Leviticus 25 | Paul the Poke

Archive for Leviticus 25

Freedom in the Old Testament

Posted in #PaulthePoke, Freedom in Christ, Prophecy with tags creation, cross, Freedom, futility, Isaiah 61, Jesus Christ, Jubilee, Leviticus 25, liberty, Liberty Bell, Mosaic Law, Romans 8, sin, Trinity on January 16, 2022 by paulthepoke

The knowledge of freedom has its beginning in the Mosaic Law in Leviticus 25.

Leviticus 25:10 You shall thus consecrate the fiftieth year and proclaim a release through the land to all its inhabitants. It shall be a jubilee for you, and each of you shall return to his own property, and each of you shall return to his family.

The context of the verse quoted is a description of the jubilee year. Release the inhabitants and freedom for all the slaves. Imagine that. Freedom, liberty are expressed in the context of the Old Testament Mosaic Law.

Our foundation as a country in the United States draws its concept of freedom and liberty from Leviticus 25:10. The verse is written on the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia. Abolitionists during the Civil War turned to the Liberty Bell and the verse from Leviticus 25 as a reason to end slavery. Cultures and societies can change when people take God’s word to heart and decide to follow His statutes.

This passage and context in Leviticus 25 are loaded with prophetic implications regarding His second coming. Click on the link below if interested in the prophecy related to the concept of Jubilee.

https://paulthepoke.com/category/jubilee/

See the YouTube video link below for audio/video of this post along with further commentary.

Isaiah 61:1-2 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me, because the LORD has anointed Me to bring good news to the poor; He has sent Me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn…

The concept of freedom is captured by the prophet Isaiah as it is reflected in the Mosaic Law and the Jubilee. All three persons of the Trinity are involved in this communication. The “Me” is the Son. The Spirit is upon Him (the Son). The Father is represented by the title Lord GOD or Adonai Yahweh in the original Hebrew.

Jesus read and spoke these words in the synagogue of His home town Nazareth (Luke 4:16). Jesus is reading from Isaiah 61:1-2a. He reads verse 1 completely.

Jesus then stops reading in the middle of Isaiah 61:2. By reading these words, He was claiming to be the Messiah. In other words, “Here I am!!” Jesus is also arguably proclaiming a Jubilee year. This author would argue the year 30 AD. This event appears to be at the onset of His ministry. We can have lots of debate about the date at another time. This has significant prophetic implications in regards to the timing of His second coming.

Take a look at Isaiah 61:2. To proclaim the favorable year of the LORD (Jesus stops here.) and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn…

The stoppage of reading in the verse has lasted close to 2,000 years. At His first coming, Jesus was a suffering servant who died for our sins. His sacrificial death on the cross freed humanity from the bondage of sin.

Christ did not come in vengeance and judgment the first time, hence the pause. And we wait for the remainder of Isaiah 61:2b-11. It describes the future conditions of the nation Israel under the leadership of the Messiah, Jesus. He returns the second time in wrath to set the stage for an everlasting peace.

It is not only humanity who is freed from the bondage of sin. It also the creation.

Romans 8:19-21 For the eagerly awaiting creation waits for the revealing of the sons and daughters of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God.

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Jubilee, Part 7, Jesus the Kinsman Redeemer

Posted in #PaulthePoke, Gospel, Jubilee, Prophecy with tags Adam, blood, bride, church, deed, earth, Garden of Eden, Genesis 1, God, Heaven, Israel, Jeremiah 32, Jesus Christ, kinsman redeemer, Leviticus 25, Revelation 5, sin, wife, witnesses on December 6, 2021 by paulthepoke

Leviticus 25:23-25 The land, moreover, shall not be sold permanently, for the land is Mine; for you are but aliens and sojourners with Me. Thus for every piece of your property, you are to provide for the redemption of the land. If a fellow countryman of yours becomes so poor he has to sell part of his property, then his nearest kinsman is to come and buy back what his relative has sold.

