Written mainly on Sunday morning at 3 AM when I woke with the ideas. 12 June 2022

What will be the first realization in heaven when we transit from this earth? One precious verse says (2Corinthians 5:8), “We are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord.” I see there, no time gap, no waiting period in some sort of limbo; no vacant state between death and heaven’s glory. There are some Christians who think death means a waiting time until the Lord appears to judge the living and the dead. That is not correct and is somewhat depressing. I ask again, what will be the first realization when we depart this world?

Sadly, this ignorance of uncertainty comes from the mixture of Catholicism and the ignorance of pastors and teachers present in churches who have not bothered to examine the scriptures carefully. There is no waiting time; the change is instant. I am sure the Lord would have it no other way.

Remember Stephen here, when facing an imminent death, and he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened up and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God” (Acts 7:56). This is a most interesting expression because another verse clearly says, “He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high” (Hebrews 1:3). After obtaining our salvation, Jesus sat down, an act indicating His work for salvation was complete.

Elsewhere in Hebrews, the same thought is expressed: “But He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time onward until His enemies be made a footstool for His feet” (Hebrews 10:12-13). And again: “fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2). Mark puts the fact most clearly: “So then, when the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God” (Mark 16:19).

However, Stephen saw Him standing. Why is that? Jesus was standing to receive His faithful saint when the stoning did its sinister work. Standing to greet Him. I don’t think this was an exception; I think it will be normal.

Jesus is ready to greet each saint individually, to welcome each one home. In the parable of the prodigal son, when he was coming home, the father saw him a great way off and went to greet him. I think that greeting will be the most blessed that will ever happen for each one of us.

The Lord is waiting for me. He stands to greet me. He welcomes me to His home. Talking about home… We all use the expression, “We are going home one day,” meaning we will be going to heaven. Heaven is our home, but in one sense, it is not OUR home. It is the Lord’s home, and He is the glorious One who will welcome us to His home. I remember a song we used to sing so many years ago when I was a youth:

“This World Is Not My Home” by Jim Reeves

1. This world is not my home; I’m just passing through.
   My treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue.
   The angels beckon me from Heaven’s open door,
   And I can’t feel at home in this world anymore.

CHORUS/REFRAIN

O Lord, you know I have no friend like you.
If Heaven’s not my home, then Lord, what will I do?
The angels beckon me from Heaven’s open door,
And I can’t feel at home in this world anymore

2. They’re all expecting me, and that’s one thing I know.
   My Saviour pardoned me, and now I onward go.
   I know He’ll take me through, though I am weak and poor,
   And I can’t feel at home in this world anymore.

CHORUS/REFRAIN

3. Just up in Glory Land, we’ll live eternally.
   The Saints on every hand are shouting victory.
   Their song of sweetest praise drifts back from Heaven’s shore,
   And I can’t feel at home in this world anymore.

CHORUS/REFRAIN

Yes, the Lord Jesus Christ will welcome us to His home the instant we depart this world. In the Old Testament, we learn of the importance of hospitality and the greeting of strangers and relations to a home. It meant care and fellowship and welcome and greeting and trust. All of those things the Lord will demonstrate to us when we suddenly appear in His presence. It is beyond our reasonable expectation to speculate into it all. I know my Lord will be there.

I think sometimes there is too much emphasis on the material when people write about heaven as if heaven is some sort of materialistic splurge.

I absolutely love the old Gospel quartet singing, such as The Cathedrals, a genre that is losing favor these days. I love the songs, but one of them I find a little off in emphasis. For me, that song is translating the earth’s behavior into heaven. That song is called “Moving up to Gloryland,” though it has a most fantastic tune and rendition. The emphasis of heaven is the Lord Jesus, not what we are getting, or riches or any personal gain.

What do you want to go to heaven for? Is it to see the splendor of the place, and the millions of angels, and gold, and the relatives of yours that have passed on before, and your spouse you lost some time back? Do you want to find your room that has been prepared through the cross (John 14:1)?

Are you thinking here and now in a materialistic frame of mind? Think for a moment when the Apostles Peter and John took their last breath on earth.

