DAWN OF THE THIRD DAY
Hos 6:1 “Come! Let’s return to Yahweh; for he has torn us to pieces, and he will heal us; he has injured us, and he will bind up our wounds.
Hos 6:2 After two days he will revive us. On the THIRD DAY he will raise us up, and we will live before him.
I am becoming more and more confident that the Church, and more specifically the last days Church is, and will be, a direct “mirror” or “reflection” of the life, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
2Co 3:18 But we all, with unveiled face seeing the glory of the Lord as in a mirror, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord, the Spirit. World English Bible.
The Apostle Paul indicates that each Christian individually, but also the Church collectively, is being transformed into the image of the Lord Jesus Christ. This transformation will reach its perfect conclusion at the rapture/resurrection, but I also believe that the Church will have an end-times ministry that will directly reflect, and conform to, the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ.
Pro 4:18 But the path of the righteous is like the dawning light, that shines more and more until the perfect day. World English Bible.
I have written previously about “God’s Anointed Generation”, how the legalization of abortion all over the world, that began in 1967 and continues to this day, is eerily similar to the attempt by King Herod to destroy Jesus while He was still a baby.
http://www.motsog.com/fundamentals/gods-anointed-generation
We are also beginning to see the truth, the light, and the resurrection power of the “grace message” of Jesus Christ overcoming, and overthrowing, the traditional and highly legalistic Church message of the not too recent past.
Zec 4:7 Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain; and he shall bring forth the top stone with shoutings of GRACE, GRACE, unto it. American Standard Version.
GRACE: H2580, chên, khane
From H2603; graciousness, that is, subjectively (kindness, favor) or objectively (beauty): - favour, grace (-ious), pleasant, precious, [well-] favoured.
If you are a Christian, you have probably noticed that the persecution of the Church, and the persecution of the Jews, is increasing more and more around the world. We are seeing Church shootings, Synagogue shootings, the beheading of Christians, and yes, even the crucifixion of Christians.
https://www.charismanews.com/world/52438-11-christian-missionaries-crucified-and-beheaded
In the summer of 1967, we first became aware of what was then called the “summer of love”, which was a thinly disguised introduction of sexual immorality (fornication and demons), foreign religions (i.e. witchcraft and demons), and drug use (i.e. sorcery and demons). This so called “cultural revolution” of the 1960’s was simply a war against the teachings of Jesus Christ and a war against Christianity. Thus, we saw the Christian West falling into the “apostasy” spoken about by the Apostle Paul.
2Th 2:3 Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion (apostasy) comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction,
2Th 2:4 who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God.
This all has set the stage for the appearance of the antichrist, and it is also preparing the world for the implementation of a “final solution” in order to deal with the so called “intolerance” and “hindrance” of Christianity, and the creation of a “New World Order”.
It appears from how Satan has targeted this last generation, he knows something that most people do not know. We must understand that Satan was intimately involved in the fall of Adam and Eve; therefore, even if we do not know the exact date of the fall…Satan does! If we do not know the exact date of the resurrection of Jesus Christ…Satan does! If, as I suspect, God has a six-thousand year timeline beginning from the fall of Adam and Eve and finally ending at the arrival of Jesus Christ and the beginning of His one-thousand year millennial reign, then Satan knows that his time is very short, and he is pulling out all the stops in order to stop the “manifestation of the sons of God” (motsog).
Rev 12:12 Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.
Before the persecution of the Church kicks into high gear, I believe there must be another great outpouring of the Holy Spirit similar to the day of Pentecost.
Joe 2:28 "And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions.
Joe 2:29 Even on the male and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit.
Joe 2:30 "And I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and columns of smoke.
Joe 2:31 The sun shall be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the great and awesome day of the LORD comes.
Although charismatic Church denominations are some of the fastest growing Churches in the world, the unity of the charismatic movement is a far cry from the UNITY of the early Church just after Pentecost.
Act 4:32 And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and soul: and not one of them said that aught of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.
Act 4:33 And with great power gave the apostles their witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.
Act 4:34 For neither was there among them any that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold,
Act 4:35 and laid them at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto each, according as any one had need.
I must confess, I have not sold everything that I own and given it away to the poor. Also, I will confess, I do not have any plans to start sharing everything I own anytime in the near future. However, one day I expect that Jesus will ask me to do exactly that, and I hope and pray that I will be obedient when I hear His voice!
Mat 19:21 Jesus said to him, “If you want to be PERFECT, go, sell what you have, and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.”
PERFECT: G5046, teleios
Thayer Definition:
- brought to its end, finished
- wanting nothing necessary to completeness
- perfect
- that which is perfect
4a) consummate human integrity and virtue
4b) of men
4b1) full grown, adult, of full age, mature
I believe that at some point in the future, Jesus will ask His “chosen” to leave everything behind and to follow Him.
Mar 10:29 And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's,
Mar 10:30 But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.
Mar 10:31 But many that are first shall be last; and the last first.
