The Third Day: A Nation for God's Plan

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The third "thousand year" day gives rise to a developement in God's progressing plan that demonstrates the power that will drive His design forward through human history. As the second millennial transends into the third three men will be the conduit through which the change is made. These are: Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

Abraham, a decendant of Shem (son of Noah) was a dweller in the land of present day Iraq when God called him to separate himself for the LORD's purpose. The requirement of God toward Abram (later Abraham) was to go to a land that would be shown to him. That land is the land on the eastern side of the Mediteranian Sea; the land of Israel.

God promised Abraham that he would make him a father of "many nations" , even his name meant "exalted father". Yet, Abraham had no children that would enable this promise to be fulfilled. Abraham and his wife became too old to bear children and found themselves with a promise that could not be kept without a miracle. The miracle was Isaac. A son born to parents who could not have children.

The scripture declares that there was a deadness to the bodies of Abraham and Sarah in that they could not reproduce children. Isaac, then, represents the resurrection of God's promise to Abraham in that now it is possible for him to become the father of many nations.

In returning to the millennial theme of these posts, Abraham was the last of the lineage given in the scripture to be born in the second "day". This makes Isaac the first to be born in the third millennial from Adam, making it the millennial started with a resurrected seed (Isaac). For indeed God told Abraham that "in thy seed shall all the earth be blessed", yet his seed had died within his body. God, however, moved with resurrection power and fulfilled a promise, started a nation and initiated the third millennial day with resurrection power.

The next post will deal more with this facinating time in God's plan and human history.

An Overview Of Kingdom Days

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Viewing each millennium from Adam's creation to the present with the progression of God's Kingdom in mind is vital for a biblical world view to be in place. It is with that thought in mind that this post will be dedicated to an overview of the Kingdom's progression as we leave, for this writing, the examination of specific thousand year periods. Next writing will be on the third millennial day as the examination of these periods continue.

The four millennium that the Old Testament fills pre-figure the entire installation of the kingdom on earth. This kingdom will become a reality near the beginning of the seventh thousand year day. This seventh millennium has, indeed, already begun!

Briefly, and as stated in earlier writings, the Gospel of Jesus Christ is illustrated by the first three "days". Day one is "death", day two is "burial", day three is "resurrection" (see I Corinthians 15: 1-4). It is interesting to note that the process of this gospel being carried out was also a three day period (i.e from the crucifixion to the resurrection). The fourth day, as will be shown in later posts, is the "kingdom day". The kings of Israel show up as the transition from millennium day three to millennium day four takes place. This fourth millennial day is representing the establishment of the final kingdom, the Kingdom of Christ. This is especially true as we see the reign of Solomon and the greatest glory of the the Old Testament which took place near the beginning of the last of the four old testament "days".

After the pre-figuring of the plan of God during the first four "days" is accomplished the second phase of the "kingdom operation" begins as Jesus Christ steps onto the scene of world history at the transition between day four and day five. Here it is seen that Christ fulfills what the Old Testament has been alluding to by dying, by being buried, and rising the third day. (It is important to add here that the pattern shown in the thousand year days as they relate to the death, burial and resurrection of Christ are only one of many such Old Testament fore-shadowings. Others include: 1)the crossing of the Red Sea 2) the flood of Noah's day 3) Jonah's whale experience 4) Elijah's victory at Mount Carmel 5)others.) The fulfilling of the gospel plan brought a reality to that which was only fore-shadowed by the previous four thousand years. The book of Galatians alludes to this in chapter 3 verse 24 as it tells us that the law was our schoolmaster to bring us to Christ.

With the gospel plan now implemented the purpose of the next two millennial days is to give opportunity for all who will to enter into the Kingdom of God by water and spirit (see John 3:5). This is the church age; a two day (thousand year) period given by God for the purpose of reaching a world with the power of the gospel that is now in full force. How important it is, even as the remaining days of this age quickly slip by, to understand the gospel and obey it through repentance (death), baptism (burial), and the infilling of the Holy Ghost (resurrection). The two thousand years of the church age is quickly coming to a close and with the close of the age will come a tremendous upheaval on the earth. It is the time for making the transition into the last of the seven thousand year days; it is the day of the LORD and the transition into it is the great tribulation. We must ready ourselves.

