Part 7.1 - On The Third Day
On The Third Day As shown in the next chapter, God has divided man into three groups-the Gentiles, the Jews and the Church of God (1 Corinthians 10:32KSW). The 6,000 years of Man’s Day have been divided into three periods of 2,000 years. The first period of the Gentiles in which God dealt with man as one people has been completed. The latter two periods are nearly completed, only lacking a few years at most for the Church and seven years for the Jews.
According to man’s best calculations based on the lunar year, it appears that the 2,000-year period set aside by God for calling out of the Gentiles a people for Himself (Acts 15:14) is about to come to an end. We must recognize that there are limitations in how accurate any man can be in calculating the time since Adam; therefore, we must understand that calculations are estimates at best. However, God is not slow about His promises; when the time is up according to God’s calendar, it is up. The Father has fixed the times (Matthew 24:36; Acts 1:7; 1 Thessalonians 5:1). The Kingdom of Heaven is drawing near.
Christians, whether asleep in Jesus or alive on earth when He comes, will be taken up into the air to meet Christ (1 Thessalonians 4:14-17); then He will sit upon His judgment seat (Romans 14:10; 2 Corinthians 5:10); His people will receive rewards or suffer loss (Matthew 25:14-30; Luke 19:12-26; 1 Corinthians 3:14-15); Christ will receive His Bride (Revelation 19:9); He will deal with Israel and the Gentile nations-the wrath of the Lamb of God will be poured out (Matthew 25:31-46; Revelation 6:1-17; Revelation 7:1-17; Revelation 8:1-13; Revelation 9:1-21; Revelation 10:1-11; Revelation 11:1-19; Revelation 12:1-17; Revelation 13:1-18; Revelation 14:1-20; Revelation 15:1-8; Revelation 16:1-21; Revelation 17:1-18; Revelation 18:1-24); and then finally He will step foot on the earth after being gone for 2,000 years (Zechariah 14:4). The Kingdom of the Son will come in that day!
There are no Scriptures that specifically identify two days or 2,000 years for the Christian period. This must be seen in the light of God’s restoration of the nation of Israel. However, as has been shown, the Scriptures do indicate God’s restoration principle of six plus one. One day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day (2 Peter 3:8). The Scriptures reveal that there are 6,000 years for Man’s Day followed by 1,000 years for the reign of Christ.
It is interesting that there are those who deny that Christ will have a 1,000-year kingdom, but this is clearly revealed in the prophetic Scriptures. In Revelation, there are six references to a 1,000-year reign that follows the Great Tribulation (Revelation 20:2-7). Satan is bound for 1,000 years and then released at the end of the 1,000 years. Those who do not receive the mark of the beast and are killed will come to life and will reign for 1,000 years. The rest of the dead do not come to life until the 1,000 years are completed. Finally, those who have a part in the first resurrection will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for 1,000 years. It is difficult to understand how any rational thinking person can deny that this is a literal 1,000 years. There are mysteries in the Bible but this cannot be one of them.
Israel-A Sign Of The Third Day
Actually, the Scriptures give the most proof of God’s timing in relation to Israel, which makes sense because Israel is a sign to the nations (Isaiah 8:18). [The Church is called to be the salt of the earth and a light in the world (Matthew 5:13-16) but is never called to be a sign to the nations.] Israel has not completed the full two days or 2,000 years, for there are seven years remaining. But also notice that Israel has been set aside for two days or 2,000 years as well. These two days started at Calvary when they cut off Messiah in fulfillment of Daniel’s prophecy, and have continued to our day as God has been calling out a people from the Gentiles who are the Christians. When the two days or 2,000 years for the Christians are completed, then God will resume the work of restoring Israel and their two days will come to a close (at the end of the Great Tribulation). Everything is moving toward the closing out of Man’s Day and ushering in the Lord’s Day that is the Kingdom Age. This is the seventh day that for Israel as well as for Christians is the third day, since two days have been set for each. It is only logical that after two days we must come into the third day. The third day is very important in our understanding of the prophetic Scriptures, for in reference to Israel the Word speaks of a second day followed by a third day. In terms of end-time prophecy, the days began when Messiah was crucified. Two 1,000-year days (2,000 years) must transpire before Messiah will come to usher in the Kingdom Age. Israel will return to the land and be completely restored in the third day that in terms of God’s restoration timeline is actually the seventh day, the Kingdom Age. So when the third and seventh days are presented in reference to Israel, both days speak of the Messianic or Kingdom Age following Man’s Day. [Note The Restoration chart at the end of this chapter.] The number three is a very significant number in the Scriptures. It is the number of divine perfection. Jonah, a type of Christ and Israel, was resurrected on the third day. Christ was raised on the third day, and in like fashion, Israel will be resurrected on the third day. [Also, those who have fallen asleep in Jesus will be resurrected from the dead on the third day.] The Scriptures give us a clear indication of the third day or the seventh day in reference to Israel. A sick nation healed on the third and seventh day. In the book of Numbers, God has laid down His principle of purification from sin based on the third and seventh days.
