The mystery of the 9th Av
ON AUGUST 6, many Jews will observe a traditional day of mourning called Tisha B’Av, or the 9th of Av.
The 9th of Av is a day of mourning due to a number of tragic events that have befallen the Jewish people on this date.
Originally, it was on Av 9 that the Jews feared to take the Promised Land and, for this reason, were forbidden by God to enter it for 40 years (Num. 13, 14).
Later, Av 9 is when both Temples at Jerusalem were destroyed and the Jews were exiled from the Land.
The first exile in 586 BC was a punishment from the Lord for failing to observe a total of 70 Sabbatical years, the once-every-seventh year Sabbath for the Land (Lev. 25:1–4). Because they ignored 70 Sabbaticals, the Jews were banished to Babylon for 70 years, so the Land could have its rest (Jer. 52:12–16; Lev. 26:33–35).
(Significantly, it was at the end of the 70 years in Babylon that a Jewish captive named Daniel received the 70 Weeks Prophecy, God’s plan to redeem the people and their land over the course of 70 Sabbatical weeks. See Daniel 9:24–27.)
The second exile in 70 AD was a result of the Jews’ rejection of their Messiah, Jesus, in part because they did not discern by Daniel’s Weeks Prophecy “the time of God’s coming” (Matt. 23:37–39; Luke 19:44).
Thus, both exiles of the Jewish people, which occurred on the 9th of Av, are linked to a failure to observe the Sabbatical calendar.
MODERN-DAY IMPLICATIONS
The Jews’ latter (70 AD) period of exile ended in 1948 when Israel became a nation again.
Here is where things get interesting for prophecy watchers in 2022. Considering the prophetic link between the Sabbatical calendar and the number 70, it is significant that the month of Nisan–April this year marked the completion of 10 Sabbatical weeks—equivalent to 70 years—since 1948.
That we are presently in the year “after” the 70th is noteworthy because, based on the ancient pattern, this is when God’s people are redeemed from Babylon and allowed to go home to the Promised Land:
“After seventy years are completed at Babylon, I will visit you and perform My good word toward you, and cause you to return to [the Land]” (Jer. 29:10).
Israel’s journey home to the Promised Land is a type or shadow of the Church’s journey to the heavenly Promised Land at the Rapture.
A second important layer of the typology concerns the judgment of Babylon. Similar to how Israel’s departure coincided with the fall of ancient Babylon, the Church’s departure at the Rapture will coincide with the fall of end-times “Mystery Babylon” (Jer. 25:12; Rev. 18:1–5).
SABBATICAL CONVERGENCE
In addition to the above 70-year calculation, a convergence of other Sabbatical timelines points to 2022:
• Nisan 2022 marks one Sabbatical week since an unprecedented display of signs in the heavens in 2015. That 2015 was a milestone year of signs is significant as God typically gives a one-week warning ahead of major events or judgments (Gen. 7:1–4; Josh. 6:1–5; Gen. 41).
• Nisan 2022 marks seven Sabbatical weeks since the restoration of Jerusalem in 1967. This is significant because Daniel’s 70 Weeks Prophecy says Messiah will appear “seven weeks” after Jerusalem is restored (Dan. 9:25).
• Nisan 2022 marks 10 Sabbatical weeks since Israel became a nation in 1948. The number 10 relates to earthly kingdoms and judgment (Ex. 20 Dan. 2; Rev. 13, 17; Ex 7–11). Ten generations of man lived on the earth before the judgment of the flood (Gen. 5, 10).
• Nisan 2022 marks the start of the 11th Sabbatical week since Israel became a nation in 1948. The number eleven denotes chaos, disorder, and judgment in Scripture, themes associated with the Tribulation period.
• Nisan 2022 marks 69 Sabbatical weeks (a second Messianic timeline) since a later restoration of Jerusalem, the rebuilding of the wall by the Islamic ruler Suleiman circa 1536 AD (Dan. 9:25 KJV).
• Nisan 2022 marks 354 Sabbatical weeks since Daniel’s 70 Weeks Prophecy began to be fulfilled via the Jews’ return to Jerusalem in 457 BC (Dan. 9:25; Ezra 7:9). This is significant because 354 is the number of days comprising a perfect lunar–biblical year of 12 months. Since the Moon is symbolic of the Church, or Bride of Christ, it could be said that 354 denotes the fullness of time—or a perfect circle of time—related to the Bride.
For further details on the signs and Sabbatical timelines pointing to 2022, please see my article or video entitled “Ten Reasons Nisan 1 Is a Pivotal Date in 2022”:
Article:
https://storage.googleapis.com/wzukusers/user-35306783/documents/94cbc771fc94414aaa63636509f2999a/Ten Reasons Nisan 1 Is a Pivotal Date in 2022 rev c.pdf
Video:
SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION
As Jews worldwide prepare to observe a traditional day of mourning, the 9th of Av, we are reminded of the importance of God’s Sabbatical calendar.