What was the ONLY thought in their minds as they were departing? Surely, they had only one – it was going to be with Jesus, their blessed Lord they knew through the earthly days here. There was no other thought.

“Lord Jesus, receive my spirit” (Acts 7:59). Stephen knew the secret. The whole key, and uniquely so, is going to meet the Lord, our Saviour, Redeemer and Friend. Jesus is waiting to meet you, dear Christian, and you should be waiting to meet Him too.

I know for those who are working and raising families that they/we have split devotion. In all our earthly busyness, the Lord gets a place along with so many other things. In the luxury of retirement, we have a lot more time to contemplate the Lord and fix our attention on Him. I suppose, in a way, we could say we are preparing ourselves.

So do you want to go home or to remain here with friends, family and pursuits? That is not as simple as it seems. I want to do both. Paul struggled with that when he said, “I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better, yet to remain on in the flesh is more necessary for your sake” (Philippians 1:23-24). How many of us have those thoughts at times?

There is a most interesting verse in Revelation, one of the nicest revelations in the whole Bible. Let us look at that.

Revelation 1:18, “…and the living One, and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades.” The Lord declares He has the keys of death and hell (death and Hades). This statement of the Lord who holds the keys follows right on from the great victorious fact that He is alive evermore, so He then has the authority over death. Death is conquered. O, death, where is your sting? There is none! The picture in verse 18 is that of the old gatekeeper who had the keys of entry and closure hanging at his side on a great ring and sometimes a chain. When one wanted the city gates open or even the rooms within a castle opened or closed, the gatekeeper or doorkeeper would do that.

That person had great power because he could refuse entry.

Again, by having the keys, he keeps the door and lets in and shuts out. In fact, Jesus is the Door, as we read in John 10:9: “I am the door. If anyone enters through Me, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out and find pasture.”

The Lord Jesus Christ is the Door to my salvation and the Door to my departure. He is the Door to my fellowship, and He is the Door to my feeding.

The blessed Lord is My Doorkeeper, The Keeper of my Life, and He is the Door of Entry and Exit. He has the keys of death and hades. What can we take heart in from all this? Well, the great news is that Jesus has your key and my key hanging at His side, and until He fits your key and my key into the lock and opens the door of departure, we are meant to be on this earth. But the moment He turns the key, He then calls us to His very presence. Death is never an accident for a Christian, and this next verse just confirms that truth. “My times are in Your hand. Deliver me from the hand of my enemies, and from those who persecute me” (Psalm 31:15).

There are many paths that lead to death’s door, and I don’t need to spell them out; we are well acquainted with them. However, no matter how close you might be to that door, be absolutely assured that you will not enter in until the Doorkeeper takes your key hanging by His side and turns your key in the lock. Then he escorts you into His presence. For a Christian, death is no accident; it is known to and permitted by the Lord. Our times are in His hands.

Yes, I am going home someday, and for some of us, that may be quite close. If the Lord tarries, how many years might He give us? So many of us think the Rapture is close, but if it is a little way off, then some of us will pass through the door He will open, and we will be with Him in His personal presence.

REFLECTIONS IN OLDER LIFE

Whatever you’ve allotted me in days or months or years;
Whatever life will weigh for me through many joys and fears,
I know my Lord has planned my way and through the darkness steers.
In God’s good time, He’ll sit me where there are no bitter tears.

The Lord is my Provider here, each step along the way.
He’ll walk with me and be my Guide through darkest night and day.
What then can man do unto me for I am in His hands;
My Saviour as my Great High Priest beside me always stands.

Lord Jesus Christ, we worship You; You are the mighty King.
At Calvary You bought for me the victory I sing.
Now in the time apportioned still, I walk the pilgrim road,
Until that day I shout Your praise in gloryland’s abode.

