge of our inheritance” (Eph. 1:14). Pledges are collateral on a debt—in this case, God’s debt to us. The garments of light (2 Corinthians 5:1) which God took from Adam as a pledge on his sin-debt, was to be returned to us after Jesus paid that debt on the cross. However, God chose to retain those garments in heaven, Paul says, until the the Feast of Tabernacles is fulfilled. The Spirit is God’s pledge until Tabernacles is fulfilled.
The Two Floods: Water and Spirit
In the broader context of the patriarchs from Adam to Noah, we see that Noah is a type of the Holy Spirit, the Comforter. The events in Noah’s life provide us with surprisingly detailed information about the manner and timing of the Holy Spirit’s work. No history of the Holy Spirit is complete without some knowledge of the prophetic life of Noah. The people in Noah’s day were wicked by God’s standard. And so we read in Genesis 6:3,
3 And the Lord said, My Spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh; yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.
The King James Version conceals the real significance of this verse. So let us go to a very literal rendering of Genesis 6:3, in the Concordant Version,
3 And saying is Ieue Alueim [Yahweh Elohim], Not abide shall My Spirit in the human for the eon, in that more-over he is flesh. And come shall his days to be a hundred and twenty years.
I don’t know which is worse, a poor translation or an ultra-literal one! But let us paraphrase the C.V. In plainer English, it tells us that God’s Spirit would not abide (remain) in man “for the eon” (or age). In other words, God was telling Noah that He would soon remove His Spirit from man for the duration of the age.
What does this mean? We know that this verse deals with the coming Flood. Note the biblical terminology at the time of the Flood. Genesis 6:17 reads,
17 And behold, I, even I, do bring a flood of waters upon the earth to destroy all flesh wherein is the breath [Hebrew, ruach, “spirit or breath”] of life…
In other words, God was going to remove His Spirit from all breathing creatures, particularly man. This Hebrew play on words is significant, because it portrays a twofold level in which God was dealing with Creation. On the physical level, God was going to remove the ruach-breath from all flesh. On the spiritual level, God was going to remove His ruach-Spirit “for the age.”
This set up the need for the return of the Holy Spirit at the end of the age. Jesus came at the end of that age, and His Work prepared the way for the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. But since Pentecost was only the down payment of the Spirit, there was yet to be a greater outpouring at the end of this present age. Its timing is prophesied as well in Genesis 6:3, “and come shall his days to be a hundred and twenty years.”
Most people think this means that God was going to shorten men’s lifespan to 120 years. But this is not really the force of the statement. Bullinger and other commentators agree that this means man’s time of grace was to be 120 years. In other words, the Flood was to come after 120 years of opportunity to repent. Jasher 5:8,11 affirms this,
For thus saith the Lord, Behold I give you a period of one hundred and twenty years; if you will turn to me and forsake your evil ways, then will I also turn away from the evil which I told you, and it shall not exist, saith the Lord.…11 And the Lord granted them a period of one hundred and twenty years, saying, If they will return, then will God repent of the evil, so as not to destroy the earth.
This is a very important detail, because God was not only talking about the Flood of water in Noah’s day; He was also talking about a much greater Flood— a Flood of the Holy Spirit. The Flood of water occurred after 120 years; the greater Flood is connected to the 120th Jubilee (1986 A.D.). The first potential time when this “Flood” might have been poured out was in Israel’s day under Moses, when God told them to enter the Promised Land. On that occasion, the people refused, because they believed the evil report of the ten spies (Numbers 13-14). In that context, God spoke something very significant in Numbers 14:21, which tells us His purpose: “But as truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord.”
This was God’s statement of His purpose and Plan. Man’s decisions could delay its fulfillment, but could not ultimately thwart it from coming. He went on to say that that generation would not see the fulfillment of this promise and would not inherit the glorified body, because they had rebelled against Him.
In other words, theoretically, if the people had gone into their land inheritance at that time—the Feast of Tabernacles in the 50th Jubilee from Adam—they would have returned to the inheritance that they had lost in Adam—the glory of the Lord, the glorified body, the “land inheritance” of the highest order. They refused it. Thus, there yet remains a rest for the people of God to inherit (Heb. 4:9).
This particular prophecy is mentioned five times in the Old Testament: Numbers 14:21, Psalm 72:19, Isaiah 6:3, Isaiah 11:9, and Habakkuk 2:14. The prophet Habakkuk connects this prophecy directly to the Flood of Noah’s day by saying,
14 For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.
So the day is yet coming when the Spirit of God will be poured out upon the earth in like manner as the water was poured out in Noah’s day. It is the fullness of the Spirit, of which we have presently only received a down payment under Pentecost.
The Flood of Noah’s day set up the problem by removing the Spirit from man. The spiritual Flood resolves the problem by putting His Spirit back into man. The Flood of water occurred after 120 years; the Flood of the Spirit occurs after 120 Jubilees. As we said earlier, the fall of 1986 was the 120th Jubilee. This was the beginning, the hinge point of the outpouring of the Spirit. You must know this foundation in order to appreciate what God has been doing since that year to prepare the hearts of the Overcomers to receive His fullness.
But, of course, we are getting ahead of ourselves. You cannot understand the significance of 1986-1996 without an understanding of the foundational prophecies and time cycles leading up to the present time. So let us turn now to a study of the dedication of Solomon’s Temple.
Solomon’s Temple and the Number 120
The glory of God came down to fill Solomon’s Temple precisely 490 years after the glory came down upon Mt. Sinai to fill the Ark of the Covenant. Chronologically speaking, a 490-year period is what we call “Blessed Time." In dealing with the glory of God, we would always expect it to manifest according to Blessed Time, for it is a Jubilee event.
In Chapter 2, we saw proof that the Exodus occurred in the year 2448 from Adam. A few weeks after Passover of that year, the people saw the glory of God manifest on what became known as the day of Pentecost (Ex. 19-20).
In 1 Kings 6:1, we are told that Solomon laid the foundation of his Temple “in the four hundred and eightieth year after the children of Israel were come out of the land of Egypt.” We are then told that the Temple itself took seven years to build (1 Kings 6:38). So the Temple structure itself was completed 487 years after the glory had rested on the Tabernacle of Moses.
We are then told in 1 Kings 7 that Solomon hired Hiram to do the work of casting the pillars, the molten sea, and the ten lavers of brass. Each of these items was decorated with engravings. It is not difficult to conclude that this work took about three years, which would indicate that the Temple dedication itself took place after 490 years. The only difference is that while the glory came at Pentecost under Moses, it came on the eighth day of Tabernacles in Solomon’s day (2 Chron. 7:9).
At the dedication of the Temple, Solomon offered a sacrifice of 22,000 oxen and 120,000 sheep (2 Chron. 7:5). These numbers are highly significant. The number 22 is the number of “light” according to Bible numerology (the meaning of numbers in the Bible). Recall that all the firstborn of Israel belonged to God, but He redeemed them with the tribe of Levi, taking Levi on their behalf to serve Him. The number of Levites that were available to redeem the firstborn of Israel were precisely 22,000 (Num. 3:39). Thus, the number 22,000 signifies the firstborn Sons of God, and they are associated with His light, or transfiguration.
Solomon also offered 120,000 sheep to God. The number 120 deals directly with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, as we have already seen.
When all the vessels of the Temple were set in order and cleansed properly, then they brought the Ark of the Covenant itself into the Temple and placed it in the Most Holy Place. The staves by which the Ark had been carried were then removed, signifying that the Ark had finally come to its “rest” in a fixed habitation, a house. Then we read in 2 Chronicles 5:11-14,
11 And it came to pass, when the priests were come out of the holy place: (for all the priests that were present were sanctified, and did not then wait by course; 12 Also the Levites which were singers, all of them of Asaph, of Heman, of Jeduthun, with their sons and their brethren, being arrayed in white linen, having cymbals and psalteries and harps, stood at the east end of the altar, and with them an hundred and twenty priests sounding with trumpets:) 13 It came even to pass, as the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the Lord; and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of musick, and praised the Lord, saying, For He is good; for His mercy endureth for ever: that then the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of the Lord; 14 So that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud; for the glory of the Lord had filled the house of God.
And so we see that there were 120 priests blowing trumpets when the Spirit of God filled the Temple of Solomon. This is very much an appropriate number, since it always seems to accompany an outpouring of the Spirit. It is also important to note that the Spirit came down after they all came into one accord, or harmony, making “one sound." This same terminology was used later when the Spirit was sent at Pentecost in the second chapter of Acts.
Pentecost in Jerusalem
Jesus was crucified on the Preparation Day of Passover, and He died in mid-afternoon, precisely while the people were killing the Passover lambs. Legally speaking, they were allowed to kill the lamb any time between noon and sundown, but on that noonday the sun was suddenly blotted out (Luke 23:44). The sun did not reappear again “until the ninth hour," which corresponds to mid-afternoon, or about 3:00 pm.
God performed this wonder in order to prevent any of the people from killing the lamb prior to the moment Jesus died. Since no one could kill the lamb after sundown, no one could do it until the sun reappeared. It did not reappear until the moment Jesus died.
Such detail shows how concerned God is with timing. God goes out of His way to fulfill the whole law down to every “jot and tittle” (Matt. 5:18). Thus, He manipulated events so that all could see that Jesus was indeed the true Passover Lamb, who took away the sin of the world.
God then raised Him from the dead on the day of the Wave-Sheaf Offering “on the morrow after the sabbath” (Lev. 23:11). But when Mary saw Him and mistook him for the gardener, He told her, “Touch Me not, for I am not yet ascended to My Father” (John 20:17). Later that same evening, He did allow the disciples to touch Him (John 20:27). So it is plain that He had already ascended to His Father by the evening after His Resurrection.
It is equally plain that this was not the ascension that occurred 40 days later. It was, rather, His ascension at the time the priest waved the sheaf of barley before the Lord in the Temple about mid-morning. Once again we find minute details being fulfilled according to precise timing. When the priest waved the sheaf down and up, it signified death and Resurrection. At that moment, Jesus presented Himself alive before the Father in the true Temple in heaven. Before that moment, though He was actually alive, He had not yet been declared legally alive. Mary was not to touch Him prior to the time He was declared legally alive.
The day of the Wave-Sheaf Offering was the first day of a 50-day count toward the day of Pentecost (Lev. 23:15-16). Thus, since the Wave-Sheaf Offering was always waved on the first day of the week, or “the morrow after the sabbath,” the day of Pentecost also falls on the first day of the week, seven weeks later.
Jesus appeared to His disciples that first Sunday and again a week later on Sunday (John 20:26), setting a pattern for fellowship with Him on the first day of the week. From that point on, we find in all the records of the early Church that they met on the first day of the week for fellowship (communion) with Jesus and with each other.
The exception to this general pattern comes in Jesus’ final appearance to the disciples on the 40th day of this Pentecost cycle. Acts 1:3 says,
3 To whom also He showed Himself alive after His passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the Kingdom of God.
Before ascending, He told the disciples to “tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem until ye be endued with power from on high” (Luke 24:49). They did tarry ten days, and on the day of Pentecost the Spirit was sent.
If God took such pains to do all things according to precise timing, then why would Jesus ascend on the 40th day of the Pentecost cycle? What biblical pattern or prophecy was He fulfilling? The 40th day of the Pentecost cycle is traditionally the day of the ascension of Elijah, though there is no biblical reference. Nonetheless, it would appear that Jesus confirmed that tradition by His own ascension on that day.