The most important preparation outside of obeying the gospel itself is to have the understanding of the coming "completed" Kingdom. The plan of God for us is all but finished...are you ready? Remember the prayer of the Lord, "...thy kingdom come..." Shouldn't we have an understanding of what that means?

I hope these posts will help you to comprehend the great day and opportunity in which we find ourselves living and not squander what has presented to us by God himself as a most glorious day to live. Remember the greatest people in the bible lived during the transition periods between millennium...we are part of that fortunate few!!

The Second Day: Noah's Day

The second thousand year "day" is called Noah's day. Noah was born just 56 years into the second millennium (beginning with Adam's creation) and lived six years into the third. The 950 years of Noah's life was spent almost entirely in this second day and spanned nearly all of it.


Each of the millennial days has a set purpose. The first three millennial days seem to foreshadow the three fold gospel of the New Testament: death, burial and resurrection. Scripture tells us that Adam was told he would die if he ate of the forbidden fruit (which he did) and that death would come the same day that he ate of it. We read that before the millennial day was complete Adam had died. The first day then was the day of death. This corresponds to the first element of the gospel: the death of Jesus.

The second element of the gospel is the burial of Christ. It is not difficult to see the correlation between burial and the flood of Noah's day. Indeed, the earth was buried by the flood! The scripture alludes to this allegory in First Peter 3:20 and 21. While the first millennium's purpose focused on the single man Adam - his creation, dominion, fall, and judgement, the second millennial deals with the world wide consequence of sin's entrance into the world.

Mankind as a whole had fallen into the ravaging clutch of sin's demands and death was reigning supreme over the human race. Evil thoughts were the norm of Noah's generation and God was grieved over the condition of the world's population, so much so, that He devised judgment against this wickedness. But "Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord".

To Noah was given the command to build a "salvation boat". This ark saved eight souls from the flood's judgemental waters allowing the continuation of man's existence on earth. However, the continued life afforded by the ark was granted only through a "baptismal judgement" of sin. That is to say that the rampant sin that had enveloped the world had to be judged, yet God gave a second chance for human existence by this plan of salvation for Noah's millennial day.



Throughout scripture the concept of burial is a strong theme. The most notable event of the second millennial day was the flood and the most notable person of the day was Noah. The second day then, more than anything else, is associated with the baptism (burial) of the entire earth; that is the flood. Of all the spiritual typology of this thousand year period perhaps the most striking is the sometimes little observed consequence of this particular judgement.



The result of this watery judgement was that every man mentioned from Adam through Noah (except for Noah, of course) died by the time of the flood. Even Methuselah, the oldest man who ever lived, died; and as if to emphasize the point, he died the same year that the flood came! However, just as significantly, after the flood not one person in the lineage from Noah to Abraham died during the remainder of this millennial day! This is truly the nature of God's judgement at work; "old things are past away behold all things become new". His judgements are not the work of an angry, out of control deity but of a righteous judge executing His divine justice and bringing to pass His divine plan. He is the God of second chances; the second millennial day is a wonderful illustration of that. He also has a second chance and divine plan for each of us! Make it your life's ambition to find those and you will not be disappointed.

The First Day: Adam's Day

To make the concept of the thousand year day clearer the next few blogs will concentrate on the happenings of each millennial day's transition. The first "thousand year" day is called Adam's day because the life of Adam fills all but the last seventy years of that millennium. Adam was created at the beginning of the "day" and lived 930 years until his death seventy years prior to the millennial change.
Millennial transitions begin to show development at upwards to one hundred years prior to the actual point of change from one thousand year period to the next and as the change of age draws closer the intensity of corresponding events becomes greater (Like labor in a pregnant woman). In as much as each millennial serves a particular purpose and is, toward its waning years, impregnated with the purpose of the next "day" signs of the coming millennium can be seen several decades before the millennial actually arrives. The purpose of the second millennium began to come into prominence at the death of Adam.
The Lord had told Adam that in the "day" that he ate of the forbidden fruit he would die. Nine hundred thirty years is considerably more than a day as we think of days but it does fall comfortably within the Lord's thousand year day. (It is interesting to note that in the listed generations from Adam in chapter five of Genesis the only man to die in the first millennial day was Adam himself. There is a very interesting reason for this that has to do with the very Gospel of Jesus Christ, for this first day is a day (thousand year) of death and indeed the beginning of the gospel is death-the death of the second Adam, i.e. Jesus.)
As Adam's "day" comes to a close at his passing we see an increase in spiritual activity. Not a lot of detail is given to us from the bible concerning this time period except in the way of the genealogies from Adam. However, looking at the lineage from Adam through the first one thousand years we find that as the age closes the most notable personalities since the beginning of the millennial show up. Of course, the death of Adam was a major event taking place as the end of this first "day" approaches but other events will also make this a very important few years as the first millennium becomes the second.
The last three persons born in this particular lineage before the millennial transition are: Enoch, Methuselah, and Lamech. These three will have prominent roles in the generations from Adam. Enoch would live 365 years and then be taken by God into heaven; the scripture says "and Enoch walked with God and he was not for God took him". This happened just 13 years prior to the change of the millennial. This typifies the choices we are given: We are all born into a "day of death" because of sin and we will either die like Adam or be taken like Enoch who "walked with God". Methuselah would live longer than any other human and indeed lived until the year of a terrible flood. Lamech would father a child; he would call his son Noah and with these happenings the stage is set for the second "day" of the Lord. It will be called "Noah's Day".