(Ron Ferguson August 2020) Metre – 14 throughout.

ronaldf@aapt.net.au

 

THE DESCENDANTS OF ABRAHAM

The next 13 descendants from Abram’s son Isaac to David are listed in 1 Chronicles 1 and 2: 1) Isaac, 2) Jacob, 3) Judah, 4) Perez, 5) Hezron, 6) Ram, 7) Amminadab, 8) Nashon, 9) Salma (Salmon), 10) Boaz, 11) Obed, 12) Jesse, 13) David – Note: As I stated above, I think this genealogy is telescoped, and there are approximately 7 generations omitted, between Salmon and Boaz. See below.

21) Birth of Isaac – Year 2109 from creation – 1851 BC – Genesis 21:5. Isaac is the son of promise (Jesus is the Son of Promise). Notice Isaac is the 21st (3 x 7) from Adam. Note: Abraham is 100 years old at this time.

Death of Salah (433 years old) – Year 2127 from creation – 1833 BC – Genesis 11:15

Death of Sarah (127 years old) – Year 2146 from creation – 1814 BC – Genesis 25:26

Death of Shem (600 years old) – Year 2159 from creation – 1801 BC – Genesis 11:11. Note: Abraham was 150 years old when Shem died, and Isaac was 50 years old.

22) Birth of Jacob and Esau – Year 2169 from creation – 1791 BC – Genesis 25:26

Death of Abraham (175 years old) – Year 2184 from creation – 1776 BC – Genesis 25:7

Death of Eber (464 years old)– Year 2188 from creation – 1772 BC – Genesis 11:17 – Note: Eber died 4 years after the death of Abraham at the age of 464 years. In other words, Abraham’s great, great, great, great grandfather lived longer than he did (and Abraham lived a long time).

Jacob relocates to Haran in 1715 BC, marries Leah and Rachel in 1708 BC, and returns to Canaan in 1695 BC.

23) Birth of Judah – Year 2256 from creation – 1704 BC – Note: The year for the births and deaths of the ten older sons of Jacob/Israel (and his youngest son, Benjamin) are not mentioned in the Bible, but one of them, Judah, was an ancestor of Jesus and he was born between 1708 BC and 1700 BC. He was the fourth son of Jacob and Leah (Jacob’s first wife), so we will assume he was born around 1704 BC. Jacob also had another wife, Rachel, and two baby mommas, Zilpah and Bilhah.

Birth of Joseph – Year 2260 from creation – 1700 BC – Genesis 30:27-29

Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers – Year 2277 from creation – 1683 BC – Genesis 37:2,26

Death of Isaac (180 years old)– Year 2289 from creation – 1671 BC – Genesis 35:27-29

Joseph stands before Pharaoh and interprets his dream – Year 2289 from creation – 1671 BC – Genesis 41:46 – Note: God sends 7 years of bumper crops and then 7 years of famine to Egypt and the surrounding area from 1671-1657 BC. Joseph sends 10 sons to buy food in Egypt in 1663 BC.

24) Birth of Perez (son of Judah and Tamar) – Year 2298 from creation – 1662 BC – Genesis 38 – Note: From the birth of Perez until the birth of David are approximations only as there are no records in the Bible for these generations. We will estimate these descendants of Judah and Perez lived to be 74-80 years old, for Moses said: “The days of our lives are seventy years; And if by reason of strength they are eighty years“ (Psalm 90:10). These are the average ages of the descendants of Judah. Some of them might have lived to be 100 years old, and some of them might have died at 80, etc. We will also approximate that they had children at 37-40 years old.

JACOB AND HIS FAMILY MOVE TO EGYPT

Jacob and his family move to Egypt and settle in Goshen – Year 2299 from creation – 1661 BC – Genesis 46:1-27; 47:28 – * Regarding those listed in the 70 people that moved to Egypt from Canaan, see Endnote A at the bottom of this article.