Another biblical pattern is found in the story of Israel under Moses. After Israel crossed the Red Sea, they came into the wilderness on their way to Mt. Sinai. They arrived at Elim on the 15th day of the second month, one month after leaving Goshen (Ex. 16:1). They stayed at least a week, because here is where they began to receive the manna, and the Scriptures mention at least one full sabbath cycle wherein they ate manna before continuing their journey (Ex. 16:22-24).
From there they journeyed to Rephidim (Ex. 17:1), their last stop on the way to Sinai (Ex. 19:2). Their stay in Rephidim is undated, but it appears they were there on the 40th day of the Pentecost cycle. At Rephidim, the people complained for lack of water, and Moses struck the rock to give them water. Then we read that the Amalekites attacked Israel. Exodus 17:8-10 says,
8 Then came Amalek and fought with Israel in Rephidim. 9 And Moses said unto Joshua, Choose us out men, and go out, fight with Amalek; tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in mine hand. 10 So Joshua did as Moses had said to him, and fought with Amalek; and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill.
This story was commemorated in Psalm 81, which was read every Thursday in the synagogue in biblical times. (The 40th day of the Pentecost cycle always fell on a Thursday.) Israel won the battle, because of Moses’ intercession at the top of the hill. Moses is a type of Christ, who ascended on the 40th day, and is seated at the right hand of the Father, having been given all authority (the rod of authority) in heaven and in earth (Matt. 28:18). From that position of authority, “He ever liveth to make intercession for them” (Heb. 7:25).
By His intercession, we will win the victory over His enemies. Even as Moses ascended the hill to make intercession for the people, so also did Jesus ascend on the 40th day to make intercession for us until all enemies are put under His feet.
The disciples tarried ten days before the Spirit was sent on the day of Pentecost. This pattern not only appears in the story of Moses as He led Israel to Mount Sinai; it was also set in the Pentecostal pattern of king Saul. The complete story is found in my booklet The Wheat and Asses of Pentecost, but in brief, Saul was crowned king of Israel on the day of Pentecost—but not before tarrying for ten days. The first three days were spent searching for his father’s asses (1 Sam. 9:20), and then Samuel told him to tarry another seven days while he made burnt offerings and peace offerings to God to prepare for the day of Pentecost (1 Sam. 10:8).
In the building of Solomon’s Temple, we find it took seven years to build the Temple itself, and another three years to cast the pillars and vessels of the Temple. Again, the ten-day tarrying pattern was established, leading to the outpouring of the Spirit. These patterns show us plainly that the ten days can be subdivided into seven and three.
The law specified that it took seven days to complete the cleansing time of the leper (Lev. 14:8). Leprosy is a symbol of death and the death-ridden human nature that we inherited from Adam. So in one sense, to fulfill the law, it took a full seven days to cleanse the disciples, before the oil was poured upon their heads.
It also took seven days to cleanse Aaron and his sons and prepare them for the priesthood (Ex. 29:35). The disciples were being cleansed for a new priestly order. Though it was not a Levitical order, but that of Melchizedek, nonetheless, the same laws were applicable, and these were fulfilled to the letter.
So, in studying the disciples’ tarrying period leading to Pentecost in Acts 2, we conclude that they probably spent three days searching for would-be Pentecostals (the Father’s “asses”), meeting in the upper room for only the final seven days of the tarrying period. The main purpose of that week was to come into unity (with “peace offerings” to reconcile any disputes between them) and to present themselves as living sacrifices, or burnt offerings unto God. Acts 2:1-4 says,
1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
Just as the 120 priests in Solomon’s day were all blowing their trumpets in harmony, so also the 120 disciples were “with one accord." They had no need of trumpets, however, for their mouths were filled with the voice and words of God “as the Spirit gave them utterance."
The Prophetic Life of Moses: 120 Years
In Deuteronomy 34:7 we read,
7 And Moses was an hundred and twenty years old when he died; his eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated.
Why did God have Moses live to be precisely 120 years old? What does this have to do with the outpouring of the Spirit? It has everything to do with our subject at hand. In fact, the life of Moses is one of the most profound and striking prophecies of the 120 Jubilees of history leading up to 1986 A.D.
Moses’ life was divided into three periods of 40 years each. We read in Acts 7:22-24 about the first 40 years of his life,
22 And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and in deeds. 23 And when he was full forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren the children of Israel. 24 And seeing one of them suffer wrong, he defended him, and avenged him that was oppressed, and smote the Egyptian.
We know, of course, that this resulted in Moses’ exile into the land of Midian, where he spent the next 40 years training in God’s Bible College. Then, at the end of those 40 years, God appeared to Moses in the burning bush and sent him back to Pharaoh to deliver His people. Exodus 7:7 says,
7 And Moses was fourscore years old [80], and Aaron fourscore and three years old [83], when they spake unto Pharaoh.
And so we see that Moses lived through three distinct phases in his life, each of which was 40 years. Finally, he died at the age of 120.
This is prophetic of history as God views it. The 40th Jubilee is the year 1960 from Adam. Twelve years prior to this time, Abram was born (1948). Thus, on the 40th Jubilee from Adam, we find that Abram reached the first age of maturity (12). We are not told what happened at that time, but in general we can say that this follows the pattern of Moses’ life, for Abram was the man that God called out of Ur of the Chaldees and began to train for service.
Thus, the period from Abraham to Jesus was like a training period, comparable to Moses being trained in the wilderness prior to his job of leading Israel out of Egypt.
The 80th Jubilee from Adam is 26 A.D. It brings us to the time of Jesus, who is one like unto Moses, in that He led us out of our Egyptian bondage (to sin) at Passover. It takes no stretch of imagination to see how Jesus, after the 80th Jubilee, did what Moses did at the age of 80.
Even as Moses led “the church in the wilderness” (Acts 7:38) for 40 years, so also did Jesus lead the New Testament Church into the wilderness for a period of 40 Jubilees. Moses died after leading Israel for 40 years, and Joshua led Israel across the Jordan river into the Promised Land. So also in our day, after 40 more Jubilees, Jesus (whose Hebrew name is Joshua) will lead us into the greater promise of the inheritance lost by Adam at the beginning.
There is a seeming discrepancy that we must reconcile at this point. The 80th Jubilee from Adam was 26 A.D., but the New Testament Church began in 33 A.D. Thus, 40 Jubilees later we find that we have two endpoints as well: 1986 and 1993. The year 1986 is the 120th Jubilee from Adam; but 1993 was the 40th Jubilee of the Church.
To explain the reasons for this would require more background material than we can give here. But by the time you have completed these studies, the full picture will be manifest. We can only say for now that God planned this discrepancy in order to delay the fullness of the Spirit from coming ahead of schedule.
The Antidote to Noah’s Flood
As we mentioned earlier, there are two Floods. The first is the Flood of Noah, wherein the wind, breath, or spirit was removed from all flesh; the second is the Flood of the Holy Spirit, wherein the Spirit of God is to be poured out upon all flesh. The “latter rain” of Joel 2:23 is the antidote to the Flood of Noah.
The basic outline of God’s Plan to put His Spirit back into all flesh is revealed in Noah’s actions at the end of the Flood. Genesis 8:1 says,
1 And God remembered Noah, and every living thing, and all the cattle that was with him in the Ark; and God made a wind [Hebrew ruach, “wind, breath, spirit”] to pass over the earth, and the waters asswaged.”
The wind, or Spirit of God, is said to be the antidote to the Flood of waters. This is a prophetic statement that has far greater implications than a mere reduction in the water level. As He resuscitates the whole earth by breathing into their nostrils the breath of life once again, we are brought into Immortality and Perfection, as at the beginning. Eden and more is restored.
The Scriptures also picture the Spirit of God as a dove. In fact, this was the original word picture found in Genesis 1:2, where…
2 the Spirit of God moved [Hebrew rachaph, “brooded or fluttered," as a dove] upon the face of the waters.
The same picture is painted in Deuteronomy 32:11, where God is pictured as an eagle fluttering over her young, caring for the nation of Israel.
And so we find that toward the end of the Flood, Noah sent out three doves to see if the waters were abated. This was prophetic. It tells us that God planned to do the same in order to overcome the effects of the Flood of water. Thus, the outpouring of the Spirit comes in three stages, both personally and corporately. These three stages are represented by Israel’s three main feast days, wherein all the males were called to stand before God.
The Feast of Passover deals with the first dove sent out. It is a partial anointing that results in Justification. It is the salvation of your spirit. The Feast of Pentecost deals with the second dove sent out. It is a greater anointing that begins the work of Sanctification. It is sent for the salvation of your soul. Finally, the Feast of Tabernacles correlates with Noah’s third dove. It is the last anointing, for it represents the fullness of the Spirit poured out, wherein we see the redemption of the body (Rom. 8:23). At this outpouring, you receive the true inheritance that was lost in Adam: the glorified body. This is the full salvation in the Plan of God, as depicted by Noah’s three doves and Israel’s three feast days.
Corporately speaking, however, these doves and feast days depict three distinct outpourings of the Spirit, when God intervenes in the affairs of the earth in a most unusual manner. The first was when He came down upon Mount Sinai as fire and spoke the Ten Commandments to all the people of Israel. This was something very unusual, and the Scriptures say it had never been done before (Deut. 4:33).
The second great outpouring of the Spirit occurred in the book of Acts on the day of Pentecost. The third is yet to come at the Feast of Tabernacles, and when it does, the earth will give birth to the Sons of God who are fully in His image and likeness.
The three doves that Noah sent out give us a description of each of these three manifestations of the Spirit. Genesis 8:8-9 says,
8 Also he sent forth a dove from him, to see if the waters were abated from off the face of the ground. 9 But the dove found no rest for the sole of her foot, and she returned unto him into the Ark, for the waters were on the face of the whole earth; then he put forth his hand, and took her, and pulled her in unto him into the Ark.
When the Spirit of God was sent to Israel at Mount Sinai, the people were terrified at the sight. They thought that if they saw God they would die. And so, after God spoke the Ten Commandments to them, they had had enough. Exodus 20:18-21 tells us the story,
18 And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking; and when the people saw it, they removed and stood afar off. 19 And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear; but let not God speak with us, lest we die. 20 And Moses said unto the people, Fear not; for God is come to prove you, and that His fear may be before your faces, that ye sin not. 21 And the people stood afar off, and Moses drew near unto the thick darkness were God was.
God told Moses the rest of the law, and Moses wrote it down and related it to the people. The law was thus a revelation to Moses, and having heard the voice of God, it was written on his heart, producing faith (Rom. 10:17). The people in general, however, only received the law written externally on tables of stone. Thus, while the people were persuaded to be obedient, they did not have the faith necessary to enter the Promised Land.
The people were obedient because the law was imposed upon them from the outside. It took a law enforcement agency to keep order and obedience, because the people did not really want to hear His voice or follow His law. They felt His laws were too oppressive. They disagreed with God’s way of thinking, which was different from man’s. After the signs and wonders had passed, the people began to resent God’s law and chafe at its demands of righteousness. And even today, men think of God’s commands as “bondage to the law." This kind of thinking only proves that the law has yet to be written on their hearts.
This also portrays the difference between a bondservant and a Son. We certainly must relate to God as bondservants, even as Paul did (Rom. 1:1). This deals with our willingness to obey God and do His commandments. But a Son goes further. A servant merely does his master’s will; a Son wants to do his Father’s Will, because he has his Father’s mind and is in agreement with Him.