In the previous post it was discussed how Satan is currently in charge of the world. God has given him authority since the fall of man in the Garden of Eden. The world is leased to Satan. God holds the title.

http://paulthepoke.com/2015/11/29/jubilee-part-6-satan-in-control-for-now/

Deuteronomy 10:14 The heavens, indeed the highest heavens, belong to the Lord your God, as does the earth and everything in it.

God has the papers of ownership when it comes to the Earth.

Revelation 5:1 I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a book written inside and on the back, sealed up with seven seals.

photo: Shutterstock

Leviticus 25:24 Thus for every piece of your property, you are to provide for the redemption of the land…

God the Father has His price for the land of Earth. Because of sin, the land is cursed and there is a cost. God wants His payment in the currency of sacrificed, innocent blood.

Leviticus 25:25 If a fellow countryman of yours becomes so poor he has to sell part of his property, then his nearest kinsman is to come and buy back what his relative has sold.

Adam lost the deed to the Earth because of sin. Adam was unable to pay the price with his guilty blood. No other person has been able to redeem the land since. All humanity is guilty and slaves to sin. We are unable to pay for the land. Humanity does not have access to the land deed until the scene in Heaven (Revelation 5). Jesus is fulfilling His role as a Kinsman-Redeemer. Jesus is related to Adam (Luke 3:23-38). Jesus is a kinsman to the man, Adam, who lost the land.

Revelation 5:7 And He came and took the book out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne.

Jesus takes the book from God the Father. Jesus wants possession of the papers.

Revelation 5:9-10 And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth.”

The scene in Heaven (Revelation 5) is consistent with the customs of a Kinsman-Redeemer (Ruth 4). Both are conducted before the court and elders as witnesses before God. With His death, Jesus purchased humanity, His bride, from the bondage of sin. He has access to the scroll. Christ is sinless and innocent.

See Jeremiah 32:6-15 for land purchasing and redemption document customs. The conditions for the redemption of the Earth are Tribulation; seven seals, seven trumpets, and seven bowls…

Reference Material: God’s Final Jubilee, Dan Goodwin

Jesus, a man, and His bride, the church, will fulfill God’s command in the Garden of Eden.

Genesis 1:28 God blessed them; and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

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Jubilee, Part 6, Satan in Control…For Now

Posted in #PaulthePoke, Jubilee, Prophecy with tags devil, Jeremiah 27, Jesus Christ, John 12, Leviticus 25, Lucifer, Luke 4, Matthew 4, satan, Temptation of Jesus on November 21, 2021 by paulthepoke

Leviticus 25:23 The land, moreover, shall not be sold permanently, for the land is Mine; for you are but aliens and sojourners with Me.

God transfers authority and possession according to His own choice. He owns everything.

Jeremiah 27:5 By My great strength and outstretched arm, I made the earth, and the people, and animals on the face of the earth. I give it to anyone I please.

http://paulthepoke.com/2015/11/15/jubilee-part-4-return-to-your-land/

In the previous post, humanity was originally placed in charge of the Earth in Genesis 1 at the creation. Mankind failed and dominion was transferred by God.

http://paulthepoke.com/2015/11/22/jubilee-part-5-humanity-falls/

Click on the link below for audio/video and additional commentary.

Reality is… Satan is currently in charge of the world. God has given him authority since the fall of man in the Garden of Eden.

1 John 5:19 We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.

2 Corinthians 4:4 in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

Ephesians 2:2 in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience.

Galatians 1:4a who gave Himself for our sins so that He might rescue us from this present evil age…

Look at Satan’s temptation of Christ.

Luke 4:5-7 And the devil took him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time, and said to him, “To you I will give all this authority and their glory, for it has been delivered to me, and I give it to whom I will. If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.” See also Matthew 4:8-9.