This is the point where many chronologists differ in regard to the length of time that the children of Israel spent in the land of Egypt. Many believe the duration was for 430 years; others believe it was for 400 years; while some, such as myself, believe it was for only 215 years, from 1661 BC to 1446 BC. This is due to the wording differences in the many translations of three Bible verses. See the following website for more information: https://www.raptureready.com/2021/07/04/chronology-of-mankind-6000-years-of-history-pt-1-by-randy-nettles/

If you are of the opinion that the children of Israel dwelt in Egypt for 400 or 430 years, then the theory regarding 6,000 years for mankind (before Jesus’ second coming) is no longer valid as it exceeds the mark by several centuries. The 215-year duration in Egypt fits perfectly within the time frame of the following verse in 1 Kings 6:1. “And it came to pass in the four hundred and eightieth year after the children of Israel had come out of the land of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon’s reign over Israel, in the month of Ziv, which is the second month, that he began to build the house of the Lord. The children of Israel came out of the land of Egypt in 1446 BC, and Solomon began to build the Temple in Jerusalem in 966 BC (see below).

Death of Jacob (147 years old) – Year 2316 from creation – 1644 BC – Genesis 49:33

25) Birth of Hezron (son of Perez)– Year 2348 from creation – 1622 BC – Genesis 46:12; Numbers 26:21

Death of Joseph (110 years old) – Year 2370 from creation – 1590 BC – Genesis 50:22,26

Death of Judah (119 years old according to Jewish tradition) – Year 2375 from creation – 1585 BC

26) Birth of Ram and death of Perez (approx. 80 years old) – Year 2378 from creation – 1582 BC – 1 Chronicles 2:9; Ruth 4:19

27) Birth of Amminadab and death of Hezron (approx. 80 years old) – Year 2418 from creation – 1542 BC – 1 Chronicles 2:10; Ruth 4:19

Birth of Moses – Year 2434 from creation – 1526 BC – Exodus 7:7 – Moses flees to Midian in 1486 BC and is called by God to return to Egypt in 1446 BC to lead his people out of Egypt.

28) Birth of Nahshon and death of Ram (approx. 80 years old) – Year 2458 from creation – 1502 BC – Exodus 6:23; Numbers 1:7, 2:3, 7:12,17, 10:4; Ruth 4:20 – Note: Nashon was a leader of Judah during the 40 years of wandering in the wilderness after the exodus from Egypt.

Birth of Joshua – Year 2469 from creation – 1491 BC – Joshua 24:29

29) Birth of Salmon and death of Amminadab (approx. 80 years old) – Year 2498 from creation – 1462 BC – Ruth 4:20.

EXODUS FROM EGYPT

Exodus from Egypt (led by Moses and Aaron) – Year 2514 from creation – 1446 BC – Exodus 12,13 – Moses was 80 years old – Nahshon was approximately 56 years old – Note: In Numbers 1:1-7, in the year after the exodus from Egypt (1445 BC), Nahshon was selected to be the leader of the tribe of Judah. He would have been approximately 57 years old.

“And it came to pass in the four hundred and eightieth year after the children of Israel had come out of the land of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon’s reign over Israel, in the month of Ziv, which is the second month, that he began to build the house of the Lord” (1 Kings 6:1). The children of Israel came out of the land of Egypt in 1446 BC, and Solomon began to build the Temple in Jerusalem in 966 BC (see below).

Death of Nahshon (approx. 80 years old) – Year 2538 from creation – 1422 BC – Ruth 4:20 – Note: Nahshon would have been approximately 80 years old (maybe older). As mentioned before, Nahshon lived during the time of the exodus and died in the wilderness before seeing the Promised Land. He was the leader of the tribe of Judah for most of the journey. I believe his son Salmon could have replaced him at this time. Salmon would have been 40 years old at this time. Salmon would have been approximately 16 years old at the time of the exodus, so he would have probably lived to see the Promised Land. Only those Israelites who were under 20 years old (except for Caleb and Joshua) would live to enter the land of Canaan.

“Surely none of the men who came up from Egypt, from twenty years old and above, shall see the land of which I swore to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob because they have not wholly followed Me” (Numbers 32:10-12).

Death of Moses (Moses was 120 years old) – Year 2554 from creation – 1406 BC

ENTERING THE PROMISED LAND

Crossing of Jordan River and entering the Promised land of Canaan – Year 2554 from creation – 1406 BC – Joshua 4:9 – Joshua replaced Moses as the leader of the newly formed nation of Israel and entered the Promised Land in 1406 BC. After 40 years in the wilderness, the Israelites crossed over the Jordan River and ate the Passover Supper on the 14th day of Nisan. On the 17th day of Nisan (Feast of Firstfruits), with no more manna to eat, the people began to eat the fruit of the land of Canaan that year – the first fruits of the Promised Land. Joshua died at 110 years of age.