Those of us who are “sons in training” differ in no way from servants, for we are yet minors (Gal. 4:1). Our Father imposes His Will upon us to train us in His value system, His laws. But there comes a day when we grow up to maturity. The mature Son who has learned his Father’s values will continue to live according to them—not because of an external law, but because those laws are written on his heart. He wants to live as he was taught, because he agrees that “the law is holy and just and good” (Rom. 7:12). He does not consider the law to be the bondage of a tyrant, but a way of life that brings life, liberty, and happiness to all.
The people in Moses’ day refused to hear the Spirit of God. This was the outworking of the prophecy in Noah’s first dove, which “found no rest for the sole of her foot” (Gen. 8:9). Even as that dove returned to the Ark, so also did the Spirit of God in Moses’ day go to the Ark of the Covenant. The Spirit thus did not indwell men at that time, but remained in an external structure—first the Tabernacle of Moses, and then the Temple of Solomon.
Noah’s second dove returned with “an olive leaf pluckt off” (Gen. 8:11). Noah then knew that the Floods had abated. Yet he did not leave the Ark immediately, because this would have violated the prophecy of the Plan of God.
This second dove depicts the outpouring of the Spirit at Pentecost in Acts 2, by which we received the earnest of the Spirit. The single olive leaf represents this perfectly. While it does show that now there is new life in the earth (in the hearts of men), it is, nonetheless, only a small portion of that which is to come. Also, in that the Spirit was now indwelling flesh, rather than remaining in an external dwelling place, we find that Genesis 8:10-11 does not mention the dove returning to the Ark. It says only that “the dove came in to him." The precise wording of the Scriptures prophesy that the Spirit of God had now come into men.
The third dove that Noah sent “returned not again unto him any more” (Gen. 8:12). It prophetically depicts a condition whereby man has no need of further outpourings, for the Spirit is in him fully. At that point, Noah left the Ark to bring new life into a new world. Even so, those who receive the fullness of the Spirit will be sent into all the world to bring all things under His feet. They will establish God’s New World Order after God has brought man’s New World Order into dissolution.
Keep in mind that the Flood in Noah’s day occurred after 120 years. The first outpouring of the Spirit (dove) occurred just prior to the 50th Jubilee from Adam. The second dove was sent seven years after the 80th Jubilee. The fall of 1986 A.D. was the 120th Jubilee, and so this is the overall hinge date by which the fullness is to be poured out. But this is merely an overall view. As we proceed in our studies, we will show the details of what has occurred since 1986 in the Plan of God and the importance of the year 1996 and beyond.
Cleansing Laws Following Childbirth
Leviticus 12 is a Scripture passage almost never read by Christians. It deals with laws that appear to be totally irrelevant to us today: the times of purification after childbirth. All the laws of purification in the Old Testament, whether by blood or by water, have been changed in the New Testament by the blood and water that came forth from the heart of Jesus at His crucifixion (John 19:34). However, the time cycles in the law are a revelation by which we may understand the birthing of the Manchild—“Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Col. 1:27).
Leviticus 12 tells us that when a woman gives birth to a son, she is unclean for seven days. On the eighth day she is to have her son circumcised. Then she is remain separate from her husband for yet another 33 days, for a total of 40 days (Lev. 12:2-4). However, if a woman gives birth to a daughter, she is considered unclean for 14 days, followed by another 66 days of purification and separation from her husband. And so, after a daughter’s birth, she is to remain separate from her husband for a total of 80 days (Lev. 12:5).
We know, of course, that after childbirth, a woman needs time to heal. Thus, we may argue that this was a practical law from that standpoint. However, there appears to be no practical reason why a woman’s separation time should be twice as long after a daughter’s birth. This was not meant to be practical. It was meant to be prophetic of what God has been doing throughout history, in bringing forth His children.
Back in the days of Adam and Eve, God said to “be fruitful, and multiply” (Gen. 1:28). This command was given to them prior to their sin, while they still retained the glory of God in their bodies. If they had had children prior to their fall, they would have produced children in the image and likeness of God. But they did not do so. Cain, Abel, and Seth were born some years after they had lost the glory and likeness of God. Thus, the children they bore were in the image of their fleshly state. They were not truly “sons of God” in the sense that God required. For this reason Jesus came, so that, in receiving Him, they might “become the Sons of God” (John 1:12). John also tells us that even “now we are the Sons of God” (1 John 3:2), but he immediately qualifies this by speaking of what we shall be. So it is plain that we are now imputed Sons, but in time, we shall actually manifest that Sonship in our bodies.
In the law, the people were required to bring a sacrifice to God as part of the purification rite after childbirth (Lev. 12:6-8). It was not that they had committed a sin by having children, as some have suggested; nor was it meant to imply that proper sexual relations was a sin. Rather, it was to show that they had brought forth children in the image of fallen man—not in the image of God. The child, whether boy or girl, was born into a realm of death (mortality). The woman had thus “touched a dead body” and was therefore unclean for seven days (Num. 19:11). She was defiled by the mortal condition of her offspring.
In a broad sense, there are two Adams: the first was made a living soul; the second was made a living spirit (1 Cor. 15:45). Paul tells us here that “there is a soulish body, and there is a spiritual body” (1 Cor. 15:44, literal translation). The word for “soul” or “soulish” is often translated “natural," and this hides the significance of the word. But in understanding the difference between soul and spirit, it is apparent that men descended from Adam are soulish, while those descended from Jesus are spiritual Sons and Daughters.
Thus, we can see that Adam and Eve brought forth an age in which all were inherently soulish. The word for “soul” is nephesh in Hebrew, and pseuche in Greek. These are feminine in the original languages. (In the English language, we do not have masculine and feminine words, but in many other languages, they do.) Thus, the soul is pictured as the feminine side of man, while the spirit is pictured as the masculine side. Every man and every woman has both a feminine side and a masculine side, called the soul and the spirit.
The point is, Adam and Eve brought forth soulish children—that is, children who were for the most part dominated by their soulish desires. One might say that the Old Testament period itself, leading up to Christ, was a soulish age, historically speaking. The “daughter” was fleshly, not in the full image of Christ. Because of this, the woman (earth, physical realm) had to remain separate from her husband (God, who is Spirit) for a full 80 Jubilees. This was a purification rite on the largest scale in the saga of God’s Plan to bring forth children in the earth.
This also explains why God would not impregnate the earth by His Spirit prior to the 80th Jubilee (26 A.D.). It would not have fit His Plan as revealed in Leviticus 12. The law is, and always has been, the blueprint of His intent and Plan for the earth. We have not understood His Plan because we have not understood His law. Jesus Himself became the sacrifice by which the “woman” was cleansed and purified at the end of her 80 Jubilees of separation. Then and only then could God once again impregnate the earth with His Spiritual Seed on the day of Pentecost.
Once again, the earth brought forth God’s offspring. This time He brought forth a son. Unfortunately, since the Feast of Pentecost is characterized by a leavened offering of firstfruits (Lev. 23:17), it meant that God’s son in the Pentecostal Age is leavened. That is, the sons of God during this age are still mortal and imperfect. Thus, the law specifies that the woman (earth) must await another 40 Jubilees of separation from her Husband before her time of purification is complete. Only then is she lawfully able to be united with her Husband to conceive again. The 40 Jubilees of purification extended from 33 A.D. to 1993 A.D. The earth is now lawfully eligible to be impregnated a third time—and this time the earth will bring forth the Manchild, the corporate body of the Sons of God who are spiritually perfected and in the full image and likeness of God.
God waited seven years after the 80th Jubilee before impregnating His wife the second time. The 80th Jubilee was in 26 A.D., but God waited until Pentecost of 33 A.D. to overshadow His wife. This seven-year tarrying period at the beginning of the next 40 Jubilees plays out in a seven-year difference between 1986 and 1993 as well. It partly explains why the Holy Spirit was not poured out in 1986. Even though 1986 was the 120th Jubilee, the Pentecostal Age did not end until 1993 A.D. Thus, the Spirit could not have come prior to 1993.
As we will soon show, the time to declare the great Jubilee occurred on September 23, 1996. However, the Feast of Tabernacles remained unfulfilled that year, because there were other prophetic time cycles that had not yet run their course. For instance, Hosea 6:2 indicates that the resurrection would occur "after two days," that is, after 2,000 years. In other words, this event could not take place prior to September of 1999 A.D., which was 2,000 years after Jesus' birth. (For proof, see Chapter Nine.) Other time cycles do not conclude until the year 2006 A.D. There are, no doubt, many other cycles that remain hidden at the present time. So the question remains as to how long we must tarry for the Holy Spirit to be sent forth in its fullness.
The point to remember in this section is that the earth waited 80 Jubilees for the Spirit of God to overshadow the 120 disciples in the upper room in Jerusalem, because it took 80 days to purify the woman after the birth of the soulish and fleshly. Then the fleshly “son” was born in 33 A.D., followed by 40 Jubilees of cleansing. We have now waited those 40 Jubilees. I believe that the explanation for all of this is found in the purification rites of the law found in Leviticus 12. The total period of time is 120 Jubilees, plus the current tarrying period..
Now it is time for the birth of the Manchild—the Son who is truly in the full likeness and image of Christ. I leave it to you to pray about this and determine your own course of action in preparing your heart to receive His fullness. This is the blessing that Paul prayed would be given to us. We close with his prayer in Ephesians 3:14-19,
14 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 16 That He would grant you according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man; 17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth and length and depth and height; 19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness [Greek, pleroma] of God.
https://youtu.be/hii-QFLiZOQ
In Leviticus 25, we learn of God’s Jubilee calendar of 50-year cycles which God commanded Israel to observe. The 50th year is called the “year of release” or “year of liberty” because all land reverted back to its original owner and all debts were cancelled. This Jubilee Year followed every seven Sabbatical cycles (weeks of years), 7x7 years totaling 49 years. The Jubilee was the intercalated 50th year. It did not coincide with the 7th Sabbatical year, but followed it, rounding out the 7 weeks of years to an even 50 years.
There is evidence in Scripture that this calendar was in use before Moses and the Law. We learn of Jacob’s serving Laban for 7 years for each of his wives, a total of 14 years. He then served 6 more years, and departed on the 7th year (a total of 20 years of service),4 departing at the beginning of the 21st year. In the Law, slaves were to serve for 6 years, and be given their freedom in the 7th year.5 Jacob agreed to serve Laban one “week” of years for Leah, and another week of years for Rachael. He then agreed to serve a third week of years for his flocks and goods. Yet, the fact that he left at the end of the 6th year instead of the end of the 7th year strongly suggests that their agreement was in accord with what Moses commanded later concerning the Sabbatical and Jubilee calendar. Therefore, we may infer that Moses merely reemphasized something that was already known, no doubt having been handed down through Noah, and perhaps practiced from the very first year of creation. Ancient extra-biblical sources also indicate this calendar being in use before Moses. After the Babylonian exile, perhaps shortly after the time of Ezra and Nehemiah, a Hebrew apocalyptic scroll was produced bearing the name “Jubilees,” sometimes called “The Little Genesis.” It purports to give a fuller account of some of the history in Genesis and Exodus. The book of Jubilees claims to be angelic revelation to Moses during his 40 days on Mt. Sinai. It reckons time from creation to the Messianic Kingdom in Jubilee and Sabbatical weeks.
