Waking in the early morning, April 25^th, I heard these words, The 33^rd of August. Immediately, I jumped out of bed. Certainly, God was ready to reveal something more if I would join Him. I humbly, gratefully receive the revelations of God. What kind of God would draw us near to share what He is doing?

Simply searching the term online, My first hit was a song title of these exact words,  33^rd of August. Wow. Fascinated, I read the lyrics of this song I’d never heard, written by a man I’d also never heard of, Mickey Newbury. Apparently, he was a  famous songwriter, and several singers recorded his song, including Joan Baez, Waylon Jennings, and David Allen Coe.

The lyrics of what would be considered a secular song were clearly spiritually directed. I love how God uses everything and does whatever He wants. He breaks religious rules and shows us the way out of religious bondage. (This is not the first time He has spoken to me through unexpected songs. God’s playlist is way cooler than ours.)

As I read the lyrics, my jaw dropped.

33rd of August 

(Lyrics by Mickey Newbury)

Lord today there’s no salvation
The bands packed up and gone
Left me standing with my penny in my hand
There’s a big crowd at the station where a blind man sings his songs
But he can see what they can’t understand

It’s the thirty-third of August and I’m finally touchin’ down
Eight days from Sunday finds me Saturday bound

Once I stumbled through the darkness tumbled to my knees
A thousand voices screamin’ in my brain
Woke up in a squad car busted down for vagrancy
Outside my cell as sure as hell it looked like rain

But now I put my dangerous feelings under lock and chain
Guess I killed my violent nature with a smile
Though the demons danced and sung their songs within my fevered brain
Not all my God-like thoughts Lord were defiled

It’s the thirty-third of August and I’m finally touchin’ down
Eight days from Sunday find me Saturday bound

These lyrics moved in my spirit as a significant message. Although I couldn’t fully grasp the meaning, I pressed into the Lord and waited. What I began to see blew my mind and assured me all at once. That’s how He does it, isn’t it? Amazing God!

AUGUST BEGINNINGS

My initial impression was the strong indication of the times we are in. I was led to look up the definition of August, which originates in the root of Augustus –meaning “consecrated”, at the same time being reminded August is the 8^th month and represents a time of new beginnings. I see this as a consecrated, ‘set aside’ time of new beginnings. Also, something ‘august’ is majestic, grand, and noble or dignified.

I believe we are entering an august moment in time and a special set aside new beginning of a magnificent move of the Lord’s doing! Did you feel that? Whew.

I then heard the Holy Spirit say, In the 33^rd year of Augustus Caesar. As my spirit braced for another layer of meaning, I recalled Caesar as a statesman and military leader, and the first emperor of the Roman Empire. I researched and learned more. When Caesar received the title Augustus, it is interesting to note the word August comes from Augere (meaning to increase) and translated as “the illustrious one”, adding Augustus as a title conveyed religious authority more than political authority.

Augustus Caesar’s achievements were as vast as his controversies. Specifically, I see significance in his ushering in an era of peace, which was the Pax Romana, or the Peace of Rome. The time we are entering will be similar, a time of increasing relative peace, as the Bible teaches, and which leads to end and ultimately to the coming of the Lord. Additionally, as we see the Lion represents August, we can say, “Come! Lion of Judah!”

THE NUMBER 33

If we understand numbers have meaning, we can see when the Lord highlights a number there is a reason. Understanding the importance of numbers in God’s language, I researched 33 in Hebrew and according to the Bible. For the sake of brevity, here is a summary of my findings. I encourage you to study it for yourself. It is simply amazing.

I found the number 33 is significant in the Bible in many contexts. The most obvious is the age of Christ when He was crucified. Of course, He then rose on the 3^rd day, being resurrected from death to life.

The number 33 also represents certain promises of God, as well as the Revelation of the Return of Christ. I believe we are in the most amazing time in history, which will culminate in God’s promise of Jesus Christ’s return to earth. He left at 33. He will return, on the 33rd day, This being a day no one can know, as the 33^rd day of a month is something we’ve never known.

Maybe the simplest, yet most profound fact I learned regarding the number 33 is this – it is the numerical equivalent to the word “Amen.” Yes, 33 numerically declares, “Amen.” How does that rock your world? I hear the Lord’s “Amen” as He spoke the last word of the written word. Oh yes, it will be finished. “Amen” concludes the last book of the New Testament, at Revelation 22:21. Amen! It is finished.

