lI Peter 3:8-9 NKJV
"But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is AS a thousand years, and a thousand years AS one day. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance."
(The Apostle Peter.)
God loves us so much! He takes great delight in hiding things for us to find in His word, kinda like a treasure hunt. There are clues, nuggets of truth and glimpses into what is in store for us "on the third day," (the 21st century), pretty much everywhere you look.
It says in Proverbs that “It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, But the glory of kings is to search out a matter.” Proverbs 25:2. How does that apply to us?
Jesus is our King and Great High Priest after the order of Melchizedek. As Christians, we are kings priests like our Jesus according to the order of Melchizedek.
What is the function of a king? Ancient Israel, you recall, began as a nation with prophets who spoke FOR God TO the people. But Israel wanted to be like the nations around them. They wanted a king. So, God allowed them to have kings. The king now spoke TO the people FOR God.
What is the function of a king? Ancient Israel, you recall, began as a nation with prophets who spoke FOR God TO the people. But Israel wanted to be like the nations around them. They wanted a king. So, God allowed them to have kings. The king now spoke TO the people FOR God.
Priests on the other hand, spoke FOR the people TO God as their intermediary. You and I, Church, as king priests, speak to people FOR God and represent them TO God in our dealings with each other and with those outside of Christ. We are His King/Priests in this world. The word of a king has power and weight; the word of a priest has power and weight. We hold a position that carries great weight and responsibility that should not be taken lightly.
So, sons and daughters, kings and priests, let's go "search out this matter" of the Third Day.
What is this "one thing" He wants us to remember? Simply this: The way we measure time, Jesus died, rose and went back the Father 2,000 years ago. But, according to the above verse, as far as God is concerned, Jesus has only been gone only TWO DAYS. So, by God's reckoning, His "Kairós" timetable, it means when the 21st century dawned, to God it was the dawn of the THIRD DAY. In fact, it is VERY EARLY in the morning of the third day.
We are the Third-Day Generation.
(Notice it says, "AS" or like a thousand years. It doesn't say God considers a day as "EXACTLY" a thousand years.)
Let's examine some key scriptures that give us those hints and clues about the 21st century: The third day.
In Hosea 6: 1-2 it says, "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."
After "two days" (2,000 years) He will REVIVE US and will raise us up ON THE THIRD DAY that we may LIVE IN HIS SIGHT. Well, it is AFTER two days--after two thousand years as God counts time. That means the Church at large will experience renewed life and vitality. It is already beginng to happen.
Another third-day incident involves Jonah. He was a prophet of God who was supposed to go to Nineveh to preach repentance to the people there. But didn't want to. He HATED the Ninevites because they hated, tortured and killed the Jewish people. But God loved the people there and wanted to show them His Great mercy.
You all know the story. In the end, grudgingly, Jonah went, preached the gospel to them and they all repented and judgment was averted, much to Jonah's chagrin. What did he do? Sat down outside the city walls and pouted.
Jonah's story is also a typology of Jesus' resurrection. He Himself told the Jewish leaders that no sign would be given that wicked and perverse generation except "the sign of Jonah."
The King is a picture of Jesus. Esther depicts the church in these last days after she has finally divested herself of her filthy rags--her self-righteousness. She touches His golden scepter, His righteousness, and is invited into the throne room.
As Haman, a typology of the devil, was TERRIFIED of the King in this story, on the Third Day, HE WILL ALSO BE DEATHLY AFRAID OF THE QUEEN.....the Church!
These dear brothers in Christ who are angry and feisty have no doubt heard mixture--the devil's evil invention.....WHICH IS NOT THE GOSPEL.....preached for so long, they think it's the real one. It's a COUNTERFEIT. It is the same ugly, age-old, Galatian heresy of Paul's day alive and well.....for now.
The angels who witnessed Jesus' PHYSICAL return to heaven said to the people gathered, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come IN LIKE MANNER (bodily) as you saw Him go into heaven.”