‘He who touches the dead body of anyone shall be unclean seven days. He shall purify himself with the water on the third day and on the seventh day; then he will be clean. But if he does not purify himself on the third day and on the seventh day, he will not be clean.’ (Numbers 19:11-12NKJ) In Isaiah, Israel is described as sick: The whole head is sick, and the whole heart faints. From the sole of the foot even to the head, there is no soundness in it (Isaiah 1:5-6NKJ). Israel is unclean today but will be cleansed on the third day and on the seventh day. This will be their day of purification. In other words, the third day and the seventh day are the same days. They follow the two days since Calvary when Israel rejected Messiah’s offer of the Kingdom and they cut off their Messiah by crucifying Him. Since Calvary, Israel has been set aside and is unclean in the sight of God because of the nation’s transgressions. A nation wounded for two days. The nation of Israel will remain wounded for two days (2,000 years) and then be revived and raised up on the third day.
Come, and let us return to the LORD; for He has torn, but He will heal us; he has stricken, but He will bind us up. After two days He will revive us; on the third day He will raise us up, that we may live in His sight. (Hosea 6:1-2)
Israel will remain wounded during the Christian period, but after these two days are completed the Lord will turn to Israel and they will be revived on the third day. The nation has been wounded because of their transgressions but will be raised up following her time of judgment during the Great Tribulation. Israel will be revived for the final 1,000-year period or the seventh day which is the Messianic or Kingdom Age, once again on the land as a theocratic nation with David, God’s servant, as king over them (Ezekiel 37:24). The glory of the Lord will come upon Israel and God will dwell in the midst of the children of Israel again (Ezekiel 43:2-7). Messiah will return as the King of Israel, seated upon David’s throne (Luke 1:32). A nation scattered amongst the nations for two days.
Jonah prophesied of Israel being cast into the sea for two days which speaks of the time in which Israel is scattered amongst the Gentile nations. [In the Scriptures, the sea refers to the Gentile nations.] Although many Jewish people are back on the Promised Land today, during the Great Tribulation, the nation will again be scattered amongst the nations. The day of their return to the land is yet to come. As Jonah was spit out of the belly of the fish on the third day (Jonah 1:17; Jonah 2:1-2; Jonah 2:9-10), so Israel will be spit out of the belly of the Gentile nations and return to the land. As God resurrected Jonah, so God will restore Israel. God will open the graves and breath upon the dry bones and the nation will be born (Ezekiel 37:1-28). This occurs after the Great Tribulation and completes the 2,000-year Jewish period during Man’s Day. A nation blinded for two days.
Israel has been blinded for two days or 2,000 years but will see on the third day. When He was risen from the dead, the Lord Jesus walked along the road with some disciples who did not recognize Him. He was with them for two days, and beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures. On the third day from when He was crucified, He broke bread with these disciples and their eyes were opened (Luke 24:13-21; Luke 24:30-32). So it will be with Israel. Blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. Then the Deliverer will come out of Zion, and He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob; and He will take away their sins (Romans 11:25-27). A nation healed on the Sabbath, the seventh day.
During the days when He walked amongst the house of Israel, the Lord healed on the Sabbath (Matthew 12:9-13). Although they did not understand what He was doing because of hardened hearts, He was revealing to them that the nation was sick, but that He would one day heal the nation on the Sabbath to come, the seventh day of rest (Hebrews 4:4), the Messianic Era or the Kingdom Age. Can We Be Sure?
How can we be sure that we are at the end of the last days, the end of the 6,000 years of Man’s Day or the end of the 2,000 years of the Christian period? One answer is based on the calendar itself. There cannot be much time left to complete a full 2 days since Calvary, based on the lunar year.