Notice, Jesus does not dispute Satan’s statement. Satan is telling the truth in this case. The kingdoms of the earth are under his authority. Satan is trying to get Jesus to take the easy way out. He knows Jesus is tired, hungry, and thirsty after fasting 40 days in the desert. Jesus, You can have it all now. No need to wait thousands of years. You don’t have to suffer. No need for the floggings. Skip the cross. “If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.” -Satan

Let’s face it. Satan’s way is easier than the path of God the Father. Satan wants to bypass the consequence and payment of sin.

Jesus Himself would later confirm Satan has authority and dominion over the Earth.

John 12:31 Now judgment is upon this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out.

John 16:11 and concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged.

Satan’s rule will not last forever. His kingdom is not eternal. He is due a 1,000 year time out in the abyss or prison. Satan will not be rehabilitated when he is let out of jail. He will return to his ways and deceive the nations. His rebellion will fail. And he will be escorted to his retirement community, the Lake of Fire (Revelation 20).

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Jubilee, Part 5, Humanity Falls

Posted in #PaulthePoke, Jubilee, Prophecy with tags Bride of Christ, creation, earth, Fall of Man, flood, Garden of Eden, Genesis 1, Genesis 9, God, Jeremiah 27, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Jubilee, Leviticus 25, Millennial Kingdom, Noah, rule, Rule and reign, satan, subdue on November 14, 2021 by paulthepoke

Leviticus 25:23 The land, moreover, shall not be sold permanently, for the land is Mine; for you are but aliens and sojourners with Me.

God transfers authority and possession according to His own choice. He owns everything. The point of the post is to see how God transfers authority in leadership over the earth.

Please do not make assumptions in doctrine regarding marriage based on these verses. Marriage is a discussion for another day…Hint, both parties submit to Christ (Ephesians 5).

Jeremiah 27:5 By My great strength and outstretched arm, I made the earth, and the people, and animals on the face of the earth. I give it to anyone I please.

http://paulthepoke.com/2015/11/15/jubilee-part-4-return-to-your-land/

In the beginning, God gave authority over the earth and everything in it to humanity. Notice authority was granted to both the man and woman equally. Authority was not given specifically to the man. See the two verses below in Genesis 1.

Genesis 1:26 Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”

Genesis 1:28 God blessed them; and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

There are two verbs of interest in the verses above. They are “rule” and “subdue”.

The Hebrew word for “rule” is radah. It is used as a simple action verb and radah means: to have dominion, rule, or subjugate. The verb does not necessarily imply harshness or utilizing an iron fist. There are examples where God instructs the use of temperament and respect.

Leviticus 25:43 ‘You shall not rule over him with severity, but are to revere your God.

The Hebrew word for “subdue” is kabash. It is used as a simple action verb and kabash means: to bring into bondage, enslave, make subservient; to subdue, force, violate; or dominate, tread down. In other words, use force if necessary. Kabash is used in the context of conquering the land in the book of Joshua and the military victories of King David. -Definitions per Strong’s Concordance

The leadership structure radically changed with the original sin in the Garden of Eden. Originally, God transferred authority of the earth to the man and woman equally, humanity. A consequence of the fall in Eden is God redefined the dynamic of the relationship between the man and the woman. The woman lost her position as co-ruler with the man.

Genesis 3:16b To the woman He said… “Yet your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you.”

Notice God’s comments to Noah after the flood in Genesis 9:7 “As for you, be fruitful and multiply; populate the earth abundantly and multiply in it.”

There is no mention of “rule” and “subdue” anywhere in Genesis 9. Humanity’s authority over the earth is lost for now.

With the fall, humanity lost authority over the earth. As of now, look who is in charge.

1 John 5:19 We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.

Currently, God has transferred authority over the earth to Satan.

In the beginning, humanity’s co-rulers (Adam and Eve) failed to rule and subdue the earth. Leadership structure and order were radically changed.

In the end, humanity’s co-rulers (Jesus and His bride the church) will succeed, fulfill, and restore God’s promise in the Millennial Kingdom.

