Bible Central

  • Book & Chapter Guides
  • Reference Overviews
    • People of the Bible
    • Places of the Bible
    • Topic Guides
    • Library
    • Bibliography
  • Media
Menu
  • Book & Chapter Guides
  • Reference Overviews
    • People of the Bible
    • Places of the Bible
    • Topic Guides
    • Library
    • Bibliography
  • Media
Search
Close

The Lord Reveals Cycles of Sacred Time

 / Reference Overviews / Library / 

The Lord Reveals Cycles of Sacred Time
Download PDF PDF

Book

The Jesus Christ Focused Old Testament

Donald W. Parry

Loading...

Contents

Introduction
Prophecies of Jesus Christ’s Mortal Ministry and Atonement
Symbols that Testify of Jesus Christ
The Lord Jesus Christ: Conquering Hero
Jesus Christ is the Lord of History: Nine Major Historical Eras
The Lord Jesus Christ: Potter, Captain, Shepherd, and More
The Lord Jesus Christ Controls the Nations: Book of Judges Case Study
Old Testament Passages Cited by Jesus Christ
Messianic Prophecies in the Psalms
Psalm 22 and Its Fulfillment in Jesus Christ
Isaiah’s Prophecies of the Mortal Messiah
The Messiah in Isaiah 53: Four Recurring Themes
Names, Titles, and Metaphors of the Lord Jesus Christ
Lord (Jehovah): The Most Frequently Used [Content] Word in the Hebrew Bible
Equivalent Designations of the Lord Jesus Christ in the Old and New Testaments
God: Compound Names
Lord: Compound Names
The Lord Is Our Savior
The Lord (Jehovah) Is Our Redeemer
The Lord Is Our Atoner
Jesus Christ Is the Messiah
Jesus Christ Is the Lord
One, Three, and Seven: Sacred and Symbolic Numbers
Seven and Sacred Time
Prophets and Prophetesses: The Lord’s Messengers
Eve: Life and Help: A Type of Christ
Adam: “The Figure of Him that Was to Come”
Melchizedek: Type of Christ
Isaac: Type and Shadow of Christ
Joseph of Egypt: Foreshadow of Christ
Moses: Type and Shadow of Jesus Christ
Elijah: Symbol of Jesus Christ
Job: Suffering Servant, A Type of Jesus Christ
Hosea’s Family: Symbols of the Lord for Ancient Israel
The Sign of Jonah: Pointing to Christ’s Death
Priests and High Priests: Foreshadowing Jesus Christ
The Lord Reveals Cycles of Sacred Time
Striking Blood on the Doorposts: The Passover Anticipates Jesus Christ
The Day of Atonement: Messianic Foreshadowing
“A Feast to the Lord”: Sacred and Secular Meals
Parallelisms: Teaching About the Lord Jesus Christ Through Poetry
Chiasmus: Unique Presentations of the Lord’s Word
The Psalms: Praises to the Lord Jesus Christ
Lord: Focused Prophetic Speech Forms
Prayers: Mortals Seeking the Lord’s Divine Favor
Worshipping the Lord Jesus Christ through Music and Song
Law of Moses: Anticipated Jesus Christ and His Atonement
Manna: Symbol of Jesus Christ
Symbols of Christ in the Tabernacle of Moses
Sacrifices Under the Law of Moses: Six Acts
Sacrifices: Symbols of Jesus’s Atoning Sacrifice
Diet Code: Unclean and Clean Animals
God Is a Holy Temple: Temples and Sacred Space
The Atonement-Focused Earthly and Heavenly Temples
Jesus’s Royal Ancestry: Rulers of the Kingdom of Judah
Loading...

Contents

Introduction
Prophecies of Jesus Christ’s Mortal Ministry and Atonement
Symbols that Testify of Jesus Christ
The Lord Jesus Christ: Conquering Hero
Jesus Christ is the Lord of History: Nine Major Historical Eras
The Lord Jesus Christ: Potter, Captain, Shepherd, and More
1 2 … 10 Next »

Donald W. Parry, “The Lord Reveals Cycles of Sacred Time,” in The Jesus Christ Focused Old Testament: Making Sense of a Monumental Book (Springville, UT: Book of Mormon Central, 2022), 100–101.

