Year of the Gathering

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Hakhel is this year.

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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hakhel

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7th Year

The term Hakhel (Hebrew הקהל) refers to a biblical commandment of assembling all Jewish men, women and children, as well as "strangers" to assemble and hear the reading of the Torah by the king of Israel once every seven years. [1]

Originally this ceremony took place at the site of the Temple in Jerusalem during Sukkot in the year following a Seventh Year. According to the Mishna, the "commandment to assemble" (Hebrew: מצות הקהל mitzvat hakhel) was performed throughout the years of the Second Temple era and, by inference, during the First Temple era as well.

The biblical mitzvah of Hakhel is only in effect when all the Jewish people reside in Israel. In the 20th century, the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, repeatedly encouraged all Jews to utilize the Hakhel year to assemble men, women and children and encourage each other to increase in Torah observance and study, and foster an environment of fear of G‑d.[2]

The Hebrew Hiphil verb haq’hel (Hebrew: הקהל, "assemble"), from which comes the term mitzvat hakhel, is used in Deuteronomy 31:10-12:

"At the end of every seven years, at an appointed time, in the Festival of Sukkot [following] the year of Shemitah.

When all Israel comes to appear before the Lord, your G‑d, in the place He will choose, you shall read this Torah before all Israel, in their ears. Assemble the people: the men, the women, the children, and your stranger in your cities…"[3]

Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles)

According to the Mishnah, the ceremony was conducted on the first day of Chol HaMoed Sukkot, the day after the inaugural festival day, on behalf of all the Jews who participated in the pilgrimage to Jerusalem.

Trumpets would sound throughout Jerusalem (Tosefta) and a large wooden platform would be erected in the Temple in the court of the women (Hebrew: ezrat hanashim עזרת הנשים).

The king reads the Torah

The king would sit on this platform and all in attendance would gather around him. The hazzan haknesset (החזן הכנסת, "servant of the synagogue") would hand the Book of the Law to the rosh haknesset (ראש הכנסת, "archisynagogue"), who would hand it to the deputy kohen gadol, who would hand it to the High Priest, who would present it to the king.

According to the Sefer Hachinuch, the king would accept the sefer Torah while standing, but could sit while he read it aloud.

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This year, 2016, or Hebrew year 5776, is a 7^th year.

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God moves in line with his calendar and commandments.

If the Jews are to gather together in the Word of God, what implications does this have for Christian believers?

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I expect, in some way, for God to “gather together” those who are close to Him this year, around the time of Sukkot, which happens in October 2016.

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What kind of gathering?

Could a rapture of the Bride occur?

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It sounds like a time when the King of Heaven would gather his people, to instruct them in Torah.

Maybe this is what happens during the Wedding Feast of the Lamb.

The Bride is removed for 7 years, while trouble occurs on earth.

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I make a distinction between the Bride and the Church.

The Bride is ready, the Church is not.

There are wise virgins, and foolish virgins.

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The foolish, or unprepared, need to wake up and get their oil now.

They need the oil of the Holy Spirit, and readiness, being without spot or wrinkle.

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When the Bride leaves, will the Tribulation start?

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This is just a thought.

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Or…even if the Bride does not leave,

maybe we can “gather together” here on earth in a more positive way then, as the Jews are doing now.

a time for the saints to unify in strength and in the Word of God.

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So what will happen this year?

What do you think?

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