Revelation 20:6 Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.

2 Timothy 2:12 If we endure, we will also reign with Him; If we deny Him, He will also deny us…

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Jubilee, Part 4, Return To Your Land

Posted in #PaulthePoke, Jubilee, Prophecy with tags Abraham, Abram, Arabian Peninsula, Debt, Euphrates River, Forgiveness, Genesis 15, God, Israel, Joshua, Land, Leviticus 25, Nile River, Promised Land on November 7, 2021 by paulthepoke

Leviticus 25:13 On this year of jubilee each of you shall return to his own property.

Every 50^th year, the people of Israel were to return to their designated tribal land. At the time of receiving the Law, Israel was wondering around in the desert for 40 years.

Eventually, Israel entered the land and controlled with conquest in Joshua 1-12. God divided the land among the tribes of Israel in Joshua 13-24. Geographical and tribal boundaries were defined.

Below is a map of the land as divided per God’s direction in the book of Joshua.

Leviticus 25:23 The land, moreover, shall not be sold permanently, for the land is Mine; for you are but aliens and sojourners with Me.

God says the land is leased to the inhabitants, nation Israel. The tribes do not own the land, God does. The land is granted by God to His chosen nation.

People are temporary and finite. In our current state of fallen humanity, we are not eternal. When we die, we cannot take the land or other possessions with us.

God is very clear in Scripture. The earth is His. God’s ownership is stated from the beginning in Genesis to the New Testament. For starters, He created in Genesis 1.

God’s ownership extends beyond the atmosphere of planet Earth. He owns the universe.

Deuteronomy 10:14 The heavens, indeed the highest heavens, belong to the Lord your God, as does the earth and everything in it.

God transfers authority and possession according to His own choice. But He still owns everything. God chose Israel and gave them a specific, allotted land.

Exodus 19:5 Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine…

Jeremiah 27:5 By My great strength and outstretched arm, I made the earth, and the people, and animals on the face of the earth. I give it to anyone I please.

God reminds Job that He owns everything. God does not owe anyone a single thing. He is not in debt.

Job 41:11 Who confronted Me, that I should repay him? Everything under heaven belongs to Me.

1 Corinthians 10:26 For “the earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof.”

God is the landlord. He operates on a 50 year lease with His people Israel and His land. Every fiftieth year, everyone goes back to where they belong according to Him. Debts are forgiven. Everyone gets a fresh start and a clean economic slate.

In the future, He will redefine borders and geography for His chosen people. They will have significantly more land than the current situation of November 2021.

Genesis 15:18-21 On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, “To your descendants I have given this land, From the river of Egypt as far as the great river, the river Euphrates: the Kenite and the Kenizzite and the Kadmonite and the Hittite and the Perizzite and the Rephaim and the Amorite and the Canaanite and the Girgashite and the Jebusite.”

This is the original land grant from God to Abram (later renamed Abraham by God). These are the land boundaries of Israel’s future.

This configuration has never been realized. This calls for the geography of Israel to stretch from the Nile River to Euphrates River.

One could argue rather this implies the Arabian Peninsula or not. Now this sounds impossible in today’s world and current geopolitical climate. Can you imagine the uproar if this was proposed at the United Nations?

But, there will be a land for peace deal when Jesus returns.

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Jubilee, Part 3, What About Food?

Posted in #PaulthePoke, Jubilee, Prophecy, Trend Update with tags 50, Agriculture, Farming, God, grains, Jubilee, Law, Leviticus 25, Mosaic Law, Moses, Produce, Shemitah on October 31, 2021 by paulthepoke

Leviticus 25:11-12 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. You may eat the produce of the field.

