5785 – Establishment & Advancement 

The 2nd October marked the beginning of the Jewish New Year and the celebration of Rosh Hashanah, until the 4th October, 2024. Rosh Hashanah symbolises and celebrates the birth of the universe and the creation of Adam and Eve. As the Jewish calendar is different from the western calendar, the 2nd of October 2024 marks the Jewish Year 5785. In the Jewish Calendar or in Judaism, numbers have spiritual significance and help to interpret times and seasons. In the Old Testament, there is mention of the sons of Issachar who could interpret the times and seasons. “of the sons of Issachar who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do, their chiefs were two hundred; and all their brethren were at their command” ‭‭(I Chronicles‬ ‭12‬:‭32‬). Solomon also spoke of the importance of moving in correct times and seasons and understanding a time to plant and a time to reap, for example. 

The sons of Issachar were possibly the first meteorologist who could predict weather patterns such as rain, storms or droughts. Another dimension of it could be that they had the spiritual capacity, to interpret what God was about to do in the earth. The Wise Men in the New Testament also seem to point to the practice of studying the stars to know the time of Jesus’s birth. In our modern times this is known as astronomy, which can sometimes be confused with astrology. While astronomy is a natural scientific study of the stars and the solar system, astrology seeks to predict events on earth using spirit guides and mediums and ventures into occult practices. Going back to the Jewish New Year 5785, I want to attempt to explain some of the biblical meaning behind the numbers in this Hebrew year. 

Biblical numerology is the use of numbers in the bible to try to provide the meanings and context of particular seasons and years. The number 5 represents grace, goodness and favour. The number 7 means perfection, completion, rest and fullness. The number 8 represents new beginnings, resurrection & renewal. In the case of 5785, where the 5 appears twice, this means a double portion of grace, goodness and favour. You may ask what is the significant of the Jewish year and people who live in other parts of the world. I believe that God created the Jewish numerical system to convey the meanings and observations of special occasions, such as feasts and to commemorate significant happenings in Jewish history. The numbers also reflect the significance of things to come in the future, related to aspects of bible prophecy, concerning the end times. 

For this time, we can sense a shift in the realm of the spirit which signals a move of God or a new dispensation. I believe that the church is gathering momentum for the end time harvest and the advancement of God’s kingdom. We are in a season, where God is doing a new thing and he wants us to forget the former things. “Behold, I will do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness And rivers in the desert” ‭‭(Isaiah‬ ‭43‬:‭19‬). In Matthew 12, John the Baptist sent messengers to Jesus to ask if he was the Coming One, or if there was another one to come. Jesus’s response was for them to convey to John of the things which they saw and heard. “The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them” (Matthew‬ ‭11‬:‭5‬).

Before his ascension, Jesus gave his commission to the church to go into the world and preach the gospel. He also named the signs that would follow believers; casting out demons, speaking in tongues, picking up serpents and if we drink anything deadly, it will not harm us, we will lay hands on the sick and they will recover (Mark 16:17-18).

A.P.-Y. – Anneta Pinto-Young