The Israelites were exiled from the Land, twice, related to a nonobservance of the Sabbatical weeks.
The redemption timeline in Daniel is based on a count of Sabbatical weeks, and will conclude with a final week.
As of Nisan–April 2022, a new Sabbatical week has begun. What’s more, the numbers suggest that it will be a momentous one.
. . .
NOTES:
1. According to tradition, Av 9 became a cursed date when the spies sent to survey the Promised Land returned on this day with a bad report, causing the children of Israel to be fearful of entering the Land.
2. Other Jewish calamities that have occurred on the date Av 9:
• The Jews were expelled from England on Av 9 (July 18) 1290.
• The Jews were expelled from France on Av 9 (July 22) 1306.
• The Jews were expelled from Spain on Av 9 (July 31) 1492.
• Germany entered World War I on Av 9–10 (August 1–2) 1914, resulting in a massive upheaval in European Jewry, and ultimately leading to the Holocaust.
• Heinrich Himmler formally received approval from the Nazi Party for “The Final Solution” on Av 9 (August 2) 1941, setting the stage for the death of six million Jews.
3. Throughout Scripture, the number 70 signifies fullness, restoration, and an endpoint related to God’s people:
• The post-flood world was repopulated by 70 descendants of Noah, resulting in 70 nations (Gen. 10).
• Terah, the father of Abraham, was 70 years old when Abraham was born (Gen. 11:26).
• The Nation of Israel began with 70 Hebrews who migrated to Egypt (Ex. 1:1-5).
• Moses appointed 70 elders to be the governing body of Israel (Num. 11:16).
• Following the liberation from bondage in Egypt, the children of Israel camped at an oasis of 70 palm trees (Ex. 15:27).
• The Jews were liberated from captivity in Babylon after 70 years (Jer. 29:10).
• God’s plan of redemption for Israel and Jerusalem is comprised of 70 weeks (Dan. 9:24-27).
• Jesus sent out 70 disciples to harvest the field of believers (Luke 10:1 KJV).
• A typical human lifespan is 70 years (Ps. 90:10).
• Israel’s greatest ruler, King David, died at the age of 70 (2 Sam. 5:4).
Seeing that the number 70 symbolizes restoration, it is interesting that restoration-themed events in Israel’s history occur at a 70-year interval:
• From the destruction of the First Temple in 586 BC to the completion of the Second Temple in 515-16 BC is 70 years.
• From the completion of the Second Temple in 515-16 BC to the completion of the wall around Jerusalem in 445 BC is 70 years.
• From the UN vote in favor of the establishment of the modern State of Israel in 1947 to the first recognition by a foreign power (US) that Jerusalem is its capital in 2017 is 70 years.
The most significant 70-year intervals correspond to the dates 1948 and 1967:
• From the first modern Jewish settlement in the Land of Israel (Petah Tikvah) in 1878 to the birth of the Nation of Israel in 1948 is 70 years.
• From the first major step in reestablishing the State of Israel (First Zionist Congress) in 1897 to the final step (restoration of Jerusalem) in 1967 is 70 years.
4. A Sabbatical week is counted as one would count a regular calendar week, which is defined as seven consecutive days starting on Sunday. In order to count a number of calendar weeks, the count must begin at the start of the first day of the week: 12:01 am Sunday. If Sunday has already begun, or any part of the week has passed, a count of calendar weeks cannot begin until the start of the next week.
5. The modern restoration of Jerusalem occurred in June 1967, after a portion of the current Sabbatical week had already passed. Counting seven weeks from the start of the next Sabbatical week, which is Nisan 1973, we arrive at Nisan 2022.
6. Suleiman ordered the rebuilding of Jerusalem’s wall in 1536–37 AD, after a portion of the current Sabbatical week had already passed. Counting 69 weeks from the start of the next Sabbatical week, which is Nisan 1539 AD, we arrive at Nisan 2022.
7. More on the number 354: It is interesting to note that Strong’s #354 in the Hebrew concordance is the word ayyal, referring to a stag, or male deer. Strong’s #354 in the Greek concordance is the word analémpsis, referring to a “taking up” into heaven. That the Hebrew and Greek words related to Strong’s #354 refer to a stag and a taking up to heaven is striking because the rapture-allegory in Song of Solomon depicts Jesus as a young stag who comes suddenly to gather up His beloved: “Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away!” (Song 2:8–10).
. . .
*Visit the author’s website:
www.theseasonofreturn.com
*YouTube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVxcqsgEKvYtscqyYJpTxbQ
IMPORTANT MESSAGE: No one knows the day or hour of Jesus’ return (Matt. 24:36). However, a convergence of biblical signs and timelines suggests it is near. To escape the judgment reserved for a God-rejecting world, one must be in a saving relationship with Jesus Christ. If you have not yet done so, call on His name and believe that He is the Son of God who died for your sins and was raised from the dead (Rom. 10:13). Do it today. Time is running out.
rumble.com
