The Year of 5777
Pastor Amie Dockery
Sunday October 2, 2016

covenantchurch.org

Theme –  Rosh Hashanah means the “head of the new year.”  This is the beginning of the Hebrew year 5777.  These numbers have prophetic significance, which includes God’s promise that when we observe the Sabbath – by weekly separating ourselves from our work – we will be freed from the earthly things that enslave us.

 

God’s promises for each new year

• Rosh Hashanah is the beginning of the new year on the Hebrew calendar.
• This is the new Hebrew year 5777.
• There is prophetic meaning to these numbers. God has something special for us in each new Hebrew year if we pay attention to what He is offering through the prophecy.

 

The symbols of the year 5777

• Hei (the number 5) – “look and see, behold”
• Zayin (the first 7) – “the beautiful kingdom”
• Ayin (the second 7) – “to see, to perceive, observe, discern”
• Zayin (the third 7)

Zayin

• The symbol zayin can be used to represent different things.
• Zayin is the number 7.
• Zayin is the letter z.
• Zayin is the word meaning “sword or sharp weapon.”
• The sentence “Behold the beautiful kingdom, observing the sacred sword that separates the old and sanctifies the new” can be discerned from the numbers 5777.

Symbolism of the number 7

• Seven is a number that represents divine completion.
• Seven represents something is ending and a new thing is beginning.
• There are numerous Biblical examples of the significance of the number seven.

The sword

• The symbol for Zayin looks like a sword.
• The sword is a weapon that cuts and separates.

• Exodus 31:13 reads, “Speak also to the children of Israel, saying: Surely My Sabbaths you shall keep, for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am the Lord who sanctifies you.”
• This verse is very similar to the prophetic interpretation of the numbers 5777.
• God clearly told His people to observe His Sabbaths.
• Many Christians are dismissive of the Fourth Commandment “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God . . .”
• Perhaps many Christians have concluded the Fourth Commandment is not as important as some of the other commandments. As with disobedience to any other commandment, have we been disobedient of the Fourth Commandment to our own harm?

Drawing the line

• A more detailed reading of 5777 is, “Behold my covenant sign, to eat and observe the end of the old and beginning of the new.”
• Christians should use this prophetic interpretation to draw a line, and to submit themselves to observing a Sabbath rest every week.
• It is not easy to make this commitment. It takes conviction.
• God will bring revelation. He speaks to us when we make the effort to separate ourselves from our worldly affairs and their distractions.
• Choose a 24 hour period each week as a Sabbath rest. Some at Covenant have identified sundown Friday to sundown Saturday as this sacred time.

 

Reflective Questions for The Year of 5777

1. Do you believe there is prophetic meaning behind the symbols of the Hebrew years? Why or why not?
2. Does Pastor Amie’s reading of the meaning behind the numbers 5777 make sense to you?
3. Why do you suppose God would make observing a Sabbath rest so important?
4. Why might God be reemphasizing the importance of observing a weekly Sabbath in this new year 5777?
5. Do you have a personal testimony of the blessings that come with observing a regular rest day?

 

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