"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way- in short, the period was so far like the present period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on it's being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only."
Charles Dickens
A Tale of Two Cities
Throughout the book, A Tale of Two Cities, Charles Dickens masters the motif of doubles. Using the literary device anaphora, he skillfully repeats words and phrases over and over many times to poetically emphasize repetition, as well as to delineate differences between his two main characters and his two main cities. Written in 1859, it is a historical novel that focuses on the years that lead up to the French Revolution and ultimately concludes during the Jacobin Reign of Terror.
Reflecting on the current times in which we live, it is eerily similar with many parallels and ironies. Because I believe that the Bible holds all wisdom and knowledge for life and our world, I am intrigued to search out deeper meanings for current day events and happenings. Entrenched in a culture that utilizes the Gregorian calendar, I believe we often miss subtle nuances, as well as overt signals that The Lord would have us to know. Most Biblical scholars would agree that it is the Hebrew calendar which offers us the most insight into God and what He is currently doing in the earth.
The Jewish New Year begins on Wednesday, September 24, 2014 on Rosh Hashanah. This new year, corresponding with our year of 2015, will conclude on September 13, 2015. It is the Hebrew year corresponding with the number 5775, which means it is a palindromic Jewish New Year. A palindromic year is a very rare occurrence.
A palindrome is a word or a number that can be read identically from left to right and from right to left. There is perfect symmetry and in the case of 5775 there are two sets of doubles in that the numbers in each set are identical. From a Biblical perspective, the number five symbolizes the grace or goodness of God or it symbolizes bondage and works of the flesh. The number seven symbolizes perfection or completion. It is dubbed as God's perfect number. The combination of these numbers emits a sense of joy and hope. The rarity of this palindromic year is further emphasized in the fact that it will not occur again for another one hundred and ten years in the Hebrew year 5885.
Additionally, there are two other rare occurrences that take place during this year. The first thing is that it is also a Shemitah year. The second thing is that there are four blood moons (lunar eclipses) that occur on Jewish feast days (Passover and Feast of Tabernacles). These three rare occurrences happening simultaneously marks a year of extraordinary occurrences. Because of the palindrome, it also marks a year of doubles (or double doubles).
The Shemitah is a seven year cycle that began for the Israelites in 1258 BC. Fifteen years after God's chosen people crossed the Jordan river (fourteen years of conquering and dividing the land), the first Shemitah occurred. Every cycle of seven years culminates in a Sabbatical year, which is also called a Shemitah. The word Shemitah literally means, "to release". Deuteronomy 15:12 describes a release of all outstanding debts. It was also a time when the Israelites were to desist from cultivating their land and fields. Whatever produce grew on the land was communal property. This aspect of the Shemitah is known as shmitat karka which literally means, "release of the land".
Shmitat karka can also be a difficult challenge for those who do not fully trust God. But for those who have fully put their faith in God, it is a time to see His promises fulfilled. Leviticus 25:21-22 shows how God literally commands His blessing for those who trust Him with their whole heart.
Because of the three rare occurrences in Hebrew year 5775, there are some who believe that this could be the year of Christ's return. In Matthew, Chapter 24, there is a description of the chaotic, turbulent times in the world that precede Christ's return. There will be a colossal showdown between the forces of good and evil that will occur. While I recognize that no man knows the day or hour (Matthew 24:36), we are also admonished to understand the times in which we live.
Hebrew numbers also correspond with Hebrew letters. The Hebrew letters involved in Hebrew year 5775 are as follows: Hey, Tav, Shin, Ayin, Zayin and Yod. There is Biblical symbolism and meaning for both the numbers and letters that is extremely fascinating. When you put them together like pieces of a puzzle, they give insight into the year ahead.
NUMBERS
5000 -- Full stature; Mature judgement; Glory of God
700 -- Full measure; complete recompense or complete reward
70 -- Universality; Completely accepted or completely rejected
5 -- Goodness and grace; Bondage; Five-fold gifts of the Holy Spirit
LETTERS
Hey (5) - picture of a man with raised arms.
The divine meaning of this letter is being called into God's purposes. The introduction of
this letter is found in Genesis 17:5 when a God changed Abram's name to Abraham and in
Genesis 17:15 when God changed Sarai's name to Sarah.
The meanings of Hey also include: look, reveal, breath, and behold. There is a particular
sense of divine breath, revelation, light, and God's creative power. (Genesis 1:3-4) and
(Psalm 33:6).
Nun (700)- pictograph representing a seed.
Meanings include: seed, son of, heir, son, continue, faithfulness and promised seed.
In Aramaic, it has the meaning of fish, which symbolizes Christ and Christians.
Shin (300)- pictograph representing two front teeth.
Meanings include: sharp, press, eat and two.
Also stands for Shaddai, a name for God. When combined with Ayin, it can instruct us to
look for the coming of The Lord.
Tav (400)- pictograph of crossed sticks.
Meanings include: mark, sign, signpost, monument and the Cross of Christ
Ayin (70)- picture of an eye.
Meanings include: to watch, see, discern, understand and know. Gives the sense of a
prophetic watch. It also speaks of the will ( good or bad).
Zayin (7)- picture of a sword or mattock.
It speaks of war and food (even warring for food).
It represents a crowned man, King of Kings, and returning light of Heaven.
It speaks of cutting time in seven:
Shabbat (Sabbath)- 7th day
Shauvot- 49th day of Passover
Tishri- 7th month of Jewish calendar
Shemitah- 7th year of rest for the land
Yovel- 49th year
Millennium kingdom- the 7th millennium of human history (week of
millenniums)
Yod (10)- picture of an arm with a closed hand, resembling a man who is in prayer.
This symbol is used in every other character of the Hebrew alphabet.
It speaks of God's presence in all things.
The meaning is to work or to worship.
The Hebrew decade of 577 (0-9) shows a season involving two realms- the natural and the spiritual. In the natural realm, we have kings warring against other kings. In the spiritual realm, there is increased warfare requiring mature warriors to pray and declare God's Word. In this season we must remain focused on the King of Kings and remember that it is in Him we find our victory.
Considering the doubles, we can see: grace versus judgment, good versus evil, God's presence versus the enemy, and an outpouring of light in the midst of gross darkness. It appears that in this season God is making a distinction between those who are His and those who are not. He is also releasing grace, goodness, miracles, prophetic knowledge, anointing, provision, transformation and restoration.
Additionally, this is a season of deliverance, redemption, rest and intimacy in Christ. He is providing shelter and refuge in the midst of war. He is delivering hope and joy and peace during tumultuous times. There will also be a release of the Holy Spirit to His people and the Jews.
According to the meanings and symbolism involved in the Hebrew year 5775, it looks like this next year will not be boring. It appears that the natural realm will continue to clash with the spiritual realm. It also appears that God will be releasing the power of the Holy Spirit in increasing measure. It is a prophetic and an apostolic year. There will be an outpouring of grace that will supercede this season of war. Our battle strategy is three-fold: resting in God, declaring His Word, and trusting Him in the midst of all circumstances.
We also need to be watchful and mindful of His imminent return while continuing to build His kingdom. It will be a season of overflow and completion. These are exciting times, to be sure, and each one of us has been chosen to be on this earth during "such a time as this".
"Become blameless and pure, 'children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.' Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the Word of Life."
Philippians 2:15-16
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