On The Third Day!

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.”

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(The Apostle Peter.)

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As you can see from the opening scripture, God does not recon time the way we do.  Peter wrote those words as he was inspired to do so to give us a glimpse from God’s perspective.

So many exciting things are in store for us on the Third Day.  As you know, Jesus rose from the dead “On the third day.” All these things we are going to talk about will relate to that one amazing event.

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Hidden Treasure.

God loves to hide things in His word.  He wants us to search them out and be blessed by what we find.  There lots of clues, nuggets of truth, and glimpses into what is in store for us “on the third day, i.e. “The end times.” They are hidden in types, shadows, and stories all throughout the Bible, as well as in the Hebrew language, the Hebrew letters, and even numbers.

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Proverbs 25:2 tell us, “It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, But the glory of kings is to search out a matter.”  How does this applies to us?

Jesus is our King and Great High Priest. He lives forever after the power of an endless life, according to  the order of Melchizedek.  As He is, so are we IN HIS WORLD.  That means as Christians, you and I are like Jesus as He is RIGHT NOW IN HEAVEN.  We are kings priests just like Him, also according to the order of Melchizedek.

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Kings Vs Prophets.

What is the function of a king?  Ancient Israel, you recall, began as a nation ruled only prophets.  These men (and one woman) spoke FOR God TO the people.  But Israel rebelled against her God and wanted to be like the surrounding nations. She wanted to have a king, too, so God allowed it.

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A king, unlike a prophet, spoke TO the people FOR God, exactly opposite of a priest’s role. You and I, Church, are both, like Jesus: Kings AND priests.  We speak both TO people FOR God and represent them TO God FOR their benefit.  This goes for both our dealings with brothers and sisters in Christ as well as with those outside of Christ.  We are His King/Priests in this world.

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The word of a king has power and weight as does the word of a priest.  We hold a position that carries great weight and responsibility which should not be taken lightly.  So, sons and daughters of the Most High, kings and priests, let’s go “Search out this matter” of the Third Day!

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Remember.

When the Holy Spirit makes a point of saying, “Do not forget this one thing,” we need to pay close attention.  I’m probably stating the obvious, but since He made a point of mentioning it, you can bet it’s pretty important.  If you care anything about understanding where we are on God’s “Kairos (prophetic)” timeline, this statement is CRITICAL.

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The “one thing” He wants us to remember is this:  The way we measure time, Jesus died, rose and went back the Father 2,000 years ago, right?  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 that when the 21st century dawned, to God it was the dawning of the THIRD DAY.  In fact, it is VERY EARLY in the morning of the third day. 

WE ARE THE THIRD-DAY GENERATION. 

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Notice Peter says, “AS” or “like” a thousand years. It doesn’t say God considers a day as “EXACTLY” a thousand years.  Know what that means, folks?  We are really, REALLY CLOSE to something!  

What’s In Store for us on the “Third Day?”  Let’s examine some key scriptures that give us those hints and clues and see what exciting things await us here in the 21st century!

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#1.  REVIVED.

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.”

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“After two days,” or 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. 

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Below are some other amazing things that will happen on the third day.

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(Abraham prepares to sacrifice Isaac.)

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#2. Provision. And Deliverance.

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.”

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The Law Of First Mention.

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.

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As Abraham was FULLY SUPPLIED on the third day, 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.

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(The great fish spews out Jonah.)

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#3. REPENTANCE  (Change of mind).

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 he didn’t want to go.  He HATED the Ninevites because they persecuted, tortured, and killed many Jewish people.  But God loved the people there.  He wanted to show them His Great mercy.

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You all know the story.  In the end, grudgingly, Jonah went to Nineveh, preached the gospel to them, they all repented in sackcloth and ashes.  Judgment was averted, much to Jonah’s chagrin.  He was NOT happy!  So what did he do?  Sat down outside the city walls and pouted. 

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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!

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Jonah’s story is also a typology of the resurrection.  Jesus Himself told the Jewish leaders that no sign would be given that wicked and perverse generation except “the sign of Jonah,” which was Jesus, Who died on the cross and rose again ON THE THIRD DAY. 

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So, the third day is a day of great DELIVERANCE and REPENTANCE–a change of mind–for all God’s people.

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True Repentance.

Church, “Repentance” has nothing whatever to do with the cleansing of your sins. You see, unsaved Jewish people are also called “God’s people.”  They need to repent–to change their minds–about Jesus, and be saved just as much as you and I.  In these last days, Jewish people are coming to know their Messiah in greater numbers than ever before in history! 

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#4.The Golden Sceptre.

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.

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 (Esther comes before the King.)

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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..”

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The throne room in this story is a depiction of 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!

That golden scepter is a picture of God’s power and divinity.  When we touch Jesus’ righteousness, His scepter, WE KNOW WE ARE ACCEPTED in the Beloved!

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Typologies.

The King in Esther’s story is a typology of Jesus.  Esther depicts the church in the last days after she has finally divested herself of her filthy rags–her self-righteousness.  She will touch His golden scepter, His righteousness, and be invited into the throne room.

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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! 

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The Law Cast Out.