1/2 Hour = 50 years
1 Hour = 100 years (of an age, or 1000 years).
A 1/2 time = 6 months
A time = a year
times = 3 years
A Day = Sunset to sunset.
A Day = Sunrise to sunset = 12 hours. The Set-Apart time of the day, when the East Gate of the inner court of the Heavenly Temple is opened;
specifically on the Shabbat and on the true New Moons.
1 Day = 1 year
1 Day = 1000 years
6 Days = 6000 years, or the 6th Millennium.
7 Days = 7000 years, or the 7th Millennium.
8th Day = 8th Millennium, ad infinitum.
1 Week = 6 Days to work, + 1 Day of Shabbat Rest.
1 Week of Days = 7 days
1 Week of Years = 7 years
7 Weeks of Years = 49 years
The 50th Year = the Jubilee year.
I've come to realize that another concept of time needs to be added to the above list. If we are to ascertain what jubilee we are in now, we need to understand the concept of a 'generation.'
What Is A Generation?
1. A generation = 40 years.
In the bible, a generation can relate to mankind: as in, the number of years the Yisraelites were cursed to remain in the wilderness.
'And Yahuah's anger was kindled against Yisra'el, and he made them wander in the wilderness forty years, until all the generation,
that had done evil in the sight of Yahuah, was consumed.' ~Numbers 32:13~
2. A generation = 100-200 years.
Relating to the ages of the people in the desert; Moses was 120 years old, Aharon was 123 , and Yahoshua, ben Nun, 1 of only 2 of that generation to enter the Promised Land; was 110 years old.
3. A generation = 1000 years
In relation to the earth and mankind's interactions on it; as with Noah, who was described in Genesis 6:9, as being a 'just man and perfect in his
generations, and Noah walked with Elohiym. ~Genesis 6:9~
Noah was the 8th from Adam, born during the first 1000 years after the Creation. He was the 8th in his generation; born in the 15th Jubilee.
Adam died in the 19th Jubilee at the age of 930 years; 70 years shy of 1000 years, or 1 Day; or 1 complete generation. By the time he was ordained to build the ark, Noah was the only one alive, found to be perfect in that generation.
So, we've seen that a generation can be: 40 years, 100-200 years, or 1000 years.
What is a Jubilee?
A jubilee is a period of time consisting of 7 Weeks Of Years (WOY).
1. Each Week Of Years has 7 years within it.
2. Each of the 7 years has 12 months.
3. Each month has 29.5 to 30 days depending on the lunar cycle.
4. 7 Weeks Of Years = 49 years (7 Weeks Of Years x 7years = 49 years).
5. The following year, which is the 50th year, is the Jubilee.
It is the concept that a generation = 1000 years, that specifically relates to the jubilees.
In Genesis 15:13-16, Yahuah prophesies to Abraham saying:
13. 'And he said unto Avram, know of a surety that your seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they
shall afflict them four hundred years.
14. And also that nation, who they shall serve, will I judge: and afterward shall they come out with great substance.
15. And you shall go to your fathers in peace; you shall be buried in a good old age.
16 . But in the fourth generation they shall come hither again: for the iniquity of the Emoriym is not yet full.'
It is verse 16 that we shall consider.
If you consult most timelines, or research biblical chronology, you will discover that the number of years from Adam to Abraham is 2000 years.
By the time Yahuah prophesied to him, Abraham was 'on the scene;' making the 2000 year time period from Adam to Abraham complete. Therefore,
we know Yahuah was prophesying of events that would occur at a future time.
Continue along the timeline, and you will find that from Abraham to the 1st Coming of Yahoshua, HaMashiach, is 2000 years or, 2 generations.
Moving further along, the time span from Yahoshua, HaMashiach to the Re-Gathering of the Yisraelites, is 2000 years or, 2 generations.
Total: 4000 years or 4 generations; as prophesied!
However, we are not done. We must bring it on home, as they say.
Now add the 2000 years from Adam to Abraham, and that will total 6000 years, or 6 generations. Six thousand years from the Creation to the
Re-Gathering of Yahuah's Remnant. Why is that number significant?
It is significant because as we learned in The 50th Year Jubilee, Part One. , 6000 years = the 6th Millennium; which is the 6th 'Day;' which is the Preparation.
Preparation for the return of HaMashiach, and the Re-Gathering of Yahuah's true people from the four corners of the world!
(lol, Yahuah is perfect every which way).
Yisra'el, once you understand how this correlates to Genesis 15:16, you can then calculate the current jubilee, and discern the signs of the end-times.
To that end, let us proceed.
What Jubilee Is It Now?
A Jubilee is every 50th year, so borrowing from above, simply plug in the numbers:
2000 years ÷ 50 = 40 Jubilees
From Adam to Abraham, was 2000 years.
and,
1. From Abraham to Yahoshua:_________2000 years, or 40 Jubilees
2. From Yahoshua to Re-Gathering:____2000 years, or 40 Jubilees
Total: 4000 years, or 80 Jubilees
Now add the years from Adam to Abraham:
2000 years, or 40 Jubilees
Grand Total: 6000 years
Remember, a 'generation' = 1000 years. So based on the above count: this is, and we are, the 4th Generation spoken of in Genesis 15:16!
40 Jubilees x3 = 120 Jubilees
120 Jubilees =6000 years
6000 years ÷ 50th year(jubilee) = 120 Jubilees
We are in the 120th Jubilee from Creation.
We are in the 6th 'Day'.
This is the Preparation Age before the 2nd Coming of Yahoshua, our Shabbat Rest.
Now all that remains is to utilize Yah's Heavenly Calendar, by which you are, hopefully, learning to Count The Days.
On the day I am writing this, it is August 16th, 2018, Gregorian, (which I am using as a reference only).
However, according to Yahuah's Calendar, it is the 5th Month; the 5th Day of the Weekly Count, and the 20th Day of the Monthly Count.
Therefore, it will be recorded in heaven in the book of my deeds, as such:
'In the fourth year of the third week, in the one hundred and twentieth jubilee, on the twentieth day of the fifth month:
NeorahYah understood, and wrote down the count, according to the Jubilees of Yahuah.'
Yisra'el, this is the message and confirmation of, along with scriptural evidence, for those of us who have the testimony of Yahuah and Yahoshua, HaMashiach: We are the 4th Generation prophesied of in Genesis 15:16
Yahoshua said in Matthew 24:34:
'Amein I say unto you, this generation shall by no means pass away until all this takes place.' (emphasis mine).
The above verse does not mean that the people of this generation shall not die. Rather it means that all things prophesied of shall come to pass
in the 4th generation from Abraham, to the Re-Gathering, and coming of HaMashiach.
Therefore, in anticipation of this event, we are instructed to:
'...learn the parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is nigh. So likewise you,
when you shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.' ~Matthew 24:32-33~
We are instructed to be ever vigilant:
'Watch therefore: for you know not what hour your Master is coming.' ~Matthew 24:42~
For the following reason:
'...of that day and hour knows no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.' ~Matthew 24:36~
Now that we know undoubtedly, that we are the 4th Generation of the prophecy, we are to have hope, faith, and uplifted spirits.
Luke 21:28 says:
'And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draws nigh!'
Look forward to the day when we can say, as Isaiah said:
'Arise, shine, for your Light is come, and the glory of Yahuah is risen upon you.' ~Isaiah 60:1~
I say: 'Come LORD JESUS!'
120 Jubilees × 49 Years = 5,880 Years
5,880 Years + 120 Years = 6,000 Years
And we know that Christ will reign for 1,000 Years...
6,000 Years + 1,000 Years = 7,000 Years
So we see that we have another easy way to double check that God indeed set only 7,000 Years for the history and chronology of the world to play out before the Final Judgment. My work has aimed at simply finding out how much time we have left before the 6,000 Years/120 Jubilees are up...so if people don't care about that or prefer to put their little silly traditions or egos in the way of the truth then let them suffer the same fate as the Five Foolish Virgins.
The three major Feasts, Passover, Pentecost and Tabernacles, instituted by the Lord in Leviticus Chapter 23, and the Sabbatical and Jubilee Years, were founded by God Himself on a pattern of cycles of 7's - the number 7 always pointing to end-times. The three feasts (holy convocations) are actually comprised of seven so-called feasts:
Passover (Passover, Unleavened Bread, Sheath of First Fruits) in the first month of Nisan.
Pentecost in the third month (after 7x7 days) of Sivan (also known as Feast of Weeks or First Fruit).
Tabernacles (Feast of Trumpets, Day of Atonement, Tabernacles or Booths) in the 7th month of Tishri.
The Day of Atonement was given to the nation of Israel for the forgiveness of all sins, of both known sins and sins of ignorance, on this one and only day in the annual religious cycle. The number 7 is imprinted throughout these requirements that every man in Israel was to obey. The number 7 is an important signpost to final day events in the book of Revelation, the book of 7's. Note the repetitive cycle of 7 within 7's.
For instance, the Feast of Unleavened Bread was celebrated over 7 days, the 7th year was called the Sabbatical Year, while the year following the 7x7th year was the Jubilee year which therefore occurred in cycles of 50 years. The 'Feasts' or compulsory holy convocations/gatherings at the temple had enormous practical and financial applications for the Hebrews. All debts were cancelled on the Sabbatical Year. Hebrews who had sold themselves into slavery because of debt had to be set free, while all properties had to be returned free of charge to the original family every Jubilee Year following every cycle of 7 Sabbatical years. Remarkable, isn't it, for God to institute such a pattern? It's importance to us is that it has an important message for those of us who live near the end of world history - the literal end of the world. The end of the world comes after 7 + 3 + 7 = 17 of God's days, the intervening 3 days signifying that this was the predetermined plan of the omniscient triune God before time began.
The Jubilee year was the most important of God's appointed seasons. Thus counting 7's and 50 was crucial to the religious life of the Israelites. In the Jubilee Year each family received back its God-ordained full inheritance of lands and family members. Its symbolism to the church is perfection and the inheritance of God's promises fully acquired. The components of Tabernacles, Trumpets, the Day of Atonement and Booths, contain much symbolism with regard to what is about to happen to the church.
The number 50 is significant both to the Day of Pentecost and to the Year of Jubilee. In biblical symbology 50 represents fullness or payment in full. Thus, the infilling of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost, which is available to all Christians who seek the baptism of the Holy Spirit, is also a downpayment to be realized in full because we become the temple of the Holy Spirit and are given boldness and gifts of the Spirit (1 Corinthians 3:16; and Chapter 12).
The three components of the Feast of Passover were types of the sinless works fulfilled by Christ and His resurrection when He became the first fruits of many brethren and pioneer of the resurrection. This is why we call Christ our Passover ('Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us', 1 Corinthians 5:7).
Apart from our fascination with the pattern of 7's in the Creative and Redemptive Weeks, and in the Feasts themselves, sevens are God's tags (like in a filing cabinet) indicating that they are relevant to the book of 7's (the book of Revelation). In other words, any event in the Bible that deals with seven of something is a sign that the event contains a clue relating to end-times.