Some people say we cannot know the time. Unfortunately, it seems that many who say that we cannot know the day and the hour have little expectation of His imminent return. They might be the ones who say that the Lord will return but it cannot be for another 500 years or some other time period which places this glorious event completely outside the current generation. This sort of thinking is contrary to Scripture: For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night (1 Thessalonians 5:2). How can He come like a thief if He is not expected for another 500 years? People who hold this position actually are saying in their hearts that they really do not want the Lord to come back right now. They are no different than the apostates who say, "Where is the promise of His coming?" (2 Peter 3:4). In one sense, it is true that we cannot know because no one knows the day and the hour (Matthew 24:36; ). However, through the Scriptures, we can and we should discern the times in which we live. The apostles wrote that we are in the last days. We are warned that as the return of the Lord approaches, there will be a falling away, an apostasy (2 Thessalonians 2:3; 2 Peter 2:1-22; Jude) and that the Word of the Kingdom will be leavened (Matthew 13:33). The Lord warned that the church at the end of the Christian period will be lukewarm-wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked (Revelation 3:16-17). In addition to there being a lukewarm church, the Lord also warned that at the end of the age the Word of the Kingdom will be a fully leavened word. We live in this day.
One very simple test of the times in which we live is to listen to what is preached in most of the pulpits today. Is the imminent return of the Lord being preached? Are the Lord’s people being prepared to appear before the Judge? Is there an excitement, an eager waiting for the Lord to return? Is there a love for His appearing? The test is to ask Christians about their expectation of His return. A person who loves the Lord’s appearing does not have to be prodded to share his or her heart on this matter. There will be an instantaneous response full of hope. With one who is eagerly awaiting the Lord, there is no doubt.
Another simple test is to ask questions about the Kingdom of Heaven to see if people understand the Word of the Kingdom. Most Christians today probably cannot explain what the term Word of the Kingdom even means. In a very short amount of time of questioning, it will become abundantly apparent that very few believers understand the Kingdom and those who know something of it most likely have a leavened (corrupted) understanding. Why? Because the Lord said that this would be the understanding of the church on earth at the end of the age.
He spoke another parable to them, "The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three pecks of meal, until it was all leavened." (Matthew 13:33) The lukewarm church and the leavened Word of the Kingdom go hand and hand. We live in this day.
We are not to be ignorant of the times in which we live. To those who are not watching and waiting for His return, He comes as a thief. But those who are watching and waiting can discern the times based on the Scriptures. Daniel knew the time based on reading Jeremiah (Daniel 9:2; Jeremiah 25:12). The Pharisees who rejected their Messiah had the same Scriptures at their disposal and the Scriptures clearly pointed to Jesus as their Messiah, and yet they were ignorant of the signs. "Hypocrites! You know how to discern the face of the sky, but you cannot discern the signs of the times" (Matthew 16:3NKJ). As He was headed to Calvary, Jesus was asked by His disciples about the sign of His coming and the end of the age. At the end of His answer to them, Jesus spoke a parable about the fig tree. In the Scriptures, the fig tree symbolizes the nation of Israel.
"Now learn the parable from the fig tree: when its branch has already become tender, and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near; even so you too, when you see all these things, recognize that He is near, {right} at the door. Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place." (Matthew 24:32-34)
Prior to giving this discourse, Jesus declared that the house of Israel was left desolate and He went out and departed from the temple (Matthew 23:38-39; Matthew 24:1). Israel had rejected their Messiah and He left them desolate. To the Lord, the fig tree, Israel, had died. The Lord took the offer of the kingdom away from Israel and gave it to a nation bearing the fruits of it (Matthew 21:43). And seeing a fig tree by the road, He came to it and found nothing on it but leaves, and said to it, "Let no fruit grow on you ever again." Immediately the fig tree withered away. (Matthew 21:19) The Lord has given us a sign of His imminent return and it is the nation of Israel. When we see the fig tree alive again in the land (putting forth leaves, but not bearing fruit), He is about to begin His descent from the throne. In 1948, Israel was recognized as a nation, back on the Promised Land; and in 1967, Jerusalem was regained and later was declared the capital of Israel. The nation is still a secular nation in unbelief and many Jews remain scattered throughout the world; however, the sign is on the land. The leaves have come forth from the withered fig tree. To the whole world, Israel was non-existent until 1948. The generation that sees this fig tree alive again will not pass away until He comes. [A generation can continue only for so many years. The generation that came out of World War II is nearing the end of their life span.] The final days of Man’s Day have begun. The summer has come. The Tribulation is coming, followed by the seventh day. In other words, the King is coming! He is about to come through the doors of heaven. The use of the word summer in the Lord’s parable of the fig tree is significant. Jeremiah reveals its significance.
