Prophecy And The Hebrew Calendar

The importance of understanding the Hebrew calendar and reckoning of time concerns prophecy. Although God designed the universe and knows the ‘actual’ calculations of a day, month and year, He used different calculations in the Bible than those of the current Gregorian calendar with which we are familiar. The Bible establishes a biblical month to be 30 days (Genesis 7:11, 8:3 and 4) and a biblical year to be 360 days. In addition, the Bible states that ‘one day is as a thousand years to the Lord’ (Psalm 90:4 & 2 Peter 3:8). Further, Daniel speaks of a ‘week’ as a seven-year period. The reason for the 30-day month and 360-day year, as well as the symbolic use of the ‘week’ and ‘day’ appears to be their connection with prophecy.

For example, Bible scholars have speculated that Hosea may have been prophesying of the Lord’s return (i.e. after the year 2000) when he spoke the following:

“After two days He will revive us; on the third day He will raise us up, that we may live in His sight.” (Hosea 6:2)

Daniel 9:24-27 describes the period of ‘seventy weeks’ that points to the coming of the Lord, His death and His return. The ‘seventy weeks’ prophecy (490 days) actually concerns ‘seventy weeks of years’ (490 years). This prophecy also contains the timing of the anti-Christ’s rule. It states that he will begin to reign in the ‘middle of the week’ (Daniel 9:27). Since the week represents years, the ‘middle’ would be after three and a half years or forty-two months (Rev. 13:5).

Yeshua [Jesus], the Messiah, ministered on earth for three and one-half years (forty-two months), the same period of time that will be allotted to the anti-Christ as above stated.

Just as the calendar differs from that to which we are accustomed, time is also calculated differently. In Hebrew reckoning, an hour is divided into 1080 parts (halaqim). Like the ‘day’ and the ‘week’, the ‘hour’ is also used symbolically in the Bible. A biblical year, as was previously stated, is 360 days and 360 X 3 = 1080. Likewise, in biblical symbolism, an hour can be representative of a three-year period. In the following Scriptures, the ‘hour’ may correspond to the last three years of this age:

In speaking of God’s wrath:

"...Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment is come…God's fury, which has been poured full strength into the cup of His wrath." (Revelation 14:7 & 10)

In speaking of the hated Babylon:

"...for in one hour is thy judgment come...in one hour such great wealth has come to ruin..." (Revelation 18:10 & 17)

In speaking of the beloved Church of Philadelphia:

"I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world..." (Revelation 3:10)

In speaking of the parable of 'The Workers In The Field' (Matthew 20):

When Yeshua [Jesus] told this parable, He was speaking allegorically about Israel, prophesying that the people of Israel will be ‘the workers who are hired about the eleventh hour’ (Matthew 20:9), i.e. the Nation will ‘get saved’ in the final hour, just before Yeshua’s return. 

The first Scripture mentioned above (Revelation 14:7 & 10) was spoken by an angel after the seven seals were opened (Rev. 6:1-8:1) and the seven trumpets were blown (Rev. 8:6-11:15) but before the seven bowl judgments were poured out Rev. (15:6-16:21). Certain conclusions can be drawn from the above Scripture references:

• The hour of God’s wrath comes after the seal and trumpet judgments recorded in the Book of Revelation.
• The destruction of ’mystery Babylon’ will take place during the hour of God’s wrath.
• The Church of Philadelphia will not experience the hour of God’s wrath.
• Israel will get saved just as the hour of God’s wrath begins.

The Purpose of the Symbolic Use of Time:

The Feasts of the Lord (Leviticus 23) were designed by God to reveal future prophetic events. Even the months during which the festivals occur are significant. The three major festivals which have particular prophetic significance are: the Feast of Unleavened Bread (known as Passover) falling during the first month of the Hebrew religious calendar, the Feast of Weeks (Shavuot) occurring during the third month of the Hebrew calendar, and the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot) which takes place during the seventh month of the Hebrew calendar.

The ‘Spring Feasts’ revealed the Messiah in His first appearance, bringing spiritual redemption and deliverance from the power of sin and death during the Passover marking the beginning of redemption for mankind during the first month of the Hebrew religious calendar. Shavuot is the ‘bridge’ between the Spring and Fall Feasts of the Lord. Shavuot (known by the Church as Pentecost) was the day the Church was empowered by the Holy Spirit after the Spring Feasts and points to a future day of greater empowerment before the Fall Feasts. The Fall Feasts, likewise, reveal the Messiah in His Second Advent, when He will return to bring physical redemption and deliverance from the man of sin, the Antichrist as well as renewal and restoration to the earth. 

The Fall Feasts begin with Judgment Day (Rosh HaShanah), the day when Judgments will begin. Ten days later follows the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) when judgments will be complete. The Fall Feasts conclude with the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot) known as the Festival of Joy celebrating the final harvest of the year. It is sometimes called the Wedding Feast. Spiritually, it mirrors the Marriage Supper of the Lamb and points to the final harvest of souls for the Kingdom of God when the Lord will once again tabernacle with man on earth during His Millennial Reign. This period can be seen as a seven-year period of tribulation followed by a three-year period during which God will pour out His wrath on unrepentant mankind:

Judgments Begin

• 7 Seals  = Time of Sorrows (Rev. 6) when judgments are released on all mankind (3 1/2 years)
• 7 Trumpets = The Wrath of the Lamb (Rev. 6:16-17) released during the reign of the Antichrist when he enters Temple of God (3 1/2 years)
• 7 Bowls = God’s wrath (Rev. 16) poured out on unrepentant mankind (3 years)

Judgments Completed

Millennial Reign Begins with Festival of Joy

Each Festival (Feast of the Lord – Leviticus 23) holds a special place in prophecy as it relates to the TIMING OF GOD. God’s calendar holds the key.

Barukh HaShem (Blessed is the Name of the Lord)