"And the LORD said unto Moses, Go unto the people, and sanctify them to day and to morrow, and let them wash their clothes, And be ready against the third day: for the third day the LORD will come down in the sight of all the people upon mount Sinai.
Exodus 19:10-11
Are you ever asked how you know that Jesus is about to return? It is a fairly common question with answers too numerous to mention. One key response is the reestablishment of the nation of Israel. This little country is God's prophetic timepiece and its existence shows humanity that we are near the return of the Messiah Yeshua. However, the concept of the third day as it relates to Israel is also important sign. Let's take a look.
God gave two important hints to the children of Israel about their future. One comes form these verses in Hosea 6:1-2. "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." The message is clear. Israel has sinned and God has smitten them for two days, but in the third day He will resurrect them spiritually. "We will live" suggests that they will have fellowship with the source of life itself, Jesus. Therefore, the nation will have a revival. Paul said all Israel would be saved. (Romans 11:26) Peter gives us a bit of insight in order to unravel this prophecy. Here is what he says. "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. These two days are prophetic days; two 1,000 year days. God destroyed the nation of Israel two thousand years ago and He is about to resurrect the nation spiritually as is prophesied in Ezekiel 37 also. First they will be a revived secular nation, but God will eventually breath the Spirit of Life in them.
Jesus was resurrected on what day? The third literal day. We know that he ascended into heaven and that He has promised to return. However, Jesus has been dead to the majority of Jews for two thousand years or two prophetic days. He is about to return and fulfill the promise of restoring that nation spiritually and be "resurrected" before them as they weep over two thousand years of unbelief. He reigns for a "day" or one thousand years. Just like the rock outside His tomb that began to rumble as the Son of Man moved towards it on that third glorious day, the world is starting to shake as Jesus is moving closer to the door of heaven to show all that He is evermore alive.
Do you remember what Jesus often said? His accusers had even heard what He said. "And said, This fellow said, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days." Matthew 26:61 We know that Jesus was talking about His body. He would be dead but rise the third day. However, he also meant the temple. For two thousand years there has been no temple. There will be a temporary one rebuilt soon which the anti-Christ will defile. When Jesus returns there will be a millennial temple during His reign. He will literally rebuild the temple for a prophetic day.
Christian, the above scripture is also an Old Testament type of the rapture. Moses went up and God came down. The people had to have their robes clean against the third day. We have had two days to prepare our garments. The church has been God's voice for two thousand years. Wash your clothes and sanctify your life because now He is saying, "be ready against the third day".
As in the Days of Lot--A Spirit of Apostasy
Israel and the Middle East
No comments:
Post a Comment