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 2008 / 5768 A YEAR OF NEW BEGINNINGS?
I feel constrained to weigh the spreading belief that by virtue
of the new year, 2008, ending in an 8, we as Christians are in a
special year of new beginnings. A well known prophet may have
started it, Charisma e-mails popularized it and now the 'Apostolic
Council of the Prophetic Elders' (ACPE) are reporting on it.
My concern is that the foundation for this prophetic insight
seems to rest on a very questionable method of interpretation of
Hebraic numerology. My spirit is troubled as I search my heart and
the scriptures and ask, did the Lord Jesus or the Apostles use
this method to prophesy?
I came across this insight at the start of 5768! The
presentation was impressive, but I just did not get it! To quote:
"It has been a long time since in the history of the earth
realm that we have been in a time like this … two seasons
overlapping … In the new Hebraic year of 5768, a 7 year war season
ends, and a new season starts"
I have since surfed the web and found that there is great
interest in a supposed 7 year season of war ending, which means
that the next number is a new beginning: 8! But this season ending
coincides with the Hebraic year, 5768, that ends also in an 8. And
it overlaps with 2008, ending in an 8. This is thought to be of
great significance.
A 'prophetic' insight on 'Gates' is explained by referring to
the Hebrew number system where numbers are linked to words,
pictures and sounds. Again to quote from a recent flyer:
"Since the Hebraic alphabet is pictorial in origin, the number
eight is actually depicted by the letter chet. This
character pictures a wall, fence, gateway, door or gate, and shows
us prophetically that in the midst of every wall or blockage that
the Lord has a great opportunity for your new beginning".
So the prophetic inspiration for 'Possessing the Gates' comes
from the shape of the letter chet and the association of 8 with
new beginnings. The theme of beginnings then leads to Genesis as
the book of beginnings, and teaching is extrapolated as prophetic
emphases from the main themes of Genesis - creation, dominion, and
creative miracles. This does not feel like real prophecy from the
Spirit, more like creative human logic. Several have said that 8
is always associated with new beginnings but it takes artistic
license to form a doctrine out of scattered passages.
In this teaching 2008 means new things and lots of change and
there is a warning that, if we resist change, then we will be
seven times worse off for the things that did not change. This is
a very serious warning and I am alarmed as it has the implications
of a curse. I would be interested in others' discernment on this
matter. If I accept this insight but fail, will I really be in a
demonic mess in 5769?
8 is special, so are all the other whole numbers! 7 was special
last year and remember how great 12 was until we found the G12 did
not work in Canada. But what about the Hebraic and Gregorian
calendars? These are of course not absolute in their accuracy.
Christ was almost certainly not born 2008 years ago. The Hebrew
year 5768 is based on the calculations of a second century AD
Rabbi, Yossi be Halafta, for the date of creation. The Hebrew date
could be a long way out, both are approximate at best. My point is
that using a date that is not precise is putting the power in the
number itself rather than the significant exact date. Does this
faith in the inherent power of whole numbers stray into the area
of numerology? I think it does but please help me.
(Note Wikipedia description: Today, numerology is often
associated with the
occult, alongside
astrology and similar
divinatory arts. The term
can also be used for those who, in the view of some observers,
place excess faith in numerical patterns, even if those people
don't practice traditional numerology.)
It is so interesting that the ACPE claim in their report for
'2008 and Beyond', that …
"This year the Holy Spirit keyed off of the number 8 to us."
Is the Holy Spirit really leading the nations Prophets to
prophesy out of the sound and shape of the Hebraic numbers? Should
we all organize our events on August 8th this year?
A well known prophet has also written:
"Heaven and Earth are aligning. New councils of rulership are
being formed in the earth. The councils are developing strategies
to bring in the Harvest. The councils will know how to decree a
thing and watch it happen. That is why decrees about the transfer
of wealth are so important… "
I could say more about the teaching on the transfer of wealth,
but this statement above on the councils being formed feels more
like the 'Externalization of the Hierarchy'. It quite frankly
scares me to hear of councils forming that could decree a thing
and watch it happen. What if they got it wrong? There has to be a
balance between top down corporate consensus and the individual
also hearing the voice of the Lord.
I discern that these prophetic insights and declarations are
not prophetic in the true sense of the word, but empirical
deductions from an association with the number 8. This method is
clearly available to anyone and is not particularly spiritual in
its discernment. It certainly does not mean a particular
impartation to believers just because the year has an 8 in it! For
example, it is always true, every year, that Elisha did twice as
many miracles as Elijah, so why should this particular year be one
of double power? A real red flag went up for me in September when
it was said,
"You don't understand it with your mind. You declare it, you
step into it."
Forgive me, but isn’t this a recipe for deception?
Another caution I have is when seasons are announced for
various virtues that are actually available to us all the time
(today) by repentance and faith and through the blood of Christ.
See Hebrews 10: 19-21
Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the
sanctuary by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way which
he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh,
and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us
draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith …
Canada needs the Prophets to stand up and declare the anointed
word of the Lord. Since a major sign of the last days is
deception, we should have our spiritual radar on all the time. If
we subscribe to a deception we invite more deception until we have
lost our discernment completely.
I must stop now. So how do we pray?
- Let us draw near to the Lord Jesus in worship and adoration.
Let us enter the Sanctuary by the power of His blood.
- Let us repent for not desiring or using the gifts of the
Spirit, in particular, the gift of discernment of spirits. 1
Corinthians 12: 10
- Let us seek the Lord for revelation of any deceptions or
deceptive areas in our personal or church life.
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