Millennial Transitions: Notible points in time

The discovery of the North American continent, the creation of Adam, the Birth of Christ, the call of Abraham, the death of Adam, the death of Noah, the birth of Noah, the birth of Peter, Paul, James and John, the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, the birth of the Church, the death of David, the reign of Solomon, the implementation of the modern scientific method, the beginning of modern optometry, and modern surgery, the first novel wrote, the first camera used, gunpowder invented, the translation of Enoch into heaven, the ascension of Jesus into heaven, the resurrection of Lazarus, the birth of Isaac all have one thing in common. They are events that take place at thousand year increments beginning with the creation of Adam.



Obviously, a list of events can be compiled for any period or periods of time, however, it is doubtful that the list would be as significant as the one just noted. This is especially true in regard to the spiritual events listed.



If one were to compile a list of "who's who" in the bible the above mentioned names would stand in prominence over other notables. An interesting scripture from the book of Galatians states, "but when the fullness of time was come, God sent forth his son..." This seems to be strongly indicating that the time of Jesus Christ's coming two thousand years ago was a fore-ordained point on God's time table of events. If the most prominent of biblical characters enters the world at a planned point in time then it would appear that at other specific points along the time line of God other notable persons would appear. The relatively brief periods of time marking the beginning and ending of thousand year periods seem to be the ordained time segments for exceptional personalities to arise and with them tremendous world changes. We are now in one of those world changing segments! The seventh millennial day from Adam has just begun and the purpose of this "day" has not yet been established but, it will be shortly.



This is the premise of the exploration of the "thousand year day" principle that will be explored in further blogs. Please, become a follower as this fascinating journey is continued.

Millenniel Transitions: Bringing purpose to the day

It seems to be a foregone conclusion that the days we are living in are very unique. Few people would argue that there is nothing special about what is happening in the world. Regardless of a person's political persuasion, religious belief, or social status there seems to be a unanimous agreement as to the fact that the era that we now find ourselves is approaching a climax of some sort.

Although there are many approaches used to explain this sense of imposing change whether it be the Mayan calendar, the prophecies of Nostradamus, or the Bible itself there seems to be an almost mutual consent that we are on the verge of "something". One seemingly overlooked approach is to look at the patterns that accompanied the greatest changes of history. Primarily the bible will be used to set the parameters of these great historical and biblical transitions. However, the pages of history will also, not only, substantiate what the bible reveals but in some cases be the sole testimony of the change.

The premise to be considered is an often quoted but seldom fully explored statement from the book of Second Peter stating that a day with the Lord is as thousand years and that a thousand years are but a day. As history and biblical chronology are consulted it is found that at the present time we are near the beginning of the seventh thousand year day since the creation of Adam. If the typology and the previously stated premise are to be consistent with what is now happening this seventh millennial should be the beginning days of what is sometimes called the "millennial kingdom" which corresponds to the seventh day of creation in Genesis chapter one. This day was a day of rest called the Sabbath. For some this thousand year period is the coming of the Kingdom of God that Jesus told his disciples to pray to come ("thy Kingdom come") but as this premise is considered it is to be found that the Kingdom of God has been in progression since the beginning in the Garden of Eden.