The same agricultural rules apply for the Jubilee year as a Sabbatical or Shemitah year. A Jubilee year is like a Sabbatical or Shemitah year on steroids. By definition, a Jubilee year comes immediately after a Shemitah year (Leviticus 25:8-13).

https://paulthepoke.com/?s=shemitah

For two consecutive years, the land is to rest. There is to be no physical labor or working of the land. Seed is not to be planted. The soil is not to be tilled or turned over. Weeds are left to grow unchecked. Olive trees are not to be trimmed or pruned. Grape vines are left unattended to grow wildly. Whatever grows will grow. The farmers are not to harvest or gather crops that do grow during the Sabbatical year or the Jubilee year. The food that grows is for the farmer, servants, workers, foreigners, and the poor. Of the food that is not eaten by people, the remainder is for the animals.

On the surface, this does not seem very practical. What are we going to eat if we let the land rest for two consecutive years? God says no farming activity for every 49^th and 50^th years. It would be three years before any organized farming and harvest is to take place.

The context of these verses is the discussion of consecutive Sabbath years of rest for the land, a seventh year Sabbath and year of Jubilee following. The question is being asked of God. If we cannot work the fields, how are we expected to eat and survive?

Has God lost His mind? What kind of law is this? Crazy…

Relax, God has taken this into consideration. He has a plan.

Leviticus 25:20-22 ‘But if you say, “What are we going to eat on the seventh year if we do not sow or gather in our crops?” then I will so order My blessing for you in the sixth year that it will bring forth the crop for three years. ‘When you are sowing the eighth year, you can still eat old things from the crop, eating the old until the ninth year when its crop comes in.

God says He will abundantly provide with bumper crops in the year before the land’s Sabbatical rest, three times the usual amount. Three times the production should do it; one for the Shemitah year, one for the Jubilee year, and one for the crop planted when farming is re-initiated until harvested.

A point of the Shemitah and Jubilee is to turn and trust in God. He will provide.

Provision given by God. Prepare and save for the season. He tells you what is coming.

Granted, the Shemitah and Jubilee are part of the Mosaic Law for the Promised Land of God’s chosen people, Israel. But do take these into consideration on a global scale.

Trend Update: Sabbatical/Shemitah Year/Record Harvest, October 2014

Click to access wasde0921.pdf

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Jubilee, Part 2, Jesus Offers a Clue?

Posted in #PaulthePoke, Isaiah, Jubilee, Prophecy with tags Day of Atonement, Gospel, Isaiah 61, Israel, Jesus Christ, Jubilee, Leviticus 25, Luke 4, Messiah, Moses, Sabbatical year, Shemitah, Tishri 10, Yom Kippur on October 24, 2021 by paulthepoke

Luke 4:17-21 And the book of the prophet Isaiah was handed to Him. And He opened the book and found the place where it was written,

“The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me, because the LORD has anointed Me to bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent Me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to captives and freedom to prisoners; to proclaim the favorable year of the LORD.

And He closed the book, gave it back to the attendant and sat down; and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on Him. And He began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” -Jesus

Jesus read and spoke these words in the synagogue of His home town Nazareth (Luke 4:16). Jesus is reading Isaiah 61:1-2a. He reads verse 1 completely. Jesus then stops reading in the middle of Isaiah 61:2. By reading these words, He was claiming to be the Messiah. In other words, “Here I am!!”

The stoppage of reading in the verse has lasted close to 2,000 years. At His first coming, Jesus was a suffering servant who died for our sins. His death freed us from the bondage of sin. Christ did not come in vengeance the first time, hence the pause. And we wait for the remainder of Isaiah 61:2b-11. It describes the future conditions of the nation Israel under the leadership of the Messiah, Jesus. He returns the second time in wrath and judgment.

At this point, many have stopped their analysis. There remains another question. Who is the prophet Isaiah quoting?

…to proclaim liberty to captives and freedom to prisoners; to proclaim the favorable year of the LORD…?

Isaiah is quoting Moses who received instruction from God.

Leviticus 25:10 You shall thus consecrate the fiftieth year and proclaim a release through the land to all its inhabitants. It shall be a jubilee for you, and each of you shall return to his own property, and each of you shall return to his family.