Canaan is divided between the tribes of Israel – Year 2561 from creation – 1399 BC – The land had rest from war for a brief time.

Possible year for Salmon and Rahab (ex-harlot of Jericho) to be married – Year 2561 from creation – 1399 BC – Note: The marriage could have taken place approximately 7 years after the defeat of Jericho by the Israelites.

30) Birth of Salmon’s son (missing generation #1) – Year 2562 from creation – 1398 BC – Salmon would have been approximately 64 years old at this time. This is the start of the 7 missing generations from the time of Salmon to Boaz. Missing generation #1 was the son of Salmon, and he probably took over Salmon’s duties after his death or shortly afterward.

Death of Salmon (approx. 80 years old)– Year 2578 from creation – 1382 BC

Death of Joshua (exact year of death is not known exactly, but he judged Israel for approximately 25 years according to Josephus) -Year 2579 from creation – 1381 BC

THE JUDGES RULE ISRAEL

After Joshua’s death, God raised up judges to lead and deliver his people from slavery. The total time of the judges was about 326 years, from 1376 BC to 1050 BC.

31) Birth of Salmon’s grandson (missing generation #2) – Year 2599 from creation – 1361 BC

32) Birth of Salmon’s great-grandson (missing generation #3) and death of Salmon’s son (missing generation #1) at approx. 74 years of age. Year 2636 from creation – 1324 BC

33) Birth of Salmon’s 2nd great-grandson (missing generation #4) and death of Salmon’s grandson (generation #2) at approx. 74 years of age). Year 2673 from creation – 1287 BC

34) Birth of Salmon’s 3rd great-grandson (missing generation #5) and death of Salmon’s great-grandson (generation #3) at approx. 74 years of age. Year 2710 from creation – 1250 BC

35) Birth of Salmon’s 4th great-grandson (missing generation #6) and death of Salmon’s 2nd great-grandson (generation #4) at approx. 74 years of age. Year 2747 from creation. 1213 BC

36) Birth of Salmon’s 5th great-grandson (missing generation #7) and death of Salmon’s 3rd great-grandson (generation #5) at approx. 74 years of age. Year 2784 from creation – 1176 BC – Note: Here we have 7 (missing) generations between Salmon and the birth of Boaz. The Bible simply says Salmon begot Boaz, which could mean Boaz was a ‘descendant’ of Salmon.

37) Birth of Boaz (son of Salmon’s 5th great-grandson) and death of Salmon’s 4th great-grandson (generation #6) at approx. 73 years of age. Year 2820 from creation – 1140 BC

38) Birth of Obed (son of Boaz) – Year 2850 from creation – 1110 BC

Death of Salmon’s 5th great-grandson (missing generation #7) at approx. 74 years of age. Year 2858 from creation – 1102 BC

39) Birth of Jesse and death of Boaz (70 years old) – Year 2890 from creation – 1070 BC

Saul was Israel’s first king – He ruled for 40 years, from 1050 until 1010 BC. His birth year is not known.

ANCESTRY OF JESUS – FROM DAVID TO JESUS

40) Birth of David and death of Obed – Year 2920 from creation – 1040 BC. David also ruled for 40 years, from 1010 BC until 970 BC.

Death of Jesse – Year 2960 from creation – 1000 BC

Death of David and beginning of Solomon’s reign– Year 2990 from creation – 970 BC. David died at 70 years of age.

Solomon begins the Temple project in Jerusalem – Year 2994 from creation – 966 BC – 966 BC was the 480th year after the children of Israel left Egypt in 1446 BC, just as was recorded in I Kings 6:1.