God’s “chosen” (His PERFECT/MATURE disciples) are those who have equipped themselves to serve their Father’s plan, and have stopped pursuing their own worldly plans and desires. I will write more about God’s “chosen” in my next article.
Heb 5:13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.
Heb 5:14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age (TELEIOS, PERFECT), even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
I suspect many people believe that I am just another in a long line of “false prophets” who have set dates for the return of Jesus, and like those previous date setters, I also will turn out to be wrong. I admit that I have set specific dates: September 23, 2029 for the rapture and June 7, 2030 for the Second Coming of Jesus and the beginning of His Millennial reign. If you are interested, you can read my FREE books “The Christian Exodus: Out of Babylon” and “Tribulation Timeline”.
https://www.free-ebooks.net/ebook/Christian-Exodus-Out-of-Babylon
https://www.free-ebooks.net/ebook/Tribulation-Timeline
However, I have never claimed to be a prophet, nor do I claim that I have any inside information that is not available to everybody else. I do claim to be a Christian, and I also claim that I am filled and baptized by the Holy Spirit. Therefore, I might have some “revelation” that is not available to some people. I also claim to have been studying the Bible for over forty years, which is probably more than most people. The key to deciphering the date of the Lord’s return is the Second Epistle of Saint Peter.
2Pe 3:8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that ONE day is with the Lord as a THOUSAND years, and a THOUSAND years as ONE day.
I first came across Archbishop James Ussher’s dating of the earth when I was a teenager.
Ussher's proposed date of 4004 BC differed little from other Biblically-based estimates, such as those of Jose ben Halafta (3761 BC), Bede (3952 BC), Ussher's near-contemporary Scaliger (3949 BC), Johannes Kepler (3992 BC) or Sir Isaac Newton (c. 4000 BC).[1][dubious – discuss] Ussher was influenced by the same account as the apocryphal Book of Jasher, dating the worldwide flood to 2349 BC and the birth of Terah in 2127 BC. The date of 4000 BC as the creation of Adam was at least partially influenced by the widely held belief that the Earth was approximately 5600 years old (2000 to Abraham, 2000 from Abraham to the birth of Christ, and 1600 years from Christ to Ussher), corresponding to the six days of Creation, on the grounds that "one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day" (2 Peter 3:8). This tradition was believed to indicate that Jesus would return in 2000 AD,[2][3] more than six thousand years after 4004 BC. Modern proponents of this interpretation hold that the creation date 4004 BC could be inaccurate.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ussher_chronology
Therefore, God created the earth OVER six-thousand (6000) years ago. Needless to say, I was very excited by the approach of the date 2000 AD. Also, needless to say, I believe the WHOLE Bible is the inspired Word of God! However, there was no great tribulation in the late 1990’s, and Jesus did not come back in 2000 AD when I was hoping He would. So was Archbishop Ussher wrong? Was Sir Isaac Newton wrong? Was I wrong??? I don’t think so. Then I came across an extra-Biblical text called the Epistle of Barnabas.
http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/text/barnabas-lightfoot.html
Barnabas 15:3
Of the Sabbath He speaketh in the beginning of the creation; And
God made the works of His hands in six days, and He ended on the
seventh day, and rested on it, and He hallowed it.
Barnabas 15:4
Give heed, children, what this meaneth; He ended in six days. He
meaneth this, that in six thousand years the Lord shall bring all
things to an end; for the day with Him signifyeth a thousand years;
and this He himself beareth me witness, saying; Behold, the day of
the Lord shall be as a thousand years. Therefore, children, in six
DAYS, that is in six thousand YEARS, everything shall come to an end.
Then I began to ponder…If everybody was not wrong about the six-thousand year time frame, then perhaps their starting date was wrong. What if God did not start His countdown at the beginning of creation, but He started His countdown at the FALL of Adam and Eve? It stands to reason that God allowed Adam and Eve some period of time in the Garden of Eden before He allowed Satan to tempt them into rebelling against Him by eating the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil! I believe that period of time was thirty (30) years, and that is why Jesus was crucified in 30 AD and not at the year zero (0), and that is also why I believe Jesus is coming back around 2030 AD.
*** I also must mention that according to my calculations, Jesus could come back in 2027 AD or 2033 AD. If you are wondering why, read my Book, “The Christian Exodus: Out of Babylon”. It will become clearer the closer we get to His arrival! Frankly, I believe we will see the true gospel message being restored and the working of the Holy Ghost with resurrection power will become more and more evident as the Lord’s Day approaches. I believe the arrival of the Lord on Mount Sinai was a “dress-rehearsal” for the Coming of the Lord before the start of His millennial reign.
Exo 19:16 And it came to pass on the THIRD DAY in the morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud; so that all the people that was in the camp trembled.
Exo 19:17 And Moses brought forth the people out of the camp to meet with God; and they stood at the nether part of the mount.
Exo 19:18 And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the LORD descended upon it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly.
Another “THIRD DAY” story that I had missed was the story of Joseph when he met the chief butler and the chief baker in prison.
