The Jubilee Prophecy is the only direct chronological proof of our Lord’s return, thus it is imperative that we fully comprehend it.
The method by which the Israelite's were instructed to calculate the precise year when they were to sound the trumpet of jubilee, namely, the cycle of 7 times 7 years, is also an important part of the type, and should have its corresponding antitype. This is evidently the Lord's arrangement, that just as in the type the beginning of the jubilee year was fixed by squaring the small cycles of Sabbath years (7 x 7), so in the antitype the commencement of the grand Jubilee is to be fixed by squaring the larger cycles of jubilee years (50 x 50).
Lev. 25:9 shows that the year of jubilee began in the seventh month, which, according to the Bible reckoning, fell in Autumn. It follows from this that the last typical jubilee ended in Autumn of 626 B.C. There the fulfillment of the type immediately began with the grand antitypical cycle of 50 x 50, or 2500 years, which leads up to the grand antitypical Jubilee of a thousand years—the Millennium. In this wonderful way our heavenly Father pointed forward to the glorious jubilee-work of Restitution which will be under the control of his dear Son Jesus Christ; for 2500 years from 625¼ B.C. (Autumn of 626 B.C.) ends in Autumn 1875 A.D., i.e., the first year of the seventh 1000-year period since the fall of Adam. The other time prophecies show that the precise time of our Lord's return was Autumn 1874. The anti-typical cycle therefore overlaps the last Adam's "Day" by one year; but as we shall see, the harmony of the diagram (number 8) proves that even this feature was divinely arranged.
As in the type it would require the whole jubilee year to restore to the people their land and other possessions, so in the antitypical times of restitution the whole thousand years will be required to restore to man all that was lost by father Adam. The first fortnight in the type corresponds proportionately to the first forty years in the antitype. We could not expect much work of restoration to be done in that short time; it would be a time rather of demanding rights and investigating claims. Because of innate selfishness angry disputing would be sure to follow the proclamation of the jubilee, and many claims would require to be settled at the gate. Thus the typical year of liberty would be inaugurated in much trouble; but eventually both rich and poor, who were pure in heart, would agree that the Lord's arrangement was best, and would gladly acquiesce to the new conditions.
The declaration of the Scriptures is that the Millennial reign of Christ would be inaugurated by a time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation (Dan. 12:1, 4; Matt. 24:21). The people have heard the "trumpet" of liberty and are learning to appreciate their freedom; they are demanding their rights to the land and other earthly possessions. The rich are clinging to their vested interests and are not likely to relinquish their hold. With human nature 'as it is, force must be applied; the people, having begun to taste the sweets of liberty, and finding their aspirations and desires for freedom and happiness frustrated, will break away from all restraints, and anarchy must follow.
Thus violently is the old evil order to be brought to an end. But when the Lord, the Prince of Peace, stills the tempest and begins to bestow restitution blessings upon the poor fallen race; when the resurrection proceeds and severed families are reunited; when good deeds are quickly rewarded and evil deeds receive a certain and just punishment, then all men will recognize that they have now a loving and righteous Judge, and eventually every knee shall bow, and every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (Phil. 2:10, 11).
While the jubilee year with its preceding cycle typifies the great antitypical Jubilee of 1000 years with its preceding cycle of 2500 years, there is a still greater fulfillment. The period of seven thousand years may, as we have already indicated, be taken as representing a “week of years," each “year” of which equals a thousand years. The Millennial Day of the Lord is, therefore, also the seventh or Sabbath "year."
In the same way the six "days" of creation preceding God's rest will each represent a week of similar “years." The seven “weeks of years" will amount to 49 of these 1000-year periods. Accordingly, the next 1000- year period is the 50th of the whole series, and we have thus an enormous cycle of 49 "years," each of which is one thousand years long, followed by a Jubilee which will be without end, a Grand Jubilee of Jubilees. From this standpoint the Millennium is the Sabbath year of the Lord, and following it is the Grand Jubilee thus two great antitypical Rest-Years.