The progression of the Kingdom of God through the ages is not a gradual ever upward gentle climb but rather a progression marked by very abrupt upward thrusts happening at very regular intervals of one thousand years. Study of these "millennial transitions" is the purpose of this writing. Please join as a follower of this blog as this very fascinating and important pattern of change is explored.

True Sustainability

Sustainability


A lot is being said about sustainability these days. It is mostly in reference to the ability to replenish consumable resources without eventual depletion of those resources. We are being told that certain sources of energy are sustainable and others are unsustainable. That is some sources like wind and solar energy can be replenished and others like fossil fuels are not. While there is a tendency to see this subject discussed in terms of political opinion it also brings a very important theological consideration to the minds of those whose are inclined to think in a spiritual context.

What is true sustainability and in what form can it be found. The scientific community must search for this ultimate source in the natural world in as much as science is the study of things that are observable. The natural world then is that which can be observed with the five senses possessed by man and aids to those senses (microscopes, telescopes, radar, etc.)

The community of believers has a far greater arena of exploration than their strictly scientific counterparts. That is to say not only can the believer find truth in the things that are observed but also in the things that can be revealed. Science depends on that which is observed while faith invites revelation as well as observation as means of understanding.

True sustainability can only really be found in the realm of faith; science on its own is on a futile mission if a source of unlimited power is its quest. This source can never be found in nature. Even the tremendous energy produced by stars like our own sun is known to be limited; one day the fuel in these giant furnaces will be depleted and then what? Does life end? Is civilization doomed to a constant search for the next “inhabitable planet”. Even though the time spans suggested by the scientists are incredibly long the question still begs to be answered; is there a sustainable source of power in the observed universe? In as much as fuel sources are being depleted that answer is: No. The natural order of the universe is on a collision course with a cold dark future that can support no life.

It is not surprising that God would address this particular question early in the revealed truth of His Word. In Exodus the third chapter verse fourteen God tells Moses that he should tell the people of Israel that I Am that I Am hath sent him (Moses). Moses was asking God for an authoritive name to go to the people with. Later God would tell Moses that His name is Jehovah. Both “I Am that I Am” and “Jehovah” are to be literally translated as “I exist be cause I exist” or “the self existent one”. God is answering our question!

It would be proper after contemplation of these names to say that God sustains himself! He is self-existing therefore self-sustaining and furthermore the only true power or true sustainability is God. If it is sustainability that we search for let us look no further than the revealed God of the bible. And if it is a truly sustainable life that we search for let us look no further than the authoritive name that declares: the self existent one has become your salvation (sustainability). That name my friend is Jesus. Perhaps a loose but accurate translation of the Name Jesus is “I exist because I exist has become your sustainable life”. True sustainability comes from Jesus.

Preponderance of Evidence

“Conviction” is the conclusion obtained by examination of evidences given on a particular matter. The life of the child of God must be lived with convictions in place. These cannot be part of the mind set of the Christian without a careful examination of evidence.
The evidence that we are most concerned with is the scripture itself. Jesus said to “search the scriptures for in them ye think ye have eternal life”. Examine the word of God. A casual reading of the word of God will not produce many (if any) convictions, for God does not lay out formula based doctrines; that is to say seldom does a conviction come because of a single scriptural text. Most core beliefs come because of numerous statements of the word of God.
While many may quote a single verse as “proof” of a particular belief (such as the Morman doctrine of baptism for the dead) the more correct way of coming to a scriptural conviction is to examine all the scriptures concerning a particular matter. It may be that a conclusion cannot be derived from any single verse alone but if all verses are considered the conviction becomes very apparent. Thus the multitude of evidences erase all doubt as to the truth of a given matter, this is what in judicial concerns is called the preponderance of evidence. The overwhelming evidence of all the facts (scriptures) produce a conclusion that is without doubt. This is the case as one considers the doctrine of Jesus name baptism.

Why Waterspout?

The scripture tell us that “deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspout”. We have chosen the waterspout to be part of Link’s Logo because it represents what we are … a connection (Link). The water spout connects the deep (water) that is above with the deep that is below. God separated the waters on the second day of creation by placing a firmament between the clouds and the sea. The waterspout transcends that gap with noisy power. There is a separation between God and man but God has made a way to transcend that separation. Jesus is the mediator between God and man in that He, being God, became man and connected the separated. He is our waterspout and we are His waterspouts by continuing the work of making connections for the Kingdom of God. Make a joyful noise!