Lev 25:10-13 | KingComments | STEP | The sabbatical year is not only a year of rest in certain cases, but also a year of restoration and freedom. Thus the Hebrew slave is released in the seventh year ( ) and debts are remised ( ). But in the year of jubilee things go much further. Then the inheritance will be restored. Everything returns to its original situation, as God purposed it to be. People are released and return to their property; a property is returned to its original owner. The word “jubilee” means “blowing on the ramshorn”. Except here in Leviticus the word ‘jubilee’ is only mentioned in the book of Numbers ( ). The thought of release ( ) is used in Isaiah 61, where we read: “To proclaim liberty to captives and freedom to prisoners” ( ). In the following verse is spoken about “the favorable year of the LORD” ( ; ; ). Generally speaking, every Israelite witnesses once in his life how everything is restored to its original state. When he experiences it, he will be reminded of paradise, where man has not had to work either, but has been able to freely enjoy everything that God has made grow. He also gets a taste of the future blessing that God will give to Israel and the whole earth under the reign of the Lord Jesus in the millennial kingdom of peace. Then everyone will also enjoy the delicious things creation provides. In his speech to the people of Israel, in the “portico of Solomon”, Peter speaks about it. He calls upon the people to repent and return, “and that He may send Jesus, the Christ appointed for you, whom heaven must receive until [the] period of restoration of all things about which God spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from ancient time” ( ). The year of jubilee, a fiftieth year, follows a sabbatical year, a forty-ninth year. The fiftieth year thus also indicates a new beginning. It is as with the eighth day, which also follows a period of seven days. This new beginning is also in connection with heaven and eternal things. The kingdom of peace has not only an earthly side, but also a heavenly side ( ). Abraham looked forward to this: “For he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God” ( ; ). The heavenly rest and glory will have their radiance on earth. Everything in God’s Word that is about Israel, all prophecies, it all ends in the year of jubilee. There the final fulfilment of all God’s promises takes place. Then comes the “favorable year of the LORD” ( ). For all who have accepted the Lord Jesus, this “favorable year” has already begun ( ). This may be mentioned in the preaching of the gospel: “And working together [with Him], we also urge you not to receive the grace of God in vain—for He says, “At the acceptable time I listened to you, and on the day of salvation I helped you.” Behold, now is “the acceptable time,” behold, now is “the day of salvation”” ( ). The ram’s horn will sound in the fiftieth year just as in all previous years on the first day of each month ( ). But in this fiftieth year the horn will sound another time in the seventh month. Also on the tenth day, that is the day of atonement ( ), there will be the sound of the ram’s horn. The whole land will hear it ( ). It will show that all tribes will be back in the land and each tribe will live in the inheritance God has given him. The horn blown on the first day of the seventh month will herald this restoration. The restoration will be based on the atoning work of the Lord Jesus as “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” ( ). Before the horn sounds as a sign of the start of the year of jubilee, another horn or trumpet will sound, the last trumpet, the trumpet of God. When that trumpet sounds, the church will be taken up from the earth and meet the Lord in the air ( ; ).

‏ Leviticus 25:10-13

The Year of Jubilee

The sabbatical year is not only a year of rest in certain cases, but also a year of restoration and freedom. Thus the Hebrew slave is released in the seventh year (Exo 21:2) and debts are remised (Deu 15:1-18). But in the year of jubilee things go much further. Then the inheritance will be restored. Everything returns to its original situation, as God purposed it to be. People are released and return to their property; a property is returned to its original owner.

The word “jubilee” means “blowing on the ramshorn”. Except here in Leviticus the word ‘jubilee’ is only mentioned in the book of Numbers (Num 36:4). The thought of release (Lev 25:10) is used in Isaiah 61, where we read: “To proclaim liberty to captives and freedom to prisoners” (Isa 61:1). In the following verse is spoken about “the favorable year of the LORD” (Isa 61:2; Jer 34:8 ; 15 ; 17; Eze 46:17).

Generally speaking, every Israelite witnesses once in his life how everything is restored to its original state. When he experiences it, he will be reminded of paradise, where man has not had to work either, but has been able to freely enjoy everything that God has made grow. He also gets a taste of the future blessing that God will give to Israel and the whole earth under the reign of the Lord Jesus in the millennial kingdom of peace. Then everyone will also enjoy the delicious things creation provides.

In his speech to the people of Israel, in the “portico of Solomon”, Peter speaks about it. He calls upon the people to repent and return, “and that He may send Jesus, the Christ appointed for you, whom heaven must receive until [the] period of restoration of all things about which God spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from ancient time” (Acts 3:20-21).

The year of jubilee, a fiftieth year, follows a sabbatical year, a forty-ninth year. The fiftieth year thus also indicates a new beginning. It is as with the eighth day, which also follows a period of seven days. This new beginning is also in connection with heaven and eternal things. The kingdom of peace has not only an earthly side, but also a heavenly side (Mt 13:43a). Abraham looked forward to this: “For he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God” (Heb 11:10; Dan 7:27). The heavenly rest and glory will have their radiance on earth.

Everything in God’s Word that is about Israel, all prophecies, it all ends in the year of jubilee. There the final fulfilment of all God’s promises takes place. Then comes the “favorable year of the LORD” (Isa 61:2). For all who have accepted the Lord Jesus, this “favorable year” has already begun (Lk 4:19 ; 21). This may be mentioned in the preaching of the gospel: “And working together [with Him], we also urge you not to receive the grace of God in vain—for He says, “At the acceptable time I listened to you, and on the day of salvation I helped you.” Behold, now is “the acceptable time,” behold, now is “the day of salvation”” (2Cor 6:1-2).

The ram’s horn will sound in the fiftieth year just as in all previous years on the first day of each month (Lev 23:24). But in this fiftieth year the horn will sound another time in the seventh month. Also on the tenth day, that is the day of atonement (Lev 23:27), there will be the sound of the ram’s horn. The whole land will hear it (Lev 25:9). It will show that all tribes will be back in the land and each tribe will live in the inheritance God has given him. The horn blown on the first day of the seventh month will herald this restoration. The restoration will be based on the atoning work of the Lord Jesus as “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (Jn 1:29).

Before the horn sounds as a sign of the start of the year of jubilee, another horn or trumpet will sound, the last trumpet, the trumpet of God. When that trumpet sounds, the church will be taken up from the earth and meet the Lord in the air (1Cor 15:52b; 1Thes 4:15-18).