As many of you may know, Israel is celebrating the fall feasts, a special season of biblical holidays. These annual holy days begin with Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, and include Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement.
We just held an all-night prophetic prayer session this past weekend as part of exhortation, worship and acknowledgement of 12 years of ministering in the Harrisburg urban community. Every year we use this time to rehearse the prophetic declarations that have been made over us, this ministry, and this city. We also cast vision for the upcoming year, connecting with and focusing on the prophetic significance of the meaning of the upcoming Jewish New Year.
Many, who receive our weekly newsletters, are not part of Christian fellowships that follow the annual holy days, feasts and celebrations. Most have been taught that the original apostles of the early church stated that they would not place any burdens on the Gentiles beyond a few stipulations regarding what they eat, idol worship, and sexual immorality. Therefore, they don’t really “get into" these Jewish traditions.
We’re not here to debate that. However, at the very least, we’d like for you to consider seeing these celebrations and feasts as some of the things that we are not required to do, but we have the opportunity, honor and privilege to connect with, so that in some small way we can gain a better understanding of, and more insight into this new life that God has granted to us through His son, Jesus Christ.
We learned in our studies that we have just entered the Hebrew Calendar Year 5777. We first started looking at the meaning of each year when we came upon the year 5774. At that time we discovered the meaning of 74 through the Hebrew alphabet/numbers for 70 (ayin) and 4 (dalet). Ayin (pronounced ah yeen), the 16th letter of the Hebrew alphabet, it is a silent letter. There is no translation of it in English. It sees, but does not speak; representing humility. The name ayin can also mean “eye” or “fountain”. It teaches us to speak and observe without making a commentary about what we see.
The Hebrew letter/number 4, is dalet (pronounced dah let) and is represented by the symbol of an open tent or an open door. At that time, three years ago, the Holy Spirit revealed to us that we were about to see and experience a year of open doors. For the record we can tell you, that is precisely what happened in our lives and ministry that year.
Since that time, we have eagerly anticipated each year, with its prophetic significance. Now we have entered the year of Ayin (70) Zayin (7). So let’s take a look at the alphabet and symbol that represents seven.
Zayin (pronounced Zah yeen) - The number seven has always been regarded in Jewish tradition as the number of completion, wholeness, blessing and rest. However, Zayin is a paradoxical word, since it means “weapon” or “sword”, but derives its meaning from a root word that means sustenance or nourishment. The root word (zan) appears in words like food. So the question is, how is food or nourishment related to the sword?
We believe the Church is about to experience and see the manifestation of the sword of the Lord. Our awesome God is about to bring the sword into hearts, homes, schools, businesses, neighborhoods, communities, cities, regions, states, and our entire country. We’re not able to tell you what that will look like, but when it happens, we will each know that whatever is happening, it is because this is The Year of the Sword of the Lord.
At the same time, we are to rest. For us, this is the year of completion, wholeness, blessing and rest. Our God will nourish and sustain us, even as HE fights on our behalf.
We wanted to share this with you as we enter into the month of October, which has annually become filled with the worship of demons, death, witchcraft and the occult. We insist that you make deliberate and intentional efforts to guard your hearts and homes in this season.
Watch and pray over your children and loved ones. It is very important that you monitor what you watch and entertain. Don’t leave an open door anywhere in your life, especially during this season with its heavy influence from satan (we refuse to capitalize that name) himself. If you need assistance with this effort, please order and utilize the prayer strategies in our book, FIGHT FOR YOUR FAMILY.
We encourage you to use this season to fast and pray for your family and friends. Pray about the upcoming elections. Get on the offensive and refuse to allow the enemy of your soul to take any territory in your life.
We cannot tell you how much we have hated the month of October. One of Chris’ brothers passed away in October. It has been a very difficult month for our whole family. However, THIS YEAR, there is a new spark of faith, hope and anticipation. That’s because we have entered the year in which God will complete many things that HE started in our lives 12 years ago.
We have entered the year of wholeness and healing from our losses and disappointments.
We have entered the year in which God provides for, nourishes and sustains us. We have entered the year when we will see the Sword of the Lord prevail!
For the least of these,
Drs. Chris and Carol Green