The feasts enable us to understand God's timings and plan for the world (see also the 15 progressive articles on the true age of the Earth). The subject matter is not trivial. Reading Warnock's book on The Feast of Tabernacles enables the reader to better understand what we have to say about the feasts. He also discusses what true Christian unity will be all about. The prayer of Jesus that we be one, as Jesus is one with the Father (John Chapter 17), can only come about by a divine move of the Holy Spirit, not by any well intended strategies of man or churches. Current Christianity is anything but united in any sense of the word. Even within the one congregation there exists a wide spectrum of personal beliefs on a variety of doctrinal subjects. Such diversity does not occur within the Trinity.
JOHNATHAN CAHN - MODERN PROPHET LEANS ON THE FEASTS OF ISRAEL AND PATTERNS OF 7's
Jonathan Cahn, a Messianic Rabii of Beth Israel in the U.S., who has demonstrated in his best-selling books how the spiritual significance of these so-called Feasts of Israel are being played out in the politics of the United States. Moreover, they also point to the soon coming of the Messiah. They are God's predetermined clocks for the countdown of the Second Coming involving the 120th Year of Jubilee since sin entered into the world.
Cahn stunningly reveals current events and personalities that are uncannily bringing God's timetable to pass. View descriptions and availabilities of his books "The Harbinger", "The Paradigm" and "The Mystery of the Shemittah". My brief material below may allow you to better understand his.
Johnathan explains Daniel's Seventy Sevens Prophecy which, coupled with the Jubilees, is a mathematical count down to the coming of the Messiah. His material is worth watching, despite receiving criticism that he uses a 'sliding' Hebrew calendar to suit his purposes. Who can know with absolute certainty what actual year we are in (from the time that sin entered in)? There also appears to be some doubt by Jews about the precise year when each 50-year cycle for the Year of Jubilee begins.
Cahn leans a lot on the viewer having an understanding of the difference between a Sabbatical Year (the Smita or Shemittah) and a Jubilee Year. In addition to what I have provided below readers may also wish to visit a site describing the scriptural background for these commands of the Lord and how they dramatically affected the life of ancient Israel. Cahn's "The Mystery of the Shemitah" explains in greater detail God's demands on His people during the beginning and end of a Sabbatical Year (also known as the 'Shemittah' or 'Year of release'). I also recommend 'The Feasts of the Lord' by Howard and Rosenthal (Thomas Nelson Inc, Nashville, 1997) for their interpretation of the Shemittah. They present a particularly good reminder how something that God intended to be a blessing can become a curse to a nation or individual if not obeyed. I do not agree with some of their other views.
THE CHURCH TO EXPERIENCE TABERNACLES BEFORE THE RESURRECTION
One of the most important signposts to end times is the way the progressive build up of the three Feasts instituted by the Lord as recorded in Leviticus Chapter 23; Passover, Pentecost and Tabernacles. To the Christian they represent Salvation, Baptism of the Holy Spirit, and Perfection. God considered these three feasts (solemn assemblies) so important that any male who did not participate was spiritually excommunicated from Israel. The annual timing of these feasts was based on a pattern of sevens based upon the week of creation, the seventh day being so holy that any who worked on the Sabbath were killed by stoning at God's command.
Because of the severity of God's dealings with Israel it becomes evident that God intended the pattern of sevens to be retained right up to the present day and was not to be diluted or corrupted in any way. Why? Because the Feasts proclaim the pattern of God's plan for world history for our learning and benefit.
Isn't it remarkable that Jesus, our Passover, was crucified on the same day when the Jews celebrated Passover, and that the Holy Spirit fell upon the 120 disciples on the exact day when the Jews were celebrating the Feast of Pentecost? Note the wording in Acts Chapter 2 verse 1 'And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place'. In other words, God was also counting the 50 days from Passover to Pentecost for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on believers. The type or shadow of the Jew's ritual became spiritually realized in substance in the body of Christ. In other words, the Old Testament was foreshadowing, in picture form, a spiritual reality that was to be experienced by the church. The church was born again through events on the cross at Passover, while baptism with the Holy Spirit came at Pentecost (the first Pentecost was instituted at Mount Sinai, the mountain of fire and thunder, 50 days after the angel of death passed over the dwelling of the Hebrews in Egypt who had painted lamb's blood on their doorposts - Exodus Chapters 11 and 12 ).
This begs the question of the third great feast, the Feast of Tabernacles which was the culmination of God's sacred calendar in the 7th month for the nation of Israel. The Feast of Tabernacles has still to be fulfilled spiritually on Earth, in the body of Christ.
'We have abundant evidence from the New Testament to establish the fact that two of the three annual Feasts of Israel's worship have already been fulfilled in Christ and His Church: fulfilled, moreover, in a way so manifestly clear from the Scriptures that we do not hesitate to declare that we are now on the verge of the fulfillment of the last annual Feast of the Lord - The Feast of Tabernacles' (Warnock, 1951).
The Day of Atonement in the Feast of Tabernacles was the only day in the year when the High Priest was allowed to enter the Holy of Holies to present blood on the Ark of the Covenant. It signified the one day in the Year when Israel would be perfected and set entirely free of all sins, both sins knowingly committed and sins of ignorance, for that year. On every seventh occurrence of the Day of Atonement all debts were forgiven, and following every 7x7th Day of Atonement (The Year of Jubilee ie. every 50th year) all properties had to be returned to their original owners. Thus every family received back the inheritance of lands provided them of God. The spiritual fulfillment of this Feast in the body of Christ will be the literal perfection of the believers who enter by faith. This speaks of Christians in the Bride of Christ who have been processed by the Holy Spirit to be without spot, wrinkles or blemish.
'That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish' (Ephesians 5:27). She will be the appropriate bride for Christ 'But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot' (1 Peter 1:19). Note the same wording used for the sinless nature of Christ.
It is for this reason that Jesus after His ascension gave the five ascension gift ministries to the church. They will, over time and in a progressive manner, from glory to glory, bring the bride of Christ to her perfection in the sight of Christ:
'And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ' (Ephesians 4:11-13). Mind you, to the perfection of Christ Himself!
Why would you not believe that? Is it because you find it impossible to believe this about yourself? Because it is outside of your experience and you know that you are still capable of sinful thoughts? That is exactly why the appearance of the Bride of Christ will be a miracle, for with God nothing is impossible. Be a Joshua and a Caleb. Believe the word of God.
In summary, the three Feasts Passover, Pentecost and Tabernacles speak of spiritual equivalents and realities in the church, or in the life of an individual. It is about Christ leading us in gradual progression from Salvation, to the infilling with the Holy Spirit and eventually to Perfection (unimaginable but possible with God).
PATTERN OF SEVENS
Understanding these cycles of years is particularly significant for anyone interested in the current age of the Earth and in the timings of various end-time events, including stock-market crashes as revealed by Rabbi Jonathan Cahn. (See also my 15 articles on how these cycles relate to The True Age of the Earth).
On these pages I provide some essential material to gain an understanding of how and why God works in cycles of sevens. The pattern of sevens is revealed in God's word beginning with the 7th day of rest, which if disobeyed met with the death penalty. The Feast of Pentecost was determined by a count down of seven weeks, the Feast of Tabernacles and the Day of Atonement was determined by a countdown of 7 months, the Sabbatical year was determined by a countdown of seven years, while the Year of Jubilee was determined by a countdown of seven Sabbatical Years. The final countdown is for the end of the world is described in the book of 7's - the book of Revelation. At the close of world history many events occur in sevens - 7 seals, 7 trumpets, 7 vials, etc.
GOD WORKS IN PATTERNS AND REPEATED CYCLES
In summary, God works in patterns and always has from the very beginning of the Creation. An inescapable number in the Bible is the number 7, which comprises the days of the week. Sevens culminate in the Book of Revelation which mentions the number about 49 times. Ignoring repeated sevens in the same verse, the number 7 occurs 7 x 7 times! Everything God does has enormous significance. He is drawing our attention ! The 7 colours of the rainbow remind us of His promise to Noah that He would never again kill the entire world with a flood.
The prophet Ezekiel saw in his visions ‘wheels within wheels’, in other words, he saw a reference to cycles that repeat themselves on a smaller scale within an overarching cycle. "The appearance of the wheels and their workmanship was the colour of beryl, and the four of them had one likeness. And their appearance and their workmanship were like a wheel in the middle of a wheel" (Ezekiel 1:16). This is particularly true of the number 7. Have you ever observed a rapidly spinning wheel that at certain times appears to be spinning slowly in the reverse direction? So it is with sevens and it can become very confusing unless we are familiar with God’s week.
Consider again the following cycles which were crucial in the life of Israel at the pain of death or exclusion from God’s household if disobeyed.
THE CYCLE OF 7s
God's Creative Week. God worked 6 days and rested on the 7th day.
Our week. No one was to work on the 7th day. The death penalty for disobedience was stoning (with God's approval).
Annually, Israel was to count 7 weeks of 7 days from Passover (49 days). The Following day was Pentecost, 50 days from Passover (50th day from the time of painting blood on the door posts in Egypt to the time when Israel appeared before the Lord at Sinai, the 'mount of thunder, fire and trumpets' – the giving of the 10 commandments.
The 7th month was annually set aside for the Feast of Tabernacles. This Feast of Israel included the Day of Atonement, the only day of the year when the high priest was to go inside the Holy of Holies in the Temple to sprinkle blood 7 times on the mercy seat of the Ark and then sprinkle blood on the altar in the Outer Court. Thus sins were annually forgiven. Passover, Pentecost and Tabernacles are called pilgrimage feasts where every male had to attend these feasts and failure to do so meant being spiritually cut off from Israel.
In a repeating cycle of 7 years the 7th year was the Sabbatical Year when debts between Israelites were forgiven and the land was commanded to rest from agricultural activity and harvest. The first occurrence of the commandment for the sabbatical year is given together with the commandment for the weekly Sabbath. (Ex 23:10-12). It is no coincidence (http://www.setapartpeople.com/sabbatical-year-commandment). Any produce which grew of its own became communal property. For the obedient God provided a three-fold abundant crop that would last them to the beginning of the ninth year (Leviticus 25:20-22). The Sabbatical Year was also referred to as Shemittat kesafim ('money release') and Shemittat karka ('release of the land'). Since debts were forgiven Hebrews who had sold themselves into slavery were free to go home (unless if they wished to stay in their master's home where they were amply provided for). Deuteronomy 15:12–14 “If your kinsman, a Hebrew man or woman, is sold to you, then he shall serve you six years, but in the seventh year you shall set him free. When you set him free, you shall not send him away empty-handed. You shall furnish him liberally from your flock and from your threshing floor and from your wine vat; you shall give to him as YHVH your Elohim has blessed you". During this year Hebrews were expected to contemplate spiritual matters, refrain from agricultural work and consider that all things belong to God anyway. The year 2000/1 was a Sabbatical Year (Shemittah) for the Jew.