Heaven is a REAL place, otherwise, to where would the real live PHYSICAL body of our Lord Jesus ascend? Remember, He is fully God but also FULLY MAN. That has never changed. He will return "IN LIKE MANNER AS YOU SAW HIM GO." That means He will be returning PHYSICALLY, not secretly or "in spirit."
Without a doubt, THE MOST NOTABLE and unprecedented third-day event OF ALL TIME is the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ! Without His sacrifice, His death on the cross AND His resurrection, EVERYTHING ELSE IS MEANINGLESS. He is our paid-in-full receipt of a debt that is FAR MORE than satisfied. An OVERPAYMENT! HALLELUJAH!
Very soon however, door of salvation which, is currently wide open, will be closed shut. At that time, Jesus will most reluctantly withdraw His nail-pierced hand so freely offered to everyone. Acceptance of His matchless gift that redeems everyone who accepts it will no longer be possible. It is still being offered without prejudice and saves unconditionally from a fate I would not wish on my worst enemy.
1 Thessalonians 4:15-17
15 For this we say to you by the WORD OF THE LORD, that we who are ALIVE AND REMAIN until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven WITH A SHOUT, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead IN CHRIST will rise first. 17 Then WE WHO ARE ALIVE AND REMAIN WILL BE CAUGHT UP TOGETHER WITH THEM (the resurrected dead in Christ) in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord."
One day all of us who know Jesus will be here one instant, gone the next. Our bodies will be changed into our never-to-be-sick, never-to-be-depressed, never-to-be-bored eternal bodies in the blink of an eye! We will not be here when the worst of times hits planet earth.
This event is not the same as second coming. It says we will meet The Lord "in the air." NO one will see us go. We'll simply disappear.
Many generations before us have speculated that the rapture could happen any time now but it was never the right season.....until now. How can we know that here and now IS "the right season?" Because another event of EPIC BIBLICAL KAIRÓS (PROPHETIC) PROPORTIONS has occurred.
In 1967, after the 6-day war, Jerusalem, FOR THE FIRST TIME since long before Jesus walked this earth, was no longer under the control of Gentiles--->non-Jews. Even back when Jesus was here Jerusalem was under the feet of Gentiles-->Romans.
There is a correlation between the silence here and the half an hour of silence in heaven after the opening of the seventh seal in Revelation 8. Just as judgment fell on Jericho, so the opening of the seventh seal precedes the sounding of the seven trumpets. The most terrible judgments of all time will be unleashed upon planet earth at that time.
You caught the triple 6's reference no doubt? There's a whole string of events in our day with triple sixes showing us we are, most assuredly, in the days of anti-christ. There is NO DOUBT in my mind that the rider on the white horse has been running amok. He's been VERY busy! A description of him, NO COINCIDENCE, "happens" to appear in Revelation chapter 6! Just look at our so-called world "leaders."
The Lord's coming seems to be delayed, though, doesn't it? Well, He has a very touching reason for that: "The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, NOT WILLING THAT ANY SHOULD PERISH but that all should come to repentance." He is giving people more time to repent because He LOVES sinful man! HALLELUJAH!
One day soon we will hear our Savior's voice shout to us, "COME UP HERE!" and we will forever be in our new, incorruptible bodies; forever young, forever happy, forever healthy, FOREVER WITH OUR PRECIOUS JESUS!
When will all this happen? Very early in the morning on THE THIRD DAY.
Let's examine some key scriptures that give us those hints and clues about the 21st century: The third day.
In Hosea 6: 1-2 it says, "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."
After "two days" (2,000 years) He will REVIVE US and will raise us up ON THE THIRD DAY that we may LIVE IN HIS SIGHT. Well, it is AFTER two days--after two thousand years as God counts time. That means the Church at large will experience renewed life and vitality. It is already beginng to happen.
Here are some other amazing things that will happen on the third day.
(Abraham prepares to sacrifice Isaac.)