Continued with next post.
The method by which the Israelite's were instructed to calculate the precise year when they were to sound the trumpet of jubilee, namely, the cycle of 7 times 7 years, is also an important part of the type, and should have its corresponding antitype. This is evidently the Lord's arrangement, that just as in the type the beginning of the jubilee year was fixed by squaring the small cycles of Sabbath years (7 x 7), so in the antitype the commencement of the grand Jubilee is to be fixed by squaring the larger cycles of jubilee years (50 x 50).
Lev. 25:9 shows that the year of jubilee began in the seventh month, which, according to the Bible reckoning, fell in Autumn. It follows from this that the last typical jubilee ended in Autumn of 626 B.C. There the fulfillment of the type immediately began with the grand antitypical cycle of 50 x 50, or 2500 years, which leads up to the grand antitypical Jubilee of a thousand years—the Millennium. In this wonderful way our heavenly Father pointed forward to the glorious jubilee-work of Restitution which will be under the control of his dear Son Jesus Christ; for 2500 years from 625¼ B.C. (Autumn of 626 B.C.) ends in Autumn 1875 A.D., i.e., the first year of the seventh 1000-year period since the fall of Adam. The other time prophecies show that the precise time of our Lord's return was Autumn 1874. The anti-typical cycle therefore overlaps the last Adam's "Day" by one year; but as we shall see, the harmony of the diagram (number 8) proves that even this feature was divinely arranged.
As in the type it would require the whole jubilee year to restore to the people their land and other possessions, so in the antitypical times of restitution the whole thousand years will be required to restore to man all that was lost by father Adam. The first fortnight in the type corresponds proportionately to the first forty years in the antitype. We could not expect much work of restoration to be done in that short time; it would be a time rather of demanding rights and investigating claims. Because of innate selfishness angry disputing would be sure to follow the proclamation of the jubilee, and many claims would require to be settled at the gate. Thus the typical year of liberty would be inaugurated in much trouble; but eventually both rich and poor, who were pure in heart, would agree that the Lord's arrangement was best, and would gladly acquiesce to the new conditions.
The declaration of the Scriptures is that the Millennial reign of Christ would be inaugurated by a time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation (Dan. 12:1, 4; Matt. 24:21). The people have heard the "trumpet" of liberty and are learning to appreciate their freedom; they are demanding their rights to the land and other earthly possessions. The rich are clinging to their vested interests and are not likely to relinquish their hold. With human nature 'as it is, force must be applied; the people, having begun to taste the sweets of liberty, and finding their aspirations and desires for freedom and happiness frustrated, will break away from all restraints, and anarchy must follow.
Thus violently is the old evil order to be brought to an end. But when the Lord, the Prince of Peace, stills the tempest and begins to bestow restitution blessings upon the poor fallen race; when the resurrection proceeds and severed families are reunited; when good deeds are quickly rewarded and evil deeds receive a certain and just punishment, then all men will recognize that they have now a loving and righteous Judge, and eventually every knee shall bow, and every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (Phil. 2:10, 11).
While the jubilee year with its preceding cycle typifies the great antitypical Jubilee of 1000 years with its preceding cycle of 2500 years, there is a still greater fulfillment. The period of seven thousand years may, as we have already indicated, be taken as representing a “week of years," each “year” of which equals a thousand years. The Millennial Day of the Lord is, therefore, also the seventh or Sabbath "year."
In the same way the six "days" of creation preceding God's rest will each represent a week of similar “years." The seven “weeks of years" will amount to 49 of these 1000-year periods. Accordingly, the next 1000- year period is the 50th of the whole series, and we have thus an enormous cycle of 49 "years," each of which is one thousand years long, followed by a Jubilee which will be without end, a Grand Jubilee of Jubilees. From this standpoint the Millennium is the Sabbath year of the Lord, and following it is the Grand Jubilee thus two great antitypical Rest-Years.
Continued with next post.