Why was the Southern Kingdom sent into exile for 70 years to Babylon? 'Judah’s sins included evil doings and idolatry (verses 5-7). As for the 70 years of punishment, God may have chosen this period of time since the number of years coincides with the apparent number of violations by the people of Judah of God’s command that the land should rest every seventh year (Leviticus 25:1-7; 20-22; 26:33-35; 2 Chronicles 36:20-21). This prophecy of punishment came upon the people of Judah because of their disobedience to God’s laws. According to the Jamieson, Fausset and Brown Commentary, the 70 years was “the exact number of years of Sabbaths in four hundred and ninety years, the period from Saul to the Babylonian captivity. … The seventy years probably begin from the fourth year of Jehoiakim, when Jerusalem was first captured, and many captives, as well as the treasures of the temple, were carried away; they end with the first year of Cyrus, who, on taking Babylon, issued an edict for the restoration of the Jews (Ezra 1:1)” (comments on Jeremiah 25:1). Quoted from https://lifehopeandtruth.com/prophecy/understanding-the-book-of-daniel/daniel-9/
Overarching these holy periods, Israel also had to count 7 cycles of 7 weeks of years (49 years). The 7 x 7th year was a Sabbatical Year of course, the 49th year. The 50th year was the Year of Jubilee which was a double portion blessing when all lands had to be returned to their hereditary owners. In addition, Hebrews who had sold themselves into servitude, but not gentile slaves, had to be released to return to their families (Leviticus 25:8-24). The 7 years were called a week of years. This was called the Sabbath of Sabbaths. A ram's horn was blown on the Day of Atonement to announce the start of the Year of Jubilee. Jubilee comes from the Hebrew word 'yovel' meaning a trumpet sound.
Note, in these feasts the element of progression of lengths of time, progressing from days, to weeks, to months to years, all in cycles of 7, even two cycles comprised of 1000-year periods of time (next point) interspersed by three of God's days.
It also becomes evident that overarching these cycles were the two weeks comprised of 1000-year days – the Creative Week and the Redemptive Week.
Overarching all of these and including the 7th point, we note a combination of all these blessings. The number 120, associated with the first world-wide judgment of God during the days of Noah, over-arches the next world-wide judgment of fire covering the whole Earth. 120 signifies the end of all flesh. There were 120 disciples in the upper room at Pentecost (50 days, 7 weeks plus 1 day) when fire from heaven fell and the carnal disciples were transformed into spiritual disciples, full of testimony and boldness led by the Holy Spirit. Judgment begins at the completion of 120 cycles of Jubilee Years, ie. 120 x 50 = 6000 years of sin until the final redemption, viz. from the moment of Adam’s sin to the perfection of the body of Christ. An article in Myjewishlearning.com suggests that, in God's eyes, the first Jubilee occurred well before the law was given to Moses.
Important prophecies concerning Israel and those concerning the whole world were based on 7's. Israel was in exile in Babylon for 70 years, Jerusalem was destroyed in 70 AD, the Syrian leper had to dip himself 7 times in the Jordan to be healed, the apostle Peter had to forgive 7 x 70 times according to Jesus who was referring to the 7 x 70 prophecy from the book of Daniel, which pointed to the end of sin at the end of time, culminating in 7's in the 7 golden lampstands or candlesticks, 7 stars, 7 churches, 7 spirits of God, 7 lamps of fire, 7 seals, 7 thunders, 7 horns, 7 crowns, 7 eyes, 7 angels, 7 golden vials or bowls, 7 trumpets, 7000 men slain, 7 last plagues, 7 heads and the 7th kingdom of world history. Relevant to God's plan were 7 kingdoms or powers holding sway over God's people - Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, Rome, the 7th kingdom of iron and clay still to come 'according to the working of Satan'. Jacob bowed 7 times to his brother Esau signifying that the people of God will bow 7 times in weakness to world kingdoms before the end and the final triumph of the church of Jesus Christ over all kingdoms (the small stone that smashed the statue, Daniel Chapter 2).
This is summarized in 'An Introduction to Bible Prophecy: Focusing on the Seventh World Kingdom' - see under 'Administration and Acknowledgements'. In short, the number 7 symbolizes fullness or consummation, thus God does not have 7 eyes or 7 different spirits, etc. Revelations has been clothed in symbolic language so that only spirit-filled believers will ever fully understand it.
'But God has revealed them to us by His Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, yea, the deep things of God. For who among men knows the things of a man except the spirit of man within him? So also no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. But we have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit from God, so that we might know the things that are freely given to us by God. These things we also speak, not in words which man's wisdom teaches, but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned' (1 Corinthians 2:10-14).
SOME SUPPORTING NOTES
'So says the LORD, the God of Israel: I made a covenant with your fathers in the day that I brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage, saying: "At the end of seven years you shall let go every man his brother that is a Hebrew, that has been sold unto you, and has served you six years, you shalt let him go free from you"; but your fathers hearkened not unto Me, neither inclined their ear" (Jeremiah 34:13–14)'.
‘The fiftieth year, i.e., that following the last year of seven Sabbatical cycles, is the jubilee; during it the land regulations of the Sabbatical year are to be observed, as is also the commandment "You shall return every man unto his possession" (ib. verse 10), indicating the compulsory restoration of hereditary properties (except houses of laymen located in walled cities) to the original owners or their legal heirs and the emancipation of all Hebrew servants whose term of six years is unexpired or who refuse to leave their masters when such term of service has expired (Gen. xviii. 6; 'Ar. 33b; see Josephus, "Ant." vi. 8, § 28).’ http://jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/12967-sabbatical-year-and-jubilee
The Sabbatical year is established in Deuteronomy: 'At the end of every seven years you shall make a release. And this is the manner of the release. Every man who has a loan to his neighbour shall release it. He shall not exact it from his neighbour, or from his brother, because it is called Jehovah's release. You may exact it from a foreigner, but your hand shall release that which is yours with your brother'. (Deuteronomy 15:1-3). In the Book of Nehemiah, the Contemporary English Version says, “We won't buy goods or grain on the Sabbath or on any other sacred day not even from foreigners. Every seven years we will let our fields rest, and we will cancel all debts' (Nehemiah 10:31). But did they obey?
The Day of Atonement. This was a very sombre and holy day. https://bible.org/seriespage/10-day-atonement-leviticus-16
Leviticus 25:2-7. The Sabbatical Year. 'The Lord spoke to Moses on Mount Sinai, saying: Speak to the people of Israel and say to them: When you enter the land that I am giving you, the land shall observe a sabbath for the Lord. For six years you shall sow your field, and for six years you shall prune your vineyard, and gather in their yield; but in the seventh year there shall be a sabbath of complete rest for the land, a sabbath for the Lord: you shall not sow your field or prune your vineyard. You shall not reap the aftergrowth of your harvest or gather the grapes of your unpruned vine: it shall be a year of complete rest for the land. You may eat what the land yields during its sabbath—you, your male and female slaves, your hired and your bound labourers who live with you; for your livestock also, and for the wild animals in your land all its' yield shall be for food'.
Consult also the Sabbatical year or Shmita in https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shmita
Leviticus 25:8-17. The Year of Jubilee. ' You shall count off seven weeks* of years, seven times seven years, so that the period of seven weeks of years gives forty-nine years. Then you shall have the trumpet sounded loud; on the tenth day of the seventh month—on the day of atonement—you shall have the trumpet sounded throughout all your land. And you shall hallow the fiftieth year and you shall proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants. It shall be a jubilee for you: you shall return, every one of you, to your property and every one of you to your family. That fiftieth year shall be a jubilee for you: you shall not sow, or reap the aftergrowth, or harvest the unpruned vines. For it is a jubilee; it shall be holy to you: you shall eat only what the field itself produces. In this year of jubilee you shall return, every one of you, to your property. When you make a sale to your neighbour or buy from your neighbour, you shall not cheat one another. When you buy from your neighbour, you shall pay only for the number of years since the jubilee; the seller shall charge you only for the remaining crop-years. If the years are more, you shall increase the price, and if the years are fewer, you shall diminish the price; for it is a certain number of harvests that are being sold to you. You shall not cheat one another, but you shall fear your God; for I am the Lord your God. https://www.enterthebible.org/Controls/feature/tool_etb_resource_display/resourcebox.aspx?selected_rid=380&original_id=23
'But, beloved, let not this one thing be hidden from you, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day' (2 Peter 3:8).
And Jehovah said, 'My spirit shall not always strive with man, in his erring; he is flesh. Yet his days shall be a hundred and twenty years' (Genesis 6:3).
'For this is hidden from them by their willing it, that the heavens were of old, and the earth out of the water, and through water, being held together by the Word of God, through which the world that then was, being flooded by water, perished. But the present heavens and the earth being kept in store by the same Word, are being kept for fire until the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men' (2 Peter 3:5-7).
'And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the witness of Jesus and for the Word of God, and who had not worshiped the beast nor his image, nor had received his mark on their foreheads, nor in their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years' (Revelation 20:4). The 1000 year Millennium is the 7th 1000-year day of the Redemptive Week that began with the sin of Adam and Eve whose sin was covered when God shed innocent blood on their behalf by providing them with skins of animals to wear. These were in all probability the first lambs to be sacrificed for the sins of mankind.
God is a God of order, not chaos. He reveals patterns and sequences, templates and types. God is outside of time, but He has a plan involving time from before the foundation of the world.
…for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose,’ (Isaiah 46:9-10 ESV)
Not only does God have a plan, but He does not keep it completely secret:
For the Lord GOD does nothing without revealing his secret to his servants the prophets. (Amos 3:7 ESV)
God and His Sevens
The Creation Week
One of the ways in which God has revealed His pattern is through groupings of 7’s. We first find this pattern in the Creation Week:
And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done. So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation. (Genesis 2:2-3 ESV)
God created the world in 6 days, and on the 7th day He “rested”. Now could God have created the world in 4 days? 12 days? 10 years? A billion years? Yes. But He specifically chose a pattern of 6+1 days. 6 is the “number of man”, and 7 is the “number of completion”. This 7 day week has persisted throughout human history and was set up by God as a template for the Sabbath cycle.
The Sabbath Cycle
God further reveals His pattern in the Sabbath Cycle:
Six days shall work be done, but on the seventh day is a Sabbath of solemn rest, a holy convocation. You shall do no work. It is a Sabbath to the Lord in all your dwelling places. (Leviticus 23:3 ESV)
God affirms His pattern of 6+1 days in a weekly work/rest cycle. This is to be the pattern Israel follows for their Work Week, forever. Have you ever wondered why we have a 7-day work week? Why not 10 days? Why not 5? Even in secular society the 7 day pattern is followed around the world. Historians trace the 7-day week back to ancient Babylon, but we know that it was observed before then from the Biblical record.
The Sabbath is grouped with the other Feasts of God, for it serves as a sign just as the feasts do:
“You are to speak to the people of Israel and say, ‘Above all you shall keep my Sabbaths, for this is a sign between me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I, the LORD, sanctify you. Therefore the people of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, observing the Sabbath throughout their generations, as a covenant forever. It is a sign forever between me and the people of Israel that in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested and was refreshed.’” (Exodus 31:13,16-17 ESV)
The Sabbath is one of God’s “appointed times”. The reason God places such high importance on the Sabbath is because of its’ significance. Gotquestions describes it like this:
The various elements of the Sabbath symbolized the coming of the Messiah, who would provide a permanent rest for His people. Once again the example of resting from our labors comes into play. With the establishment of the Old Testament Law, the Jews were constantly “laboring” to make themselves acceptable to God. Their labors included trying to obey a myriad of do’s and don’ts of the ceremonial law, the Temple law, the civil law, etc. Of course they couldn’t possibly keep all those laws, so God provided an array of sin offerings and sacrifices so they could come to Him for forgiveness and restore fellowship with Him, but only temporarily. Just as they began their physical labors after a one-day rest, so, too, did they have to continue to offer sacrifices. Hebrews 10:1 tells us that the law “can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship.” But these sacrifices were offered in anticipation of the ultimate sacrifice of Christ on the cross, who “after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right of God” (Hebrews 10:12). Just as He rested after performing the ultimate sacrifice, He sat down and rested—ceased from His labor of atonement because there was nothing more to be done, ever. Because of what He did, we no longer have to “labor” in law-keeping in order to be justified in the sight of God. Jesus was sent so that we might rest in God and in what He has provided.