The bondwoman, Hagar, a type of The Law (per Galatians 4), will FINALLY be cast out along with its accompanying culture of works righteousness.  The Church will finally come to into full maturity into the power of the true Gospel, ruling like the Queen she is, seated by His side.

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As Haman, a depiction 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. 

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  (Esther accuses the wicked Haman)

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Death Sentence.

The devil, of course, doesn’t want the Church to find her lost golden scepter.  IT IS A DEATH SENTENCE FOR HIM, just as surely as it was 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’ Name because of His righteousness.

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THE DEVIL IS TERRIFIED OF THIS DAY!

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Christians Against The Gospel?

Many sincere Christians today, however, are unwittingly coming against the real Gospel.  They believe it to be false because they have been taught a mixture of law and grace, the very thing the Apostle Paul came against so vehemently.  The entire book of Galatians is devoted to this topic.

This is instigated by satan, of course.  You see, he wants Christians focused on fighting amongst ourselves.  When we sit around pointing fingers at each other, we forsake our true mission.  He might as well just take a vacation because we’re inadvertently doing his work for him. 

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Ministry Of Reconciliation.

Remember the job that was entrusted to us?  TO RECONCILE…..not condemn…..THE WORLD TO JESUS.  It is most certainly NOT to fight with other believers.

As regarding other believers, it isn’t our job to point fingers of condemnation at them, but to “weep with those who weep, rejoice with those who rejoice.” Romans 12:15

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Test The Spirits, Not People.

Yes, we are to “Test the spirits,” but that doesn’t mean what most people think it does.  There are only two places in scripture where this phrase occurs.  In both places, it speaks of “Spiritual forces of wickedness in high places that exalt themselves against the knowledge of God.” IT DOES NOT SAY TO TEST PEOPLE.

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(For more on that topic, you may follow the link below:

https://emmausroadministries.international/2016/08/18/sheep-without-a-shepherd/)

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Our dear brothers and sisters in Christ who are angry and petulant have no doubt been hearing mixture, meaning law mixed with grace, preached for so long, they think it’s the real gospel. It is not:  IT IS A COUNTERFEIT; the same ugly, age-old, Galatian heresy of Paul’s day, which, as I said before, is alive and well…..for now.

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#5.  RAPTURE! 

This one is the most 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.” 

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Hallmark Of The End Times.

Scoffers seem to be everywhere these days, not only outside but, incredibly, INSIDE the church!   Some actually believe and teach that Jesus returned “secretly,” in spirit and that all prophecy was fulfilled as of 70AD.  (Scoffers).  This is known as “Preterism.”  

Contrary to what Preterists teach, ALL PROPHECY WAS NOT FULFILLED AS OF 70A.D.  How RIDICULOUS is that, not to mention, unscriptural!?  Those who believe such nonsense, sadly,  have been robbed of the greatest hope of all:  The harpadzó: The snatching away of the Church, better known a “The rapture.”

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Ok, class:  Who is it that ROBS, kills, and destroys?  Yep. The devil.  If he can keep believers down, divided, and discouraged, he can limit the spread of the Gospel. 

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The angels who were there when Jesus ascended to His Father, PHYSICALLY mind you, 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.”

“In like manner, ” means a literal, PHYSICAL Jesus will return.

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Heaven Is A Real Place.

Heaven is a REAL place, otherwise, where would the real live PHYSICAL body of our Lord Jesus go?  Remember, He is both FULLY GOD and FULLY HUMAN.  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.”

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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 up; and I promise:  Nobody will say “I told you so.”

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Church, 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?

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Without a doubt, THE GREATEST, MOST NOTABLE and unprecedented third-day event OF ALL TIME was 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.  It is an OVERPAYMENT! HALLELUJAH!

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The Door Will Close

Very soon however, door of salvation, which is currently wide open, will close.  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.

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Now You See Us; Now You Don’t!

The Rapture is a mystery that was exclusively revealed 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 does not depend on any particular event.  We will know the season but not the exact date.

When will all this come to pass?  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!  It is still VERY EARLY IN THE MORNING!  It could happen any time. 

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Can Believers Be Left Behind?

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.”

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No, silly!  Believers cannot be left behind.  See the phrase, “Alive and remain?”  Those are the only two qualifications.  It says nothing about being “rapture-ready, faithful, awake” or any such thing.  Those with the blood of Jesus on the doorposts of their hearts are all going up.

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.

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Two Separate Events.

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.  At Jesus’ second coming, every eye will see Him and every knee will bow.

You see?  These are two very different, very separate events.

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“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.

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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.

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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! 

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In the rapture, Jesus returns FOR His saints.  At the Second Coming, Jesus returns WITH His saints to rescue Israel from certain annihilation.

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The Right Season.

Many generations before us have speculated that the rapture could happen any time 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.

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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.

See scoffers?  There’s a prophecy that WASN’T fulfilled before 70A.D.

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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!

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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.

(For more on that topic, you may follow the link below:

https://emmausroadministries.international/2016/03/31/the-pool-of-bethesda/)

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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. 

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       (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.

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Delayed Return.

But the Lord’s coming seems to be delayed, though, doesn’t it?  Why?  He gives us a very touching reason for it:

“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!

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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?

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Very early in the morning on THE THIRD DAY!