Year of the Jubilee
James Lee , President
The most unusual observance that God commanded the Israelites through Moses was to keep the observance of the year of Jubilee . For most people , this celebration occurred only once in their lifetime , and for others , not at all , as it occurs only once every 50 years .
During this year of Jubilee , all Israelites who had sold themselves into slavery were set free and all land that had been sold reverted back to the original owners . This meant that no Israelite could ever be in permanent slavery ; nor could any Israelite permanently lose their inheritance .
In Jewish tradition , the year of Jubilee was a time of joy and year of Remission . Leviticus 25:10 reads , “ Thou shalt sanctify the fiftieth year , and shalt proclaim remission to all the inhabitants of thy land : for it is the year of jubilee .”
The English word Jubilee comes from the Hebrew word Yobel ( יֹּובֵ ל ); meaning a trumpet sound . Ram horn trumpets were blown on the Day of Atonement to announce the start of the Year of Jubilee .
According to some scholars , Jubilees began in 1416 BC when the children of Israel entered Canaan . The first Jubilee was 49 years later in 1367 BC and every 49 years another Jubilee occurred . Supposedly the 70th Jubilee began on the Day of Atonement in the fall of 2015 and will last until the fall of 2016 . There will have been 40 Jubilee cycles following Christ ’ s crucifixion .
How fitting and appropriate it is that the sound of the trumpet was blown for Hanhee Kim World mission center during this year of the 70th Jubilee ! God has opened many new doors for us .
After a long period of praying and waiting , the door to India has finally opened . We are rejoicing greatly for our God has provided enough funds through our sponsors to build an orphanage in India and to start a Children of Jesus India program .
Our God has also opened the door to start a new project called “ Sons of Moses .” This project will restore the joy and happiness among the children of pastors who are struggling with emptiness in their life and ministry . Also , we are led by the Holy Spirit to enlarge the tent of COJ Peru into the regions near the Amazon River , bordering Columbia and Brazil . There are many children in need of the gospel and financial assistance . It will be a great closure to our Peru ministry as we will reach children in the most remote northern region .
Also the building of the youth mission training center in Arequipa is in progress . There , thousands of young missionaries will be trained and equipped with the sovereign words of God to go out to the utmost parts of the world to expand God ’ s Kingdom .
For many of us , this will be our last experience of Yobel ( יֹּובֵ ל ) on this earth for we will have to wait another fifty years until the next one . But we are rejoicing greatly today for our amazing and awesome God has invited us to join Him where He is working to proclaim the year of the Lord ’ s favor and the day of vengeance of our God ! ( Isaiah 61 )
Very soon one day , we will all hear the last sound of the trumpet , calling us to come home to our Father ’ s glory ! And there , over the yonder , the children from the orphanage in India , river banks of Amazon ; the higher grounds of Andes , pastors ’ children , and young and faithful missionaries will all gather with us and sing the most joyous praise to our Redeemer and Savior for His unimaginable love will last forever and ever ! It will be the true day of Jubilee ! www . coj . org 3