Gen 40:20 And it came to pass the THIRD DAY, which was Pharaoh's birthday, that he made a feast unto all his servants: and he lifted up the head of the chief butler and of the chief baker among his servants.
Gen 40:21 And he restored the chief butler unto his butlership again; and he gave the cup into Pharaoh's hand:
Gen 40:22 But he hanged the chief baker: as Joseph had interpreted to them.
It was usually part of the job description of ancient butlers (cup bearers) to taste the King’s drinks, and part of the job description of ancient bakers was to taste the King’s food, prior to serving food and drink at the King’s table. I suspect poison was a favorite way of disposing of heads of state both then and now. Therefore, the chief butler and the chief baker were literally putting their lives on the line before every meal, and they were both probably held in very high esteem by Pharaoh. If Pharaoh fell ill after a meal, but both the butler and baker remained healthy, they both probably came under suspicion for poisoning Pharaoh. It appears from their dreams that the chief butler was innocent and the chief baker was guilty, but Pharaoh figured it out! When Jesus comes back, on the THIRD DAY, He will also judge His servants.
Mat 25:28 Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.
Mat 25:29 For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.
Mat 25:30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Now we come to the crux of the matter. Our salvation is important, but Jesus Christ has an important plan that is not accomplished…yet.
Luk 13:31 The same day there came certain of the Pharisees, saying unto him, Get thee out, and depart hence: for Herod will kill thee.
Luk 13:32 And he said unto them, Go ye, and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures to day and to morrow, and the THIRD day I shall be PERFECTED.
PERFECTED: G5048, teleioō, tel-i-o'-o
From G5046; to complete, that is, (literally) accomplish, or (figuratively) consummate (in character): - consecrate, finish, fulfil, (make) perfect.
Wasn’t Jesus already PERFECT? The Greek word “teleioo” (G5048) is directly related to the Greek word “teleios” (G5046), which means “finished” or “full grown”. I believe Jesus had something in mind far greater than just His own resurrection. His final goal is the PERFECTION of His Church.
Luk 8:14 And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to PERFECTION .
PERFECTION: G5052, telesphoreō, tel-es-for-eh'-o
From a compound of G5056 and G5342; to be a bearer to completion (maturity), that is, to ripen fruit (figuratively): - bring fruit to perfection.
Not only is the PERFECTION of the Church the final goal of Jesus Christ, it was also the Apostle Paul’s overriding goal and purpose.
2Co 13:9 For we are glad, when we are weak, and ye are strong: and this also we wish, even your PERFECTION.
Therefore, when the Lord made a promise to the Pharisees…He also made a promise to us. Most important of all, He made a promise to Himself. On the THIRD day, HE would be PERFECTED!
The Apostle Paul made it clear that the Church is the BODY OF CHRIST!
Col 1:24 Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, WHICH IS THE CHURCH.
No price is too dear to reach this ultimate goal. There was no price too dear for Jesus, there was no price too dear for the Apostles, and there is no price too dear for us!
Joh 2:18 Then answered the Jews and said unto him, What sign shewest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things?
Joh 2:19 Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in THREE days I will raise it up.
Joh 2:20 Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days?
Joh 2:21 But he spake of the temple of his BODY.
If we are hoping that the Church will be raptured before the great tribulation…WE ARE MISSING THE WHOLE POINT!
Mar 8:31 And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must SUFFER many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after THREE days rise again.
SUFFER: G3958 paschō pathō penthō, pas'-kho, path'-o, pen'-tho
Apparently a primary verb (the third form used only in certain tenses for it); to experience a sensation or impression (usually painful): - feel, passion, suffer, vex.
Before a child’s birth, there first comes SUFFERING.
Gal 4:19 My little children, of whom I TRAVAIL in birth again until Christ be formed in you,
TRAVAIL: G5605, ōdinō
Thayer Definition:
- to feel the pains of child birth, to travail
Php 1:29 For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to SUFFER for his sake;
1Pe 4:1 Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath SUFFERED in the flesh hath ceased from sin;
1Pe 4:2 That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.
The saints of God have been SUFFERING for almost two-thousand (2000) years. The Church of Jesus Christ has been in TRAVAIL for almost two-thousand (2000) years. The modern Church wants to escape SUFFERING, but there is no escape! The Church will TRAVAIL, and the Church will PREVAIL, because we are at the dawn of the THIRD DAY!
Joh 20:14 And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus.
Joh 20:15 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.
Joh 20:16 Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.
I try to imagine what Mary Magdalene felt that Sunday morning as she stood weeping for the missing body of her Lord. Suddenly, hope beyond hope, she recognizes that familiar voice speaking her name. She turns and sees Him, He who has power and authority over all things…even power and authority over sin and death. Can we begin to imagine…the thrill, the euphoria, the RUSH she must have felt at that moment? Now, we can only imagine, but on the THIRD day, we will experience what Mary Magdalene experienced that Sunday morning…and much, much more!
1Co 15:51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
1Co 15:52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
1Co 15:53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
1Co 15:54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
1Co 15:55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?