It was on the third day that Abraham prepared to sacrifice Isaac. (See Genesis 22:3-5) Isaac's DELIVERANCE came on the third day. In this story is the first mention of the Name of God, YAHWEH YIREH: the God Who PROVIDES."
If you are not familiar with the "Law of first mention" in Bible interpretation, it is "the principle in Bible study which states that the first mention or occurrence of any subject in Scripture establishes an unchangeable pattern, with that subject remaining unchanged in the mind of God throughout Scripture.
As Abraham was PROVIDED FOR, the third day generation will experience every kind of PROVISION as well as DELIVERANCE from all the things mentioned in scripture, particularly in Psalm 91. I highly recommend committing that Psalm to memory. Recite it daily; hourly if necessary.
(The great fish spews out Jonah.)
Another third-day incident involves Jonah. He was a prophet of God who was supposed to go to Nineveh to preach repentance to the people there. But didn't want to. He HATED the Ninevites because they hated, tortured and killed the Jewish people. But God loved the people there and wanted to show them His Great mercy.
You all know the story. In the end, grudgingly, Jonah went, preached the gospel to them and they all repented and judgment was averted, much to Jonah's chagrin. What did he do? Sat down outside the city walls and pouted.
Jonah had come to Nineveh on the third day after being swallowed by a great fish. It literally vomited him up onto dry land. (Ewww!) Probably looked SO AWFUL that when he told them to repent or be destroyed by God they were terrified! THEY BELIEVED HIM (who wouldn't?) and repented.....as fast as they could!
Jonah's story is also a typology of Jesus' resurrection. He Himself told the Jewish leaders that no sign would be given that wicked and perverse generation except "the sign of Jonah."
So, the third day is a day of great DELIVERANCE and REPENTANCE--a change of mind--for all God's people. For believers that has nothing to do with cleansing of sins. You see, unsaved Jewish people are also called "God's people." They need to repent--change their minds--about Jesus and be saved just as much as you and I. Jewish people are coming to know their Messiah in greater numbers than ever before in history!
Another famous third-day event is found in the beautiful story of Esther. This godly woman, in an act of great faith and courage, put on HER ROYAL ROBES AND ENTERED INTO THE KING'S THRONE ROOM.
Another famous third-day event is found in the beautiful story of Esther. This godly woman, in an act of great faith and courage, put on HER ROYAL ROBES AND ENTERED INTO THE KING'S THRONE ROOM.
(Esther comes before the King.)
Esther 5:1-2
1"Now it came to pass ON THE THIRD DAY, that Esther put on her royal apparel, and stood in the inner court of the king's house, over against the king's house: and the king sat upon his royal throne in the royal house, over against the gate of the house.
2 And it was so, when the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, that SHE OBTAINED FAVOR in his sight.."
1"Now it came to pass ON THE THIRD DAY, that Esther put on her royal apparel, and stood in the inner court of the king's house, over against the king's house: and the king sat upon his royal throne in the royal house, over against the gate of the house.
2 And it was so, when the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, that SHE OBTAINED FAVOR in his sight.."
The throne room in this story depicts the Holy of Holies--God's throne--which she entered ON THE THIRD DAY!!! The King showed his acceptance of her by extending to her his GOLDEN SCEPTER. By touching the tip of it, she was accepted!
When we touch Jesus' righteousness, WE ARE ACCEPTED in the Beloved!
Gold typifies divine righteousness in the Bible. Kings--and Queens (The Church)--use their scepters to rule. In other words, the Church will finally understand that she is not going to be complete, fully righteous in God's sight; SHE ALREADY IS COMPLETE AND FULLY RIGHTEOUS IN GOD'S SIGHT!
The bondwoman, Hagar, a type of The Law per Galatians 4, will FINALLY be cast out and the culture of righteousness by works will be abandoned. The Church AT LAST will come to into full maturity and into the power of the true Gospel ruling as the Queen she is, seated by His side.
