In the Old Testament, a Jubilee occurred every 50th year. It followed seven cycles of Sabbath or “sabbatic” years. A Sabbath year was the seventh year in Israel’s agricultural cycle when God commanded that the land was to rest. Farmers were not to sow, prune or harvest any crops (Leviticus?25:1?7). Instead, the fields and vineyards were left to grow naturally so the poor and animals could eat freely. This year of rest reminded Israel that the land belonged to God. They were to trust in His provisions and be spiritually renewed.
It was a national “reset” in which liberty was proclaimed throughout the land, debts were canceled, slaves were freed, and every family returned to its original inheritance. The shofar sounded on the Day of Atonement to announce the beginning of restoration. God provided this extraordinary system, not only for Israel’s benefit, but to foreshadow Christ’s work of restoring the world to what was once possessed by Father Adam.
Looking back to the Garden of Eden provides a glimpse into the meaning of restitution. The first man, Adam, was physically perfect and lived in a paradise home (Genesis 2:8-15). He had dominion over all the animals and was their caretaker (Genesis 1:26-28). His greatest advantage was the privilege of having direct communication with God. This was all lost when Adam disobeyed God’s simple command not to eat of the forbidden fruit (Genesis 3:17).
Just as the shofar announced Israel’s Jubilee, the “trumpet of God” (1 Thessalonians 4:16) symbolizes the start of the Grand Jubilee. This is not a single literal year; rather, it describes the entire 1,000?year Millennial reign of Christ—the world’s great antitypical Sabbath. Its opening phase is marked by a period of global upheaval that breaks down present social, political, financial and religious systems to prepare the way for Christ’s kingdom. Described by the prophet Zephaniah, this “day of wrath” is the dawn before the full sunrise of blessing (Zephaniah 1:15).
Jesus planted the hope of life when he said, “All that are in the graves shall hear his voice and shall come forth” (John 5:28–29). Family ties once broken by death will be restored. The Apostle Peter later pointed to Earth’s Great Jubilee, also called the Grand Jubilee, when he spoke of the “times of restitution of all things” (Acts 3:21).
In speaking of the resurrection, Paul shares the order in which those will be brought back. “For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; then they that are Christ’s, at his coming” (1 Corinthians 15:22-23). The first to be raised from the dead are those “in Christ,” i.e., his faithful followers. These are termed the “first fruits.” They will be raised prior to mankind’s resurrection. “They that are Christ’s” are then raised, referring to the general resurrection of the world.
During this 1000?year Jubilee, the willing and obedient of humanity will be gradually uplifted to human perfection. The curse of sin and death inherited from Adam will be removed, and the earth itself will be restored to Edenic beauty. War will cease, fear will vanish and humanity will be taught righteousness until they can live securely and joyfully under the reign of Christ. It will be the long-awaited fulfillment of God’s promise to Abraham when He said, “In thee shall all families of the earth be blessed” (Genesis 12:3).
The prophet Isaiah beautifully described that time. “The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad… and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose… Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped…And the ransomed of the LORD shall return and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away” (Isaiah 35:1,5,10).
In summary, Earth’s Great Jubilee is the Millennial “Times of Restitution,” the grand fulfillment pictured by Israel’s Jubilee year. It marks the time when Christ resurrects all who have ever lived, frees the race from sin and death, restores humanity to perfection, renews the earth, and brings all things back into harmony with God. Man’s relationship with God will finally be restored. It is the final stage of God’s plan to rescue humanity and restore Eden on a global scale.
“The whole creation is on tiptoe to see the wonderful sight of the sons of God coming into their own. The world of creation cannot as yet see reality, not because it chooses to be blind, but because in God’s purpose it has been so limited – yet it has been given hope and the hope is that in the end the whole of created life will be rescued from the tyranny of change and decay, and have its share in the magnificent liberty which can only belong to the children of God!” Romans 8:19-21 (Phillips)