"Harvest is past, summer is ended, and we are not saved." For the brokenness of the daughter of my people I am broken; I mourn, dismay has taken hold of me. Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why then has not the health of the daughter of my people been restored? (Jeremiah 8:20-22) A day is coming when the Lord will harvest His Church, removing His people from this earth. The resurrection and the rapture will occur at the end of the two days, on the third day for the Church. As Christ was raised from the dead and the nation of Israel will be raised from the place of death, so will those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. The summer will end and Israel will mourn: "We are not saved." The final seven years of her two days will come and Israel will go into Jacob’s trouble.
Today, some of the orthodox Jews believe they must rebuild the Temple, for without the rebuilding of a third temple they believe there will be no peace for Israel or for the world. They also believe that the great conflict they are under today is the result of them not obeying God to maintain a temple, the priestly function and the animal sacrifices. They believe the Kingdom of God cannot come to them until the Third Temple is built. This heart cry of the Jew may be one of the reasons that will lead to the false peace with the antichrist. They will falsely believe that this covenant of peace will usher in the Kingdom of God, but it will be a covenant of death.
[There are two views regarding the rebuilding of a temple in Jerusalem. According to the Scriptures a temple must be built, but the question is who will build it. Some people believe that the antichrist himself will build it so that he can declare himself to be God. To those who hold this view it is believed that the secular nation of Israel will never agree to rebuild the Jewish Temple. On the other hand, many others believe that the Jews must rebuild the Jewish Temple and offer sacrifices. Whichever view is held there is one common denominator: A temple will be built and the antichrist will desecrate it when he places an abomination in it and declares himself to be God (Daniel 11:31-36; Daniel 12:11; Matthew 24:15-16).]
Today, the Jews are crying out for peace and the nations are seeking ways to bring peace to the Mideast. Unknowingly, the nations are awaiting a world ruler who will offer a false peace between Israel and her Arab neighbors. When this world ruler is revealed, then there are not many years remaining for Man’s Day. It is very interesting that a recent newspaper reported: "An idea reportedly being considered by a key Saudi would offer Israel peace with the entire Arab world in exchange for an Israeli pullout from all the territory occupied in the 1967 war, including the West Bank, Gaza and east Jerusalem." The headlines a few days later read: "Saudis offer Israel conditions for peace." This offer is being made by Crown Prince Abdullah of Saudi Arabia. This is not to imply that this Saudi crown prince is the antichrist (at least as far as we know today), but it is very instructive, for one day the headlines will declare that a world figure has brokered a lasting peace agreement with Israel and the Arab world. When this day comes, God’s Son is near the earth.
[Later, the Arab nations met in Beirut, Lebanon to discuss the Saudi peace plan. The conference ended in confusion. Why? It was not according to God’s time. Nothing will thwart God from ending Man’s Day. The time has been set and, until then, man only can try in vain to bring about what God has purposed.] When this ominous day comes, there will be some form of peace on earth (Daniel 11:21-24) as the antichrist (1 John 2:18), the lawless one (2 Thessalonians 2:9), the beast (Revelation 13:1-7), gains power and authority. This peace will be shattered when a great battle occurs in heaven between Satan and his angels and Michael and his angels (Revelation 12:1-12). Satan and his angels will be overcome and cast down to earth. Then, Satan will give his throne and power to the antichrist, the beast. This demonized world ruler will enter the holy place and the abomination of desolation will come (Daniel 11:31; Daniel 12:11; Matthew 24:15). He will declare himself as high as the Commander of the host (Daniel 8:11). This will commence the Great Tribulation that will last for 3½ years. During this time, the world ruler will seek to destroy the Jews with a vengeance unseen since the days of Hitler. However, he will be no match for the Most High God who is in the midst of Israel. The wrath of God will be poured out on the earth with increasing intensity until the Son of Man, God’s King, steps foot on the earth (Zechariah 14:4; Revelation 19:11-16). In that day, Israel will see Messiah and they shall be saved. Hallelujah! Do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. (2 Peter 3:8)
"But know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts, and saying, ‘Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation’" (2 Peter 3:3-4).
Let us heed Peter’s warning about the facts. For yet in a very little while, He who is coming will come, and will not delay. But My righteous one shall live by faith; and if he shrinks back, My soul has no pleasure in him. (Hebrews 10:37-38{ea})