(Esther accuses the wicked Haman)
The devil, of course, doesn't want the Church to find her lost golden scepter. IT IS A DEATH SENTENCE FOR HIM, just as for the evil Haman, a type of satan, in this story.
To find her "golden scepter" is to find out that she has power in Jesus' righteousness.
THE DEVIL IS TERRIFIED OF THIS DAY!
Many sincere Christians today are coming against the real Gospel. This is instigated by satan. You see, he wants us focused on fighting amongst ourselves. When we sit around pointing fingers at each other, we forsake our true mission. He might as well take a vacation because we're doing his work for him.
Remember what job was given to us? TO RECONCILE.....not condemn.....THE WORLD TO JESUS. It is most certainly NOT to fight with other believers.
Now this next one is exciting! One of the surest signs of the third day showing us that Jesus' coming is near, even at the door, is found in 2 Peter 3:1-5:
1 "Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle (in both of which I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder), 2 that you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior,
3 knowing this first: that SCOFFERS WILL COME IN THE LAST DAYS, walking according to their own lusts, 4 and saying, “WHERE IS THE PROMISE OF HIS COMING? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.”
Scoffers seem to be everywhere these days, not so much outside but, incredibly, INSIDE the church! Many believe and teach that Jesus returned "secretly," in spirit and that all prophecy was fulfilled as of 70AD. (Scoffers). They believe in the Preterist "doctrine." Contrary to what preterism teaches, all prophecy was not fulfilled as of 70A.D. How
RIDICULOUS is that, not to mention, unscriptural!
RIDICULOUS is that, not to mention, unscriptural!
Those who believe such (erroneous) teachings have been robbed of the greatest hope of all: The harpadzó.
Ok, class: Who is it that ROBS, kills and destroys? Yep. The devil.
Ok, class: Who is it that ROBS, kills and destroys? Yep. The devil.
The angels who witnessed Jesus' PHYSICAL return to heaven said to the people gathered, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come IN LIKE MANNER (bodily) as you saw Him go into heaven.”
The passage in Hosea is one of the many references to the "harpazó, " or the "seizing away," more commonly called the rapture. Those who subscribe to the preterist view don't believe in the rapture. Well, whether you believe in it or not, when Jesus comes mid-sky and calls for us, you'll be going up too. As long as you have Jesus' blood on the doorposts of your heart, are ALIVE AND REMAIN, you're going; and I promise: Nobody will say "I told you so."
This is the GREAT HOPE of which Paul does not want us to be ignorant. The devil wants to rob you of this hope. Why else would he invent preterism?
Very soon however, door of salvation which, is currently wide open, will be closed shut. At that time, Jesus will most reluctantly withdraw His nail-pierced hand so freely offered to everyone. Acceptance of His matchless gift that redeems everyone who accepts it will no longer be possible. It is still being offered without prejudice and saves unconditionally from a fate I would not wish on my worst enemy.
The Rapture is a mystery revealed only to the Apostle Paul. He tells us that at the appointed time, Jesus will shout for us and we will go up. The timing of this event does not depend on any particular event. It says that we will know the season but not the exact date.
When will all this happen? Just as Jesus was raised VERY EARLY in the morning ON THE THIRD DAY, so shall we also be raised, VERY EARLY in the morning ON THE THIRD DAY! 2016 is still VERY EARLY IN THE MORNING!
1 Thessalonians 4:15-17
15 For this we say to you by the WORD OF THE LORD, that we who are ALIVE AND REMAIN until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven WITH A SHOUT, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead IN CHRIST will rise first. 17 Then WE WHO ARE ALIVE AND REMAIN WILL BE CAUGHT UP TOGETHER WITH THEM (the resurrected dead in Christ) in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord."
One day all of us who know Jesus will be here one instant, gone the next. Our bodies will be changed into our never-to-be-sick, never-to-be-depressed, never-to-be-bored eternal bodies in the blink of an eye! We will not be here when the worst of times hits planet earth.