The context of the verses quoted is a description of the jubilee year. Release the inhabitants and freedom for all the slaves.

Is Jesus leaving a clue about the timing of His second coming? Will He return in a year of Jubilee?

Here are some prophetic implications. The seven year peace covenant between the antichrist and Israel would likely be confirmed in God’s fall holiday season. A jubilee year is proclaimed on the Day of Atonement, Tishri 10 after the end of a set of seven years per Leviticus 25:9.

The Bible tells us a jubilee year is proclaimed after a Sabbatical or Shemitah year (Leviticus 25:8-11).

This would allow for the culmination of the seven year Tribulation to occur one year after a Sabbatical or Shemitah year, a possible jubilee year by definition.

A jubilee year has not been kept by Israel in over 2,000 years (www.chabad.org). As for the timing of the next jubilee year…

no one knows, only the Father.

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Jubilee

Posted in #PaulthePoke, Jubilee, Prophecy with tags Day of Atonement, fifty, God, Israel, Leviticus 25, Liberty Bell, Mosaic Law, Moses, Sabbatical year, seven, Shemitah, shofar, Tishri, Yom Kippur, yovel on October 17, 2021 by paulthepoke

Leviticus 25:8-13 “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. You may eat the produce of the field. In this year of jubilee each of you shall return to his property.”

Moses is the author of Leviticus. God relayed the information to Moses. This took place in the desert at the tent of meeting or the tabernacle. God’s chosen people are out of Egypt. They had not entered the Promised Land of Israel. It is mentioned over 50 times in the book of Leviticus. God communicated to Moses.

Leviticus 1:1 Then the LORD called to Moses and spoke to him from the tent of meeting, saying…

The Hebrew word for “jubilee” is yovel. Per Strong’s Concordance: It means ram’s horn, trumpet, or cornet. It is also translated jubilee.

Per Scripture, we do know a jubilee year is proclaimed after the seventh Sabbatical or Shemitah year. The sequence calls for back to back years of rest for the land. By definition, the 50^th year is proclaimed after the 49^th (see above verses). The question is knowing the sequence of Sabbatical or Shemitah years. Which Sabbatical/Shemitah year is the first in the sequence?

The jubilee year is to be proclaimed on the Day of Atonement, one of God’s fall appointments. 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.

Determining the next year of jubilee is highly controversial. Some believe a year of jubilee was proclaimed on Yom Kippur/Day of Atonement in the fall of 2015. Others believe it is not possible to determine the next jubilee. Some believe the year cannot be determined until nation Israel is represented by all tribes.

The nation of Israel and religious leaders did not proclaim a year of jubilee in 2015.

Nation Israel has not recognized a jubilee year in 2,000 years plus (God’s Final Jubilee, Dan Goodwin). At this point, only God knows.

A famous American Landmark, the Liberty Bell, was inspired by the Hebrew concept of jubilee. The inscription on the Liberty Bell quotes…

Leviticus 25:10b…proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants…

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Sabbatical Year/Shemitah, Part 2

Posted in #PaulthePoke, Prophecy with tags Exodus 23, Farming, God, Harvest, Israel, Leviticus 25, Moses, Mount Sinai, Sabbatical year, Shemitah on September 26, 2021 by paulthepoke

Leviticus 25:1-7 The Lord then spoke to Moses at Mount Sinai, saying, “Speak to the sons of Israel and say to them, ‘When you come into the land which I shall give you, then the land shall have a sabbath to the Lord. 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. Your harvest’s aftergrowth you shall not reap, and your grapes of untrimmed vines you shall not gather; the land shall have a sabbatical year. All of you shall have the sabbath products of the land for food; yourself, and your male and female slaves, and your hired man and your foreign resident, those who live as aliens with you. Even your cattle and the animals that are in your land shall have all its crops to eat.