God revealed to His covenant people a series of laws that pertained to cycles of sacred time—the New Moon, the Sabbath, the Sabbatical Year, and the Jubilee Year. These cycles existed in addition to annual festivals and fasts, such as Passover and the Day of Atonement.

For each of the cycles, God revealed its rate of recurrence, its purpose, and His expectations for the children of Israel. The cycles had temporal applications in that they permitted the Israelites to rest from their labors, provide for the poor, and free the bondservants.

The cycles also had spiritual applications because they taught Israel about God, the Atonement, and various religious principles. For example, through resting every Sabbath and allowing the land to rest every Sabbatical Year and every Jubilee Year, the Israelites had to demonstrate faith that God would provide for them. Through forgiving debts, the Israelites learned about the principle of forgiveness. And through releasing bondservants, the Israelites perhaps gained knowledge about their own release from sin and spiritual bondage.

Each cycle pertained to the calendar and movements of celestial spheres. The New Moon, characterized by trumpet-blowing and sacrifices, occurred on the first day of the lunar cycle. The other three sacred cycles—the Sabbath, the Sabbatical Year, and the Jubilee Year—occurred according to the sun’s movements. Inasmuch as both the moon and the sun are highly visible celestial spheres that provide light to Earth’s creatures, perhaps the children of Israel recognized God as the power of creation and the source of light.

Further, by witnessing the regularity of the sun and the moon’s movements, the Israelites were able to comprehend God’s order in controlling His creative works.

The number seven is a significant symbol in the cycles of time. The Sabbath, Sabbatical Year, and Jubilee Year featured the number seven—the Sabbath occurred every seventh day, the Sabbatical year occurred every seventh year, and the Jubilee Year occurred after every seven cycles of seven years, or every fiftieth year.[1]

The number seven, which symbolizes completeness and totality and was associated with covenant-making, was tied to the calendar and was marked by established cycles of time.



[1] Finegan, Handbook of Biblical Chronology, 116–30.

The Lord Reveals Cycles of Sacred Time

Cycle

Rate of Recurrence

Commemoration or Purpose

References

New Moon

First day of each lunar month

Characterized by trumpet-blowing, sacrifices, and offerings; a time of worship and atonement

Num. 10:10; 28:11–15; Ps. 81:3; Isa. 66:23

Sabbath

Seventh day of each week

Lord’s rest on the seventh day of the Creation; a day of rest, worship, and deliverance of Israel out of Egypt

Ex. 16:15–32; 20:8–11; Lev. 23:3; Deut. 5:12–15; Neh. 13:15–22

Sabbatical Year

Every seventh year

One year of rest for cultivated lands; spontaneous growth of produce left for the poor and others; all debts owed were to be released

Ex. 23:10–11; Lev. 25:1–7; Deut. 15:1–11

Jubilee Year

Seven cycles of seven years—every fiftieth year

A holy year announced by trumpet-blowing on the Day of Atonement; during the year, liberty was celebrated; lands that had changed hands reverted back to the original owner; all bondservants of Israelite birth set free; one year of rest for cultivated lands; spontaneous growth of produce was left for the poor and others; all debts owed were to be released

Lev. 25:8–55; 27:16–25; Num. 36:4; Neh. 5:1–13

Site Links

  • Chapter Guides
  • Reference Works
  • Media
  • About
  • Donate
  • Donor FAQ

BMC Ecosystem

  • Scripture Plus
  • Book of Mormon Central
  • Doctrine and Covenants Central
  • Pearl of Great Price Central
  • Evidence Central
  • Messages of Christ
  • Seminary Central
  • BMC en Español
  • BMC en Português

Stay Connected

Get instant access to scripture study tips, biblical insights, and Come Follow Me devotionals through our social media channels.

Facebook Youtube Instagram Twitter

Subscribe

 
 
 

Which lists would you like emails from?

Signing up for both the Daily and Weekly email lists is not recommended, as you will receive duplicate emails.

 

We respect your email privacy

 

Copyright 2021 Bible Central, a project of Book of Mormon Central. All rights reserved.
Registered 501(c)(3). EIN: 20-5294264