Matthew 5:14-16; “You are the light of the world [believers]. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all of the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works, and give glory to your Father who is in Heaven.” (any emphasis mine)

John 8:12; “Again Jesus spoke to them saying, ‘I am the Light of the world. Whoever follows Me will not walk in darkness, but will have the Light of Life.’”

Romans 13:12; “The night is almost gone, and the day is near [Rapture]. Therefore, let us lay aside the deeds of darkness, and put on the armor of Light.”

Ephesians 5:8-10; “For you were formerly darkness [lost sinner], but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of the Light, For the fruit of the Light consists of all goodness, righteousness and truth, trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.”

Psalm 36:9; “For with you is the Fountain of Life; in your Light do we see Light.”

Psalm 119:105; “Your word is a lamp to my feet, and a Light to my path.”

Acts 13:47; “(Paul said) “For this is what the Lord has commanded us, ‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring Salvation to the ends of the earth.’” (Great Commission)

1 John 1:7; “But if we walk in the Light, as He is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, cleanses us from all sin.”

These are only a few verses about our Lord and Savior being the Light. There are many more throughout the Bible, Old and New Testaments. Naturally, the opposite is darkness. It should be noted that the Jews are God’s chosen people, but even they have to accept Jesus as their Messiah to be with Him forever.

1 Samuel 2:9; “He keeps the feet of His godly ones [those in God’s will], but the wicked ones are silenced in darkness.”

Matthew 8:12; “But the sons of the kingdom will be cast into outer darkness; in that place will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” The sons of the kingdom refer to the Jews who were the first heirs, but forfeited their inheritance through disobedience.

Matthew 22:13; “Then the king said to the servants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, and throw him to the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’”

2 Peter 2:17; “These are springs with water and mists driven by a storm, for whom the black darkness has been reserved.”

2 Peter 2:4; “For God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into Hell and committed them to pits of darkness, reserved for judgment.”

And this final judgment will be at the Great White Throne of Revelation 20:11-15. The verse that describes why Hell, also known as the Lake of Fire, was created, is Matthew 25:41; “Then, He will say to those on His left [unrepentant sinners], ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.’” The antichrist and false prophet will be first in Hell (Revelation 19:20), followed by Satan a thousand years later in Revelation 20:10. All others from the beginning of creation to the end of the Millennium that are lost will be next.

Satan and the fallen angels, or demons, have no pathway to forgiveness. Jesus’ sacrifice was for all humans, not angelic beings. Hebrews 2:16; “For surely it is not angels that He helps, but He helps the offspring of Abraham.” The fallen angels and Satan had already seen the Glory of the Heavenly Father, but chose to reject Him.

With all that’s taking place today, it’s tough for a believer in Jesus to shine. After all of the generations that have lived since Jesus’ time here on earth, it’s truly amazing that we are the generation that is at the end of this age. No, we don’t know exactly when the trumpet will sound, and when we will hear the shout from the archangel (1 Corinthians 15:51-53; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17); however, every sign given by Jesus (Matthew 24, Mark 13 and Luke 21), and the attitudes spoken of by Paul (2 Timothy 3) are all here at the same time. In 1 John 2-5, we’re told about the increase in false prophets and antichrist activity, and this is happening worldwide today.

The start of the clock took place on May 14, 1948, when Israel became a sovereign nation after over 2,000 years. No other nation has ever been reestablished as Israel has. In Matthew 24:32-34, Jesus spoke of the fig tree putting out new leaves, indicating summer is near. This spoke of the rebirth of Israel. He went on to say that when all the signs He gave were present, He would be “near, at the very gates.” In Luke 21:28, it’s recorded that; “When these things begin to happen, stand up and lift up your heads; for your redemption draws nigh.” No other generation prior to ours saw all the signs in place at one time as we are seeing today. In fact, the incidents are increasing not only daily, but hourly.

Today, to try and shine for the Word of the Lord is to be singled out and called a “hater.” It’s because Satan’s followers are in full force, trying to shut down completely anything that has to do with Jesus. It’s not that we hate anyone, as we are commanded to love everyone, but we do not have to accept their evil ways. Isaiah 5:20 is in full force, and was prophesied over 2,500 years ago. “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness. Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter.” This is the attitude that’s out in the open today.

What God called abominations are somehow supposed to be acceptable today. Proverbs 17:15 probably expresses it best; “He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the righteous, are both alike, an abomination to the Lord.”