Exodus 23:10-11 You shall sow your land for six years and gather in its yield, but on the seventh year you shall let it rest and lie fallow, so that the needy of your people may eat; and whatever they leave the beast of the field may eat. You are to do the same with your vineyard and your olive grove.

In Biblical times, the farmer would scatter and sow seed first. This occurred during the fall after the holidays and God’s appointed feasts. A team of two oxen would be yoked together to drag a plough and till under the seed. It was customary to use two of the same animals per the law.

Deuteronomy 22:10 You shall not plow with an ox and a donkey together.

Farming was a year around job. The land was constantly being worked. It was necessary to keep the ground free of weeds by hoeing from December until February. With the harvesting of grain in late spring and summer, stalks were cut near the top and bundled. The remainder of the plant was left for animals to eat (New Manners and Customs of Bible Times). This cycle occurred for six consecutive years.

In the seventh year, the land is to rest. There is to be no physical labor or working of the land. Seed is not to be planted. The soil is not to be tilled or turned over. Weeds are left to grow unchecked. Olive trees are not to be trimmed or pruned. Grape vines are left unattended to grow wildly. Whatever grows will grow. The farmers are not to harvest or gather crops that do grow during the Sabbatical year. The food that grows is for the farmer, servants, workers, foreigners, and the poor. Of the food that is not eaten by people, the remainder is for the animals.

Imagine that, an economy with a built in one year vacation every seventh year. No need for a worker or union to negotiate time off.

Trust in the Lord to provide.

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Sabbatical Year/Shemitah, Part 1

Posted in #PaulthePoke, Prophecy with tags Deuteronomy 15, Exodus 23, Israel, Law, Leviticus 25, Moses, Mount Sinai, Sabbath, shamat, Shemitah on September 19, 2021 by paulthepoke

The following is the first installment of a five part series. This was originally posted seven years ago, arguably during the last Sabbatical or Shemitah year.

IF correct, the end of this Sabbatical year (Fall 2022) will mark the tenth complete set of seven for Israel since they became a nation again in 1948. As Jews mark time, this Shemitah year began on the Feast of Trumpets or Teruah on the sighting of the new moon, September 8th, 2021 on a solar based Gregorian calendar. This would be the first of Tishri on a Hebrew calendar. The land is supposed to rest.

The violation of this statute is the reason Israel was under God’s judgment as detailed by Daniel 9, 70 sets of 7’s.

Below is the Law as given to Moses by the Lord Himself.

These were words were given to Moses approximately 3,500 years ago from today. This is part of the ceremonial law, yet it has practical applications for Jews today. God wants His people to be holy or separate. God’s people should separate themselves from others by their behavior.

The word “Sabbath” in the Hebrew is transliterated. It is also “Sabbath” in English. The term is equated with rest. It is to be set apart, sacred, and holy.

Exodus 23:10-11 You shall sow your land for six years and gather in its yield, but on the seventh year you shall let it rest and lie fallow, so that the needy of your people may eat; and whatever they leave the beast of the field may eat. You are to do the same with your vineyard and your olive grove.

“you shall let it rest…” The word is “shamat” in the Hebrew. It is defined by Strong’s Concordance as: to release, let drop or loose or rest or fall.

The Jewish people also refer to this as “shemitah”. It literally means to release.

Deuteronomy 15:1-2 At the end of every seven years you shall grant a remission of debts. This is the manner of remission: every creditor shall release what he has loaned to his neighbor; he shall not exact it of his neighbor and his brother, because the LORD’S remission has been proclaimed.

“remission of debts…” In the original Hebrew text “of debts” is not present. “of debts” was added by the translators. Shemitah is the Hebrew word for remission. Shemitah as defined by Strong’s Concordance means: cancellation of debts, letting drop of exactions, (temporary) remitting, release (from debt).

Shemitah comes from the root word shamat.

The land is supposed to rest for one year. The remission of debt will occur on the last day of the year in the fall of 2022 or the Hebrew New Year 5783.

Historically, challenging geo-political and economic circumstances arise. Get ready…