I’ve always wondered why Autumn is my favorite time of year. I feel more optimistic in the Fall than any other time of year. From my western mindset it doesn’t make sense. Fall is the time of harvest and ingathering. In the western culture, Fall is a time of winding down and prepare for the “dead months” of winter. But I’ve recently learned that according to God’s calendar, (Hebrew/Jewish calendar), September/October is the Jewish month of Ethanim, also called Tishrei. And it’s in this month that the final thanksgiving for the year’s crops is celebrated. Tishrei is the 7th month on the sacred Jewish Calendar, and is the same month in which God made every tree to grow which was good for food and pleasant to the eyes as in Genesis 2:9. It is also the same month that, according to the Jewish Civil Calendar, the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashana, is celebrated.
I’m beginning to understand why Fall is my favorite time of year. But there’s more! This Jewish calendar year 5776 (2015-2016 Gregorian Calendar), Tishrei marks the end of a Shemitah (cycle of 7 years) and marks the first month for the year of Jubilee! What does this mean to you? A great deal if you understand the times in which we are living.
If you haven’t heard about the Shemitah and blood moons that occurred in September, you’ve really been out of touch. Many people have espoused that the Shemitah and blood moons were evidences of a time of judgement to come upon the earth. Charisma Magazine devoted the entire September 2015 issue to the topic under the banner of “The Great Convergence, Blood moons, the Shejmitah, rise of end-time Babylon and the Antichrist.” The cover story by Troy Anderson stated, “In interviews during the past nine months, several dozen highly respected Bible prophecy scholars told Charisma that they agreee the world is now experiencing an unparalleled acceleration and convergence in end-time signs.”
I wish more scholars would balance their predictions with the truth of God’s Word concerning the hope that those who’ve placed their faith in Jesus have, even in the worst of the end-times.
The entire reason God provides signs and wonders is to cause us to stop and seriously consider our reality. The entire reason God provides prophetic insight, anchored in His written word, the Bible, is so we can be prepared and not be caught off guard. “For God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” (2 Tim 1:7 KJ) While it’s entirely possible that the end of the the year 5775 with all its extraordinary signs was God’s intended warnings for us, the reason He warns us is so we can find the way of escape and embrace the hope Jesus died to offer anyone who embraces it.
Add to all the above the fact that God has been declaring Isaiah 43:18-19 as a current word for the world today, then we find our hope in Him. This passage reads, “Forget the former things. Do not dewll in the past. See, I’m doing a new thing. Do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.” (NIV) This clearly speaks of a new beginning. I have seen or heard this passage of Scripture repeatedly, from a variety of sources in the past several days. Clearly it’s a word from God to forwarn us and help us prepare for what is ahead.
Before anything new can occur the old must be done away with. This being the year of Jubilee, certainly speaks of new and liberating beginnings. Leviticus 25 is where we learn about the seven Shemita year cycles and the year of Jubilee. What follows is a condensed overview of Leviticus:
You shall count off seven Sabbaths of years, seven times seven years; and there shall be to you the days of seven Sabbaths of years, even 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. You shall make the fiftieth year holy, and proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants. It shall be a jubilee to you; and each of you shall return to his own property, and each of you shall return to his family. That fiftieth year shall be a jubilee to you. In it you shall not sow, neither reap that which grows of itself, nor gather from the undressed vines. For it is a jubilee; it shall be holy to you. You shall eat of its increase out of the field. In this Year of Jubilee each of you shall return to his property.
I see this year of Jubilee, as an amazing blessing of God in order that we can become prepared for the years ahead. If we will incline our ear to God’s word, we can embrace His forwarnings and be prepared not only to care for ourselves but others who haven’t properly discerned the times. May we all embrace God’s loving kindness and prophetic warnings that we can enter into His promises, which are ever only for our good. Jeremiah 28:11 gives evidence of God’s heart and will concerning His people, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (NIV) These words were spoken to the Israelites to encourage them that God would free them from their season of exile. God is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. This is the same heart He has for His own today.
I encourage you to embrace these times fully. Expect God to work on your behalf. Seek Him with your whole heart so that you find Him and can learn His strategies for you to find liberty in this year of Jubilee, that will carry you through the times to come.
Yes, I love Autumn, perhaps this year more than ever!
Pamela Christian is an award-winning author, speaker and media host. She can be seen on HSBN.tv “Windows on the World,” a program that features Dan Wooding using stories from his site Assist News Services about Christians who are persecuted for their faith around the world. Learn more about Pam and her ministry through her web site. Pam is currently booking speaking engagements for 2016. If interested to learn about booking Pam please use our Contact Us form.
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