How about one more? Thirty-three is also the numerical representation of the Star of David. If you can hear me now, the Lord is returning for His Bride. He will have His spotless, unblemished Bride. He is passionate for His beloved Jerusalem, the apple of His eye. He will have His precious Israel and all who belong to Him. The 33^rd of August – the August 33^rd! On the Consecrated, Magnificent Day of His Return, The Noble Ruler of the World comes to us, The King of Kings and Lord of Lords!

Let’s look back at the song. The first stanza seems pretty straightforward.

Lord today there’s no salvation
The bands packed up and gone
Left me standing with my penny in my hand
There’s a big crowd at the station where a blind man sings his songs
But he can see what they can’t understand 

The word of the Lord says today is the day of salvation. In 2 Corinthians 2:1-2, it is written, “As God’s fellow workers, then, we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain. For He says: “In the time of favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.” Behold, now is the time of favor; now is the day of salvation!”

This is the urgent call to every soul. But, there will come a day when time is up. On this day where there is ‘no salvation’, all decisions will have been made. The blind man in the song is able to ‘see the unseen’ things. He is singing to the crowds, trying to tell the people what is coming. And they are waiting to depart, but without understanding. Does this sound like the times we’re in?

The significance of being ‘left standing with my penny in my hand’ speaks of what many people are holding onto. Looking back to what we discovered in terms of Augustus Caesar, this becomes even more interesting. The ‘penny’ represents the government, Caesar, and the entanglements of the world. The tribute penny was the coin that was shown to Jesus in when he said, “Render unto Caesar what is Caesar’s, but unto God what is God’s.”

Here is the account from the book of Matthew,

“But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, “You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me?  Show me the coin used for paying the tax.”

They brought him a denarius, and he asked them, “Whose image is this? And whose inscription?”

“Caesar’s,” they replied.

Then he said to them, “So give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”

When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left him and went away.”

~ Matthew 21:18-22 (NIV)

I hear Jesus saying, “You decide.” Which is it for you? How I love when Jesus shuts the mouths of those who try to entrap Him. We are left with that penny in our hand to decide. Which will you have? Will it be the Kingdom of God or the World?

The next lines are every bit as clear.

Once I stumbled through the darkness tumbled to my knees
A thousand voices screamin’ in my brain
Woke up in a squad car busted down for vagrancy
Outside my cell as sure as hell it looked like rain 

You don’t have to walk deep in the prophetic to see how this speaks of the torture of darkness, praying for deliverance, being taken out of lawlessness and seeing (yep, hell is sure) but Hallelujah! The rain is coming! The cleansing and refreshing of the Lord is as imminent as His return.

And the last stanza seems to connect us with the transformation of a life pulled from the darkness and finally given over to the Lord.

But now I put my dangerous feelings under lock and chain
Guess I killed my violent nature with a smile
Though the demons danced and sung their songs within my fevered brain
Not all my God-like thoughts Lord were defiled 

This chorus – I can’t get over it.

It’s the thirty-third of August and I am finally touchin’ down

Eight days from Sunday, Lord

Saturday bound

I’m seeing this speak of Sabbath bound – His Shabbat –  ‘eight days from Sunday’ – the new beginning of it all. The Lord is all about His Sabbath Day. He will keep it Holy.

On this day, the 33^rd of August, He’s ‘finally touchin’ down’ … I’ll leave that with you.

Be encouraged in this, my friend. The Lord is speaking to us! He loves and desires every one would come to Him. He does not miss any detail. Not in your life, or in all of His glorious creation does He miss anything. He never fails to see, guide, and direct every moment.

God is great and awesome, beyond our ability to know Him. Yet, He longs to share with His children who He is and what He does. As we posture ourselves to receive, He always gives more. As magnificent as He is, we are only able to glimpse His marvelous depths, even in our best spiritual condition.

Until we arrive to be home with Jesus forever, we will be limited by the flesh in which our spirit is contained. But when He touches down, oh what a glorious day!

He is stirring us, telling us the time is ever nearer. There is an urgency within me as I’ve never had before. Let’s stay ready and share the love of Jesus with everyone.

I leave you with this 33. Amen.

Psalm 33:1-3

Sing joyfully to the Lord, you righteous;
it is fitting for the upright to praise him.

Praise the Lord with the harp;
make music to him on the ten-stringed lyre.
Sing to him a new song;
play skillfully, and shout for joy.