At Jesus' second coming, every eye will see Him and every knee will bow. You see? These are two very different, very separate events.
"How can we be sure the worst won't hit the earth until after we are gone?" you ask? Because the anti-Christ won't risk manifesting himself until after we are out of the picture, for one thing. He knows we would pray against him and he's much too cunning for that. Secondly, the tribulation is judgment on the earth. Our sins are already ALL JUDGED AT THE CROSS. We will never be subject to God's judgment of any kind ever again. Jesus paid for our complete redemption.
The second coming, on the other hand, will most definitely be witnessed by everyone in the entire world, thanks to the invention of television and the internet. It clearly says "EVERY EYE (physical, not spiritual) WILL SEE HIM" for He will descend from heaven with a shout, with the sound of the trumpet.....
.....and we'll be right there with Him, Church! In the rapture, Jesus returns FOR His saints.
.....and we'll be right there with Him, Church! In the rapture, Jesus returns FOR His saints.
At the Second Coming, Jesus returns WITH His saints to rescue Israel from certain annihilation.
Many generations before us have speculated that the rapture could happen any time now but it was never the right season.....until now. How can we know that here and now IS "the right season?" Because another event of EPIC BIBLICAL KAIRÓS (PROPHETIC) PROPORTIONS has occurred.
In 1967, after the 6-day war, Jerusalem, FOR THE FIRST TIME since long before Jesus walked this earth, was no longer under the control of Gentiles--->non-Jews. Even back when Jesus was here Jerusalem was under the feet of Gentiles-->Romans.
Though not fully back in their hands, when they came back as a nation in 1948, the "fig tree," typifying Israel, put forth it's leaves. Prophecy was fulfilled.
Luke 21:24b says, "Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled."
After the 6th day.......in the 6th month.......of the 6th decade, Jerusalem was once again in Jewish hands! The last time they conquered a city in six days was when Jericho fell! You remember they marched around Jericho for 6 DAYS in total silence. The inhabitants of Jericho were already in abject fear of the Israelites. This must have terrified them even more.
Luke 21:24b says, "Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled."
After the 6th day.......in the 6th month.......of the 6th decade, Jerusalem was once again in Jewish hands! The last time they conquered a city in six days was when Jericho fell! You remember they marched around Jericho for 6 DAYS in total silence. The inhabitants of Jericho were already in abject fear of the Israelites. This must have terrified them even more.
Joshua had commanded the people to keep silent because the last time they were set to enter the Promised Land, their big mouths....their murmuring.....cost them 40 years of wandering in the desert. During that time, everyone older than 20 years of age died.
Technically they only wandered for 38 years. During the first two years they were not under any judgment.
There is a correlation between the silence here and the half an hour of silence in heaven after the opening of the seventh seal in Revelation 8. Just as judgment fell on Jericho, so the opening of the seventh seal precedes the sounding of the seven trumpets. The most terrible judgments of all time will be unleashed upon planet earth at that time.
(Israelites march around Jericho.)
You caught the triple 6's reference no doubt? There's a whole string of events in our day with triple sixes showing us we are, most assuredly, in the days of anti-christ. There is NO DOUBT in my mind that the rider on the white horse has been running amok. He's been VERY busy! A description of him, NO COINCIDENCE, "happens" to appear in Revelation chapter 6! Just look at our so-called world "leaders."
The Lord's coming seems to be delayed, though, doesn't it? Well, He has a very touching reason for that: "The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, NOT WILLING THAT ANY SHOULD PERISH but that all should come to repentance." He is giving people more time to repent because He LOVES sinful man! HALLELUJAH!
One day soon we will hear our Savior's voice shout to us, "COME UP HERE!" and we will forever be in our new, incorruptible bodies; forever young, forever happy, forever healthy, FOREVER WITH OUR PRECIOUS JESUS!
When will all this happen? Very early in the morning on THE THIRD DAY.
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