Even though the world looks to be totally out of control, Christians, all believers, can take some comfort in knowing our time here is rapidly drawing to a close. Prophecy experts (again, I’m a novice) are saying the “harpazo,” taking up or Rapture could take place any day, any hour, and any minute. Nothing else has to happen before this.  God did not put all the signs in the Bible to take up space. Jesus said we should know the season, and not miss the signs, as the religious leaders of His time here did.

For anyone who has not received and accepted Jesus, you can change your eternal destination right now. Call out to Him; ask Him to forgive your sins and to be your eternal Savior. All who truly call on Him will be saved. (Acts 2:21, Romans 10:13) The hardest part is to ignore the lure of this world and its sinful ways, and have faith and believe that Jesus is your only way to Heaven (John 14:6; Acts 4:12; Romans 10:9-13).

At this point, your bulb will shine; it won’t be under a basket. You will enjoy the Father’s Son being our true source of Light forever.

There is a negative side. Remember the verses about the “outer darkness” and “total darkness.” That is eternity forever, never-ending, for all who refuse to call on the Savior. It’s totally up to each person to choose where they will spend eternity – Heaven or Hell. God will force no one to accept His Son. Once a person takes their last breath on this earth, their eternal destiny is set. There will not be another opportunity to call out and ask Jesus to save you. There are no other options.

God wants everyone to repent and call on Jesus (2 Peter 3:9); however, being a true and just Heavenly Father – Our Creator – He allows us free will just as He did all the heavenly host.

If you do not have the Light of Jesus within you, it’s time to charge your batteries by getting into God’s word (Bible); and change your bulb so you will walk in the Light. He’s waiting for your call, and ready to welcome you into His flock (John 10). Today would not be too early to call – tomorrow could be too late.

Ahava B’ Shem Yeshua – Love in the Name of Jesus!

huebshman46@gmail.com

[Note: This author is a pre-Tribulation rapture and Young Earth Creationist (YEC) believer, and this article reflects these views.]

“But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day” (2 Peter 3:8).

Introduction

The above verse, from the Apostle Peter, is a most intriguing passage of Scripture. There have been a few interpretations of it, but there are only two views that I hold to.

1. This passage seems to give us a glimpse into how eternity is perceived compared to God’s creation of time that the universe is subject to. A 24-hour period is no different, in light of eternity, than a thousand years; as a thousand years is perceived to be no different than a 24-hour period of time. I’ve heard it said that “Eternity seems to be one continuous moment.” How true this adage is will remain to be seen.
2. It is my belief (and many others’) that this is a prophetic passage when compared to the creation week found in Gen. 1:1-31 and Gen. 2:1-3.

That is, the seven days of creation are a typification of the seven-thousand years assigned by God for mankind; six-thousand years of human history climaxed by the one-thousand-year reign of Christ.

Men much smarter than I am have calculated the approximate age of our planet and universe since God’s creation, using the genealogies and history of the Bible, and have determined that we are currently in an approximate transition from day six (or six-thousand years) into day seven (the last one thousand years of history). This “seventh day” – or the last thousand years of history – corresponds to God’s resting on the seventh day and is a picture of the Lord’s Millennial Kingdom found in Rev. 20:1-10. (Other details of His Kingdom are found in many of the Old Testament prophetic writings.) These facts seem to confirm the relationship to this verse of Peter’s, the seven days of creation, and the assigned seven-thousand years of human history.

Jesus claimed that He would die and be resurrected the third day on numerous occasions (Matthew 16:21, Matthew 17:23, Matthew 20:19, Luke 9:22, Luke 13:32, & Luke 24:46), and so He was.

We’ll start by using the gospel message given by Paul to the church at Corinth, concerning our Lord and Savior’s death and resurrection.

“For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:3-4).

What is significant about this is that Christ has been gone for two-thousand years (two days), and by all accounts is at the door ready to come back and take His bride home to His Father’s house so we may be with Him forever. His death, burial, and resurrection are the picture and outline of what His bride would be going through. That is, the church age will be two days (two-thousand years), and we, too, will rise in the rapture of the church.

The prophetic signs are everywhere, and they can’t be ignored. Many great books and articles will attest to this fact but are not in the scope of this article. (Although, I would point you to one of my own articles, “10 Reasons We Are In The End Days,” as for why I say this.)

https://www.faithwriters.com/article-details.php?id=203728

When it comes to “The Prophetic Third Day,” it is always in relation to the cross. Everything hinges on Christ’s sacrifice on the cross for our sins and the redemption of those who would put their trust in Him.

In respect to this “Third Day” prophecy, the time would seem to be soon due to the fact that Jesus has already been gone for approximately “two days” (two-thousand years), and the “Third Day” is swiftly coming upon us.

“And the third day there was a marriage…” (John 2:1a).