So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, for whoever has entered God’s rest has also rested from his works as God did from his. (Hebrews 4:9-10 ESV)
The Shemitah Cycle
God establishes a “week of years” Sabbath cycle, called the Shemitah Cycle:
Six years you shall sow your field, and six years you shall prune your vineyard and gather in its crop, but during the seventh year the land shall have a sabbath rest, a sabbath to the LORD; you shall not sow your field nor prune your vineyard. (Leviticus 25:3-4 ESV)
Again, a pattern of 6+1, this time in years. The 7th year was to be a time of rest for the land, where it would lay fallow.
We see God use this “week of years” cycle in His prophecy of the Seventy Weeks:
“Seventy weeks are decreed about your people and your holy city, to finish the transgression, to put an end to sin, and to atone for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal both vision and prophet, and to anoint a most holy place. Know therefore and understand that from the going out of the word to restore and build Jerusalem to the coming of an anointed one, a prince, there shall be seven weeks. Then for sixty-two weeks it shall be built again with squares and moat, but in a troubled time. And after the sixty-two weeks, an anointed one shall be cut off and shall have nothing. And the people of the prince who is to come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. Its end shall come with a flood, and to the end there shall be war. Desolations are decreed. And he shall make a strong covenant with many for one week, and for half of the week he shall put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall come one who makes desolate, until the decreed end is poured out on the desolator.” (Daniel 9:24-27)
Each of the “weeks” in this prophecy is a period of seven years. I believe that sixty-nine of these “weeks of years” were fulfilled up to the time of Christ, with one “week of years” remaining to be fulfilled in the future. This time period is most commonly called “The Tribulation”, but a more correct term for it might be “The Seventieth Week of Daniel” or “The Time of Jacob’s Trouble”. We will study this prophecy more in depth later.
The Jubilee Cycle
The next pattern involves 7×7, or “seven sevens”. After each period of “seven sevens”, there was to be a year set apart as a Jubilee. In the Jubilee (50th) year, the land was to be left to rest again (making it rest two years in a row this time). In addition, debts were cancelled and Hebrew slaves were released:
You shall count seven weeks of years, seven times seven years, so that the time of the seven weeks of years shall give you forty-nine years. Then you shall sound the loud trumpet on the tenth day of the seventh month. On the Day of Atonement you shall sound the trumpet throughout all your land. And you shall consecrate the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants. It shall be a jubilee for you, when each of you shall return to his property and each of you shall return to his clan. That fiftieth year shall be a jubilee for you; in it you shall neither sow nor reap what grows of itself nor gather the grapes from the undressed vines. For it is a jubilee. It shall be holy to you. (Leviticus 25:8-12 ESV)
A trumpet sounding on the Day of Atonement was to mark the beginning of this Jubilee. Now that we know God’s pattern of 6+1 and groupings of 7’s, what is He trying to tell us?
Time as a Prophetic Marker
As Douglas Berner points out in his book “God’s Challenge”, the Bible references time using different concepts – both in a scientific sense and an undefined prophetic sense. Some times given are very specific (1260 days, 42 months, “time, times, and half a time” – where “time”=1 year), and some times are more ambiguous (“as a thousand years”, “about half an hour”, “a season”). Scripture uses words like: appointed times, set times, fullness of time, time to come, time of trouble, former times, judgement time, and time of the end.
What we can know, is that everything has an “appointed time“:
For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven (Ecclesiastes 3:1 ESV)
Everything will come about in the “fullness of time“, or at just the right time on God’s schedule:
But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. (Galatians 4:4-5 ESV)
Days as 1000 Years
For a thousand years in your sight are but as yesterday when it is past, or as a watch in the night. (Psalm 90:4 ESV)
Peter relates this passage in Psalm 90 to the Day of the Lord:
“…knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires. They will say, “Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.” For they deliberately overlook this fact, that the heavens existed long ago, and the earth was formed out of water and through water by the word of God, and that by means of these the world that then existed was deluged with water and perished. But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly. But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed. (2 Peter 3:3-10 ESV)
God warns Adam regarding the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil that he will die in the day he eats of it:
but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.” (Genesis 2:17 ESV)
Douglas Berner notes that although spiritual death entered Adam on that day of sin, his physical death occurred 930 years later – still included in the first thousand-year-day. This is specifically discussed in the apocryphal book of Jubilees.
Another significant passage is found in the book of Hosea:
I will return again to my place, until they acknowledge their guilt and seek my face, and in their distress earnestly seek me. “Come, let us return to the Lord; for he has torn us, that he may heal us; he has struck us down, and he will bind us up. After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will raise us up, that we may live before him. Hosea 5:15-6:2 ESV
After the Jews rejected Jesus as Messiah, He returned to the right hand of the Father in heaven. He will remain there until they call Him as foretold in Matthew 23:38-39:
“See, your house is left to you desolate. For I tell you, you will not see me again, until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’” (ESV)
Hosea’s thousand-year-days could possibly either begin around the time of the Messiah’s birth, when Israel should have been watching for Him to appear, or at His death and resurrection. When they ultimately rejected Him, their desolation came into effect.
Israel was desolated in 70 AD when the Temple was destroyed, and again in 135 AD when Jerusalem was overthrown. At that point, the Jews were dispersed throughout the nations as foretold in Scripture. There they remained, until near the end of the second thousand-year-day – May 1948. This rebirth marked the beginning of their revival.
Let’s examine this rebirth in light of the thousand-years-as-a-day prophecy. Hosea states that AFTER two days He will revive (Israel), and ON the third day He will raise (Israel) up. What is the start point of these “days”? If we look at Hosea 5:15, Jesus says “I will return again to my place, until they acknowledge their guilt and seek My face”. He ascended to heaven in approximately 32 AD (possible range 30-33 AD). Thus, AFTER two days would be sometime AFTER 2032 AD (2030-2033). But are these the numbers we should use? What about the prophetic calendar? We know from Genesis, Daniel, and Revelation that the prophetic calendar uses 360-day-years. How do we take that into account here?
2000 years x 360 prophetic days/year = 720,000 days
720,000 prophetic days / 365.25 Gregorian calendar days = 1971 Gregorian calendar years
1971 years + 32 AD = 2003 (range 2001 – 2004)
What we can deduce from Hosea’s prophecy is that sometime AFTER 2003 (2001-2004) Israel will be revived, which will be ON the prophetic “third day”. Remember, the prophetic third day lasts 1000 years. To fulfill this prophecy, Israel will need to be fully reborn sometime between approximately 2003 and 3003 AD.
When is Israel’s rebirth? In Ezekiel chapters 36-39, Ezekiel details the regathering of Israel after her dispersion among the nations. In his “Valley of Dry Bones” vision, Ezekiel sees Israel return in stages. The first stage is her coming together as a nation, piece by piece. The last stage is the breath of the Holy Spirit, which brings them to life. We understand from Bible Prophecy that Israel will be raised up as a nation spiritually and physically at the Second coming and throughout the Millennial Kingdom.
God’s Blueprint
We have seen that the creation week gave us a pattern of six days followed by a day of Sabbath rest. We have also seen that each day approximates 1000 years prophetically. We know from Revelation 20, that there is an upcoming Kingdom rule of Christ on earth for 1000 years – called the “Millennial Kingdom”. This “thousand years” time period is repeated six times for emphasis in verses 2-7. If this thousand-year Millennial Kingdom is the “Sabbath Rest”, then it should be preceded by six one-thousand-year-days of human history. 6 thousand-year-days + 1 thousand-year-day = 7 thousand-year-days, the completion of humanity.
6000 years of “work” + 1000 years of “rest” = 7000 years of humanity
Jews have always acknowledged that the seven day creation week symbolizes a seven thousand year plan for humanity. Each prophetic “day” represents 1000 years of the earth’s story. (See Wikipedia – Year 6000)
Is There a Dual Meaning in the Jubilee Cycle?
Interestingly, the Jubilee Cycle may give insight into the “work week” of humanity:
Then the LORD said, “My Spirit shall not abide [contend] in [with] man forever, for he is flesh: his days shall be 120 years.” (Genesis 6:3 ESV)
120 “Jubilees”, 50 year cycles, gives 6000 years. Just as God allotted 120 literal years before He poured out judgment on the entire earth in the form of a flood, it appears He may have allotted 120 “Jubilees” (6000 years) before He pours out judgment on the entire earth in the form of fire:
For they deliberately overlook this fact, that the heavens existed long ago, and the earth was formed out of water and through water by the word of God, and that by means of these the world that then existed was deluged with water and perished. But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly. (2 Peter 3:5-7 ESV)
Near the end of 6000 years, global judgment from God will ensue before Jesus’ 1000 year Millennial Kingdom rule. In the 7th thousand-year-day, the earth (both land and inhabitants) will be “set free” from the curse just as the land was allowed rest and slaves set free in the Jubilee year.
What Time Is It?
Since Jesus is not currently here ruling in the midst of us, and we continue to live under the curse issued in Genesis 3, we must still be in our “work week”.
From archaeological evidence, it appears that we have around 6000 years of modern human history. Without getting into a creation debate, here are some articles if you are interested in the numbers:
- How Does the Bible Teach 6000 Years? (Creation Ministries International)
- Biblical Age of the Earth (Institute for Creation Research)
- Ussher and the Date of Creation (Answers in Genesis)
- What is the Age of the Earth? (GotQuestions)
- The Taylor Trail (human + dinosaur tracks)
One of the challenges to knowing exactly what year it is, is that the tracking of time has changed throughout human history. A number of calendars have existed, some based on the sun (solar), some on the moon (lunar), and some on a combination of the two (lunisolar). The Julian calendar was established in 45 BCE, and refined in 1582 CE to become the Gregorian calendar which is still in secular use today. This calendar is based on “anno Domini nostri Jesu Christi” – “in the year of Our Lord Jesus Christ”, the presumed year of the birth of Jesus (which was probably more like 3-4 BC not year “0”). Anno Domini was renamed to the “common era” about 350 years ago to remove Jesus from the picture. Although this gives us reference to the current age, the “Church Age”, it doesn’t give a picture of human history.
The Hebrew calendar is a lunisolar calendar, using intercalary months instead of leap years to make up the time difference between the lunar and solar years. It is based on starting year counts at the creation of the world. It also has gone through a few revisions and there is a discrepancy between the Orthodox Rabbinic calendar and the Nazarene calendar. Currently, in 2017, the Orthodox Rabbinic year count is 5777. The Orthodox Rabbinic calendar is based on a book called the “Seder Olam Rabbah”, which was written in 240 CE (AD). There is some indication that there are up to 240 “missing years” in this calendar, which may or may not be deliberate. The Nazarene calendar, on the other hand, uses the accounts in the Old Testament, much as current creation science does. This is where God’s careful recording of genealogies comes into play! All Scripture is there for a purpose, to lay out God’s plans and purposes.
Here is the geneaological counting, which was done in 2007:
Adam to the Flood: 1656 years
Flood to the birth of Abraham 454 years
Abraham to the Exodus 430 years
Exodus to the First Temple 480 years
First Temple to the Exile 393 years
Exile to Second Temple 72 years
Total 3,485 yearsNext, to count how many years there were between the building of the Second Temple until the year 2007 (i.e., now), we must switch to the Western (Roman) Gregorian calendar. The reason for this is that Scripture does not record these dates for us.