Note: The next 42 generations contain no specific clues for years of birth, births of sons, or deaths. These are the names in Luke’s genealogy which starts with David’s son Nathan and ends with Mary and her son, Jesus. No telescoping or missing generations are believed to be involved with Luke’s genealogy, as there are in Matthew’s genealogy. However, if you wish to see the chronology of the kings of Judah and the historical and biblical events from Solomon to Jesus, go to Chronology of Mankind: 6,000 Years of History, Part II :: By Randy Nettles – Rapture Ready

41) Nathan 42) Mattathan 43) Menan 44) Melea 45) Eliakim 46) Jonan 47) Joseph 48) Judah 49) Simeon 50) Levi 51) Matthat 52) Jorim 53) Eliezer 54) Jose 55) Er (why would anyone want to name their son Er?) 56) Elmodam 57) Cosam 58) Addi 59) Melchi 60) Neri 61) Shealtiel 62) Zerubbabel 63) Rhesa 64) Joannas 65) Judah 66) Joseph 67) Semei 68) Mattathiah 69) Maath 70) Naggai 71) Egli 72) Nahum 73) Amos 74) Mattathiah 75) Joseph 76) Janna 77) Melchi 78) Levi 79) Matthat 80) Heli 81) Mary (Joseph) 82) Jesus (was born in 4 or 5 BC).

These are the 82 generations (approximately) from the creation of Adam to the death of Jesus and cover 3992 years, according to my reckoning. Jesus of Nazareth, through his mother, Mary, was a descendant of Nathan, Israel, Isaac, Abraham, Noah, Enoch, Enos, Seth, and Adam. It’s a much shorter list on His Father’s side: El Shaddai (God, the Father), through the agency of the divine Spirit. Now that’s quite a family tree!

Randy Nettles

nettlesr@suddenlink.net

Endnotes

A: Genesis 46:12 records the sons of Perez (Hezron and Hamul) as being a part of this group. However, this is not possible due to the time constraints of Genesis 38:1-30. Judah is only about 21 when he marries a Canaanite woman named Shua, and they have three sons in quick succession, Er, Onan, and Shelah. When Er and Onan are old enough to be married to Tamar, both are wicked, and the Lord kills them (Genesis 38:7-10). Shelah is not quite old enough to marry Tamar yet, but when he gets to be of appropriate age, Judah doesn’t allow him to marry Tamar. Tamar poses as a prostitute, and Judah, who doesn’t recognize Tamar, has sexual relations with her, and she becomes pregnant. She then has twin boys named Perez and Zerah. Judah would have been about 43 years old at this time.

Joseph was 17 years old when he was sold into slavery (Judah would have been 21) and spent 13 years old in Potiphar’s house and an Egyptian jail. There were 7 years of plenty (before the famine) and then 2 years of famine when Jacob’s family moved to Egypt. That adds up to 22 years from when Joseph was sold into slavery until the family relocated to Egypt. As I mentioned before, Judah would have been about 43 years old at this time, and Perez would have been about 1 year old when the family moved to Egypt. The explanation of most theologians of why Judah’s grandsons were counted in the 70 is that since Er and Onan were killed by the Lord, these two future descendants of Judah and Perez were listed as substitutes for them even though they weren’t even born yet. The Lord counted them, for it was a sure thing that they would be born and Jesus would come from the lineage of Hezron.

Regarding Genesis 46:26-27, “All the persons who went with Jacob to Egypt, who came from his body, besides Jacob’s sons’ wives, were sixty-six persons in all. And the sons of Joseph who were born to him in Egypt were two persons. All the persons of the house of Jacob who went to Egypt were seventy.”

The number of Joseph’s sons was nine, and the number of those who came with Jacob into Egypt was seventy-five, a number adopted by Stephen (Acts 7:14), according to the LXX. The apparent confusion in these different numbers, sixty-six, seventy, seventy- five, will disappear if it is observed that the first takes no account of Jacob, Joseph, Manasseh, and Ephraim, while they are definitely included in the second computation, and that Stephen simply adds to the seventy of verse 27 the five grandsons of Joseph who are mentioned in the Septuagint version, from which he quoted, or to the sixty-six of verse 26 the nine mentioned above, consisting of Jacob, Joseph, Manasseh, Ephraim, and Joseph’s five grandsons, thus making seventy-five in all.