This verse is such a beautiful picture of the rapture of the church and our marriage to our Bridegroom (Rev. 19:7-9).

If this is to be a perfect picture of the rapture, the question we must ask is, “What was happening the first two days?” The answer is exactly what has been occurring the last two-thousand years: Jesus was (and is) calling His disciples.

I backtracked two days in the text and found this to be true.

From John 1:35-51 (two days) the Scriptures read:

“Again the next day [the first day] after John stood, and two of his disciples; And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God! And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye? They said unto him, Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted, Master,) where dwellest thou? He saith unto them, Come and see.

“They came and saw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day: for it was about the tenth hour. One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ. And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone.

“The day following [the second day] Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, and saith unto him, Follow me. Now Philip was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph. And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see.

“Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile! Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee. Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel. Jesus answered and said unto him, Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig tree, believest thou? thou shalt see greater things than these. And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.”

I wanted the reader to see that, in fact, Jesus, two days prior to the wedding in Cana, was only calling His disciples – the very thing He’s been doing for the last two-thousand years. When the Holy Spirit showed me this in my personal Bible study time, I was filled with joy. It was a perfect picture of the church in the age of grace, followed by our marriage to Him!

“And the third day there was a marriage…” Amazing!!

“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. And it was so, when the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, that she obtained favour in his sight: and the king held out to Esther the golden sceptre that was in his hand. So Esther drew near, and touched the top of the sceptre” (Esther 5:1-2).

This passage seems to have both the rapture of the church and the Second Coming of Christ to save Israel at the end of the Tribulation in view.

Queen Esther (the church) coming to the king (Jesus) on the Third Day is a picture of the rapture.

The supplication of Queen Esther to the king will be that of protecting her people from wicked Haman’s (Satan/Antichrist) intent to kill all the Jews in the empire, and this is a picture of our Lord’s Second Coming.

“Come, and let us return unto the Lord: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up. After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight. Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth” (Hosea 6:1-3).

An amazing Scripture that is pointing to the Lord’s Second Coming to save Israel from Antichrist and to resurrect all the Old Testament saints at His coming in “the morning” of the Third Day. This passage also has a perfect parallel found in Daniel 12:1b-3 regarding the “time of Jacob’s trouble” (Jeremiah 30:7) and this resurrection:

“And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.”

Beautiful!

Two Other Passages with Possible Prophetic Third-Day Implications

“… I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will heal thee: on the third day thou shalt go up unto the house of the Lord” (2 Kings 20:5b).

God, through Isaiah, told king Hezekiah that he would be healed of his sickness – but note the words in this passage. One can’t help but to see the correlation to Israel being healed of her “sickness” of refusing their Messiah for two-thousand years and finally going to the “house of the Lord” in salvation and righteousness at Christ’s Second Coming, when they say, “Blessed is he who comes in the Name of the Lord” (Matthew 23:39).

“Then on the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the place afar off” (Genesis 22:4).

This is the amazing story of Abraham willingly offering up his only son, Isaac, as a sacrifice to God. We all know the story: God stopped Abraham, as it would be God who would offer up His Son for the redemption of mankind.

This verse reminds one of the Hall of Faith section in Hebrews, where it states:

“By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God” (Hebrews 11:8-10).

Abraham was looking for this city; Israel has been looking for this city; and the bride of Christ has been earnestly seeking this city.

And when Christ comes back again to rapture His bride (and seven-plus years later comes to save His people Israel from Antichrist), we will all, collectively, be enjoying this city together with the One Who loves us. The city of the great King and her throne will be occupied by the Creator and Redeemer of all who freely come unto Him, and it will be glorious!

Of course, the final fulfillment of the city will be the New Jerusalem that comes out of heaven to the new earth in the Eternal Kingdom.

Conclusion

It’s been my experience that trying to explain simple concepts can be most difficult.

I pray that the reader has not been confused and that what I have laid out here is crystal clear.

Bottom line: The creation week is an outline of human history. God could have created everything in a single moment but chose to create in six days and rest on the seventh, thereby giving us the pattern of six-thousand years of human history (which our blessed generation is able to look back on), followed by one thousand years of rest in Messiah Yeshua’s Millennial Kingdom, which is on the near horizon.

Following that will be the Great White Throne Judgment (Rev. 20:11-15), a new heaven and a new earth (Rev. 21:1), and the glorious Eternal Kingdom in the New Jerusalem on the new earth (Rev. 20:2-27 & Rev. 22:1-5) living in perfect unity with our Creator and Savior, forever!

Love, grace, mercy, and shalom in Messiah Yeshua, and Maranatha!

Email: mab10666@yahoo.com