Ezra 6:15
15 Now the Temple was finished on the third day of the month of Adar, which was in the sixth year of the reign of King Darius.Secular historians inform us that the sixth year of the reign of Persian King Darius took place in approximately 515 BCE. When we add 515 years to the 2007 years that have elapsed since Yeshua’s birth, we find that the Second Temple was built approximately 2520 years ago:
Second Temple built 515 BCE
Years elapsed since Yeshua’s birth 2007
Total 2520 yearsNow, to find the approximate age of the earth today (in the year 2007), we should add the number of years from the Creation to the building of the Second Temple (3,485) to the number of years from the building of the Second Temple until now (2,520). This will give us the approximate age of the earth in the year 2007 CE:
Creation to the Second Temple 3,485 years
Second Temple to 2007 CE 2,520 years
Years since the Creation (approximate) 6,005 years(Source: Paul D Newman – http://pauldnewman.blogspot.ca/2007/04/about-240-missing-years.html)
According to this model, we should now be at around year 6015. This would technically put us into “prophetic overtime”. Or does it?
The Calendar in the Sun, Moon, and Stars
And God said, “Let there be lights in the vault of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark sacred times, and days and years (Genesis 1:14 ESV)
God provided the sun, moon, and stars to serve as signs and to mark days and years. The sun, moon, and stars have remained unchanged by humanity. Is there any sign in the heavens that can give us a clue as to what “time” it is?
Interestingly, when prophecy watchers started scanning the thousands of years of human history and future for a specific sign in the sun, moon, and stars described in Revelation 12:1-2, they found only one match.
And a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. She was pregnant and was crying out in birth pains and the agony of giving birth. (Revelation 12:1-2 ESV)
The sign occurred on September 23, 2017 and is detailed HERE.
While the sign in fulfillment of Revelation 12:1-2 only occurs once, watchmen did find three other partial alignments. These partial alignments occurred on September 11, 3 BC (Jesus’ birth?), August 27, 70 AD (destruction of Second Temple), and August 5, 3915 BC.
It is the 3915 BC alignment that is relevant to our current discussion:
From Unsealed:
There is a near perfect match on this date (though not as precise as the 2017 alignment). In fact it is such a close match that it has been speculated that this could have been the date of the Fall of Mankind when God spoke these eerily relevant words to the devil and to Eve in Genesis 3:15-16:
And I will put enmity
between you and the woman,
and between your offspring and hers;
he will crush your head,
and you will strike his heel.”To the woman he said,
“I will make your pains in childbearing very severe;
with painful labor you will give birth to children.
Your desire will be for your husband,
and he will rule over you.”Interestingly, in this dialogue the same three entities mentioned in Revelation 12 are also present: the serpent (Revelation 12:9), the woman, and the male child. The planet Saturn, which some have speculated represents satan, happens to be near the heel of The Lion.
(Source: unsealed.org – http://www.unsealed.org/2017/01/the-revelation-12-sign-compendium.html)
Adam and Eve were created to be eternal beings, and in their perfection were granted to eat freely from the Tree of Life. Thus, it was only when they FELL and became physically mortal that year counts would start to actually matter. It was when they FELL that humanity’s “work week” began:
…cursed is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life; thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you; and you shall eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” (Genesis 3:17-19 ESV)
Mankind was allotted 7000 years before this form of heaven and earth would be complete and we would return to our eternal state (either with God or apart from Him – the choice is up to each one of us).
Let’s examine what time it is based on the calendar in the sun, moon, and stars:
3915 BC – Fall of Humanity + 2017 (current year) – 1 (no year “0”) = 5932 years
This puts us under 6000 years, right? Or does it?
God’s Prophetic Calendar
The following is the original post but I have updated this information in a new post here: What Year Is It Really? (Is It 5991?)
The length of a year is currently 365.242190 days. The length of a year is decreasing by approximately 0.000006 every century. (wikipedia) The Bible, however, uses a year length of 360 days.
…they will trample the holy city for forty-two months. And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days… (Revelation 11:2-3 ESV)
…and the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, in which she is to be nourished for 1,260 days. (Revelation 12:6 ESV)
…so that she might fly from the serpent into the wilderness, to the place where she is to be nourished for a time, and times, and half a time. (Revelation 12:14 ESV)
42 30-day months = 1260 days = “time, and times, and half a time” (“time”= 1 360-day year)
In the six hundredth year of Noah’s life, in the second month, on the seventeenth day of the month, on that day all the fountains of the great deep burst forth, and the windows of the heavens were opened. (Genesis 7:11 ESV)
At the end of 150 days the waters had abated, and in the seventh month, on the seventeenth day of the month, the ark came to rest on the mountains of Ararat. (Genesis 8:3-4 ESV)
In Genesis chapters 7-8 we are told the Flood covered the land from the 17th day of the 2nd month to the 17th day of the 7th month. This time period totals 150 days. This would only be true if each month had 30 days in it.
I would assume God uses 360 day years for a reason, not just because the numbers round nice. Let’s assume that God created the world with 360-day years, as seen in the Flood account above.
Let’s also say that the global flood was in 1656 AM as calculated through the Torah here (AIG), and in the Nazarene calendar above.
At some point between the Flood and Today, the earth wobbled in its orbital path and gained a few days per year. I would think it is safe to assume that the “fountains of the deep bursting forth” and the “windows of heaven opened” of the Flood had something to do with it. The Bible doesn’t provide a lot of detail on this, but we know the post-Flood world was significantly different and many species died off at that time. Whatever happened (asteroid impacts? massive earthquakes?), we do know that the land was divided (the crust shifted) “in the days of Peleg” and that this occurred a little while after the Flood (Genesis 10:25). The result is that somehow we ended up with approximately 365.25 day-years.
For the purpose of our calculations, let’s use the year 1656 AM (anno mundi, after creation) and guess that things settled down to balance out to 365.25 days/year quite quickly after the global flood.
This means humanity has existed for an extra ~5.25 days per year since the global flood. But if our allotted days are only 6000 360-day-years, what happens if we take into account the “extra” days?
3915 (Fall) – 1656 (Flood) = 2259 years BC
+ 2017 years AD – 1 (no year 0)
= 4275 years lived with “extra days”
4275 x 365.25 (current days/year) / 360 (prophetic days/year) = 4337 360-day-year equivalent years since the Flood
So, What Time is It, Really?
4337 (post flood years) + 1656 (preflood years) = 5993.3 years
Alternately, some software programs give the year 3914 BC for the sign in question. Using this date:
4336 (post flood years) + 1656 (preflood years) = 5992.3 years
I would suggest we are currently approximately at year 5993. However, it is impossible to tell how quickly the earth stabilized in her orbit after the flood. There are also additional variables such as, was the earth’s orbit affected when the land was divided post-flood in the days of Peleg? Was the earth’s orbit affected during the days of King Hezekiah when the sun went backwards a few degrees? Was the earth’s orbit affected when the “sun and moon stood still” in the days of Joshua? I’m not sure that we could ever sort out exactly what corrections to apply to each of these dates.
Suffice it to say that it appears that our “work week” is drawing to a close – if not this year, then very, very soon!
ADDENDUM – The Days Time Went Backwards
The book of Joshua records for us a unique occasion where the “sun and moon stood still” to allow the Israelites to defeat their enemies. How was the earth’s orbit affected at this time, or was it?
And the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, until the nation took vengeance on their enemies. Is this not written in the Book of Jashar? The sun stopped in the midst of heaven and did not hurry to set for about a whole day. Joshua 10:13 ESV
Through the work of Daniel Matson at Watchfortheday, it seems that another adjustment to the Earth’s axis may have occurred around 713BC during the days of King Hezekiah – documented in 2 Kings 20:8-11, when the sun’s shadow went backwards 10 steps.
And Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “What shall be the sign that the Lord will heal me, and that I shall go up to the house of the Lord on the third day?” And Isaiah said, “This shall be the sign to you from the Lord, that the Lord will do the thing that he has promised: shall the shadow go forward ten steps, or go back ten steps?” And Hezekiah answered, “It is an easy thing for the shadow to lengthen ten steps. Rather let the shadow go back ten steps.” And Isaiah the prophet called to the Lord, and he brought the shadow back ten steps, by which it had gone down on the steps of Ahaz. 2 Kings 20:8-11 ESV
ADDENDUM – When Is the Next Jubilee?
I have found NO reliable way of telling if this year is the start or the end of a Jubilee. There are several recorded instances in scripture where it is suggestive of a Jubilee celebration (Ezekiel 40:1), but because of the calendar errors as discussed above, the dates are pretty much impossible to reconcile.
Many people believe it is the ending of a Jubilee in 2017 because of a prophecy made by a Jewish Rabbi named ben Samuel. This prophecy is highly suspect because the original source has never been found in Rabbi ben Samuel’s writings.
The Problems
The Internet prophecy as written above as attributed to Judah Ben Samuel, however, has three big problems.
First, a number of Internet articles sceptical of this prophecy have pointed out that the Ottoman empire mentioned in the prophecy did not even begin until 1299, more than 80 years after his death. The term “Ottoman” comes from the man, Osman I, who was not even born until 40 years after Judah Ben Samuel. More generally, the “Turks” were segmented, scattered and in continuous decline at the time Judah Ben Samuel lived! This begs the question of exactly how is the original prophecy is worded in its original language and context? That question leads us to a bigger problem.
Second, the available works of Judah Ben Samuel do not contain any reference to this prophecy as far as we are aware! Had there been such reference, it would certainly have garnered the attention of Jews given the respect paid to him.
Third, the announcement of this prophecy was not made until a few years ago, essentially after most or all of its events were completed. Predictions that are released after-the-fact immediately raise concerns.
It was these problems that caused us to discover that there is exactly one original source for everything written on the subject. This prophecy comes from an article published in Israel Today magazine, March 2008, page 18, by Ludwig Schneider.
Breaking Israel News has a study dedicated to researching the Jubilees, which I highly recommend. 15 Part Series. Parts 7&8 address Rabbi Ben Samuel’s prophecy.
Dan Matson has recently released an article in which he calculates the Jubilee as beginning on Yom Kippur 2017. It is worth consideration – The Tetrad and the Jubilee. (The Tetrad and the Jubilee on YouTube).
Further Resources:
Are you CERTAIN of your Salvation, beyond a shadow of a doubt? Do you KNOW that no matter when the rapture occurs, you will be counted worthy to escape? If not, please read What Must I do to Be Saved.
Year 6000 – This Wikipedia page discusses the Jewish expectation of the Messianic Age to begin at year 6000 at the latest. Their calendar is off (see the discussion on the missing years, and the 360-day calendar conversion above), but this shows the Jewish belief of the 7000 years destined for humanity.
God’s Challenge! Understand My Plan by Douglas Berner
God’s Mosaic – A Whole Scripture Overview of Things To Come
Main Menu – God’s Mosaic Prophecy Model
The Bible is infallible. I am not. I am merely challenging traditional models and testing them against Scripture. I believe that traditional pretribulation teachings provide a solid backbone upon which to lay the musculature of details. I encourage you to consider my thoughts as you also examine the scriptures to see if these things are so!
.jpg)
No comments:
Post a Comment