Caps, John, and Doves:
Caps, that was a wonderful article you wrote. I can tell that post was really written over probably a 10-15 year time span, rather than an evening on the computer RIGHT?
I for one needed to be reminded about the later rain being poured out on the Church just before Jesus returns. Thanks for posting that.
I’m one of those guys that still holds on to a “slim slither of hope” that those 1000 year days mentioned in Genesis 1&2, in reality represent 985years + 229days (in Gregorian calendar years). You know the 360 day Biblical year compared to the 365.25 average days in our modern calendar year.
I to believe Jesus was crucified in April 33AD. That April 33AD crucifixion not only ended the first half of Daniel’s 70th Week, but was the “fulcrum” or pivotal point between the previous 4000 years (4-days ) and 2000years (2days) of Grace.
So if you add 33 AD+ 4 months to 1971 Gregorian years + 93 days (3+months), you come to August 2004. Sadly to say as you know neither did the Later Rain come down, nor did Jesus come back before that point in time which was exactly 2000 “Biblical years” (360 days per year) after the Crucifixion of Christ.
Now don’t leave me just yet. Remember I said I was holding on to a “slim slither of hope”.
I know we can’t “time travel” back and change anything, but we can re-read a couple of texts that might suggest the events of the seventh day(Day of the Lord) begin sometime AFTER the 6000 years has expired (After August 2004), rather than before the 6000 years expire!
For years, I have pondered over the meaning of a little “play on words” in the readings of Genisis 2:2 and Hosea 6:1-2. Genesis 2:2 says: And ON the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. (emphasis mine). Notice he said he ended his work ON the seventh day, not at the end of the 6th day. Then Hosea 6:1-2 says: 1) 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. 2) “AFTER” TWO DAYS will he revive us:” IN” THE THIRD DAY he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight (emphasis mine). So if our August 2004 date might possibly be correct as the end of the 6 days, then the following reading might possibly be true. AFTER AUGUST 2004 he will revive us (by the later rain): Sometime “IN” the seventh day (AFTER AUGUST 2004) he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight. Remember Ge 2:2 declares God ended his work ON the seventh day, and Hosea 6:2 says AFTER TWO DAYS he will revive us IN the third day (seventh).
By simply reading what it says, I see a transition period between the ending of the 6000 years, and the commencement of the final 1000 year Day of the Lord, rather than an abrupt change from the age of grace to the Millennial kingdom where Christ rules with a rod of iron!
We can read in the Bible a classic example of the transitional period that occurred between the 4th day (4000 years), and the 5th day (5000 years). The book of Acts portrays a “transition period” of several years between the dispensation of Law and Grace: between the 4th day and the 5th day. That is why the book of Acts is the most dangerous book in the Bible, because it represents this transitional period between the two covenants of Law and Grace. Some really strange, sometimes damnable modern denominational doctrines are alive and well today because of someone not taking some of those verses in Acts in context. Likewise, could there be a similar confusing transitional period that will occur AFTER the 6 days (6000 years) AFTER AUGUST 2004? Maby that transitional period occurring ON the seventh day (AFTER AUG. 2004) is actually “the beginning of sorrows” or birth pangs Jesus mentions in Matthew 24:3-8.
Remember December 26, 2004, which is just 4 months past AUGUST 2004 (the beginning of the 7th day)? I don’t know about you David, but it sure seems like something happened in the heavens the day that awesome tsunami rolled thru, that was totally different than anything we had ever experienced before. I have felt in my spirit for over a year now, the beginning of sorrows had probably officially begun on that day, IN the third day! Just think back about all the trouble and sorrows that has been let loose on the earth in the last year and a half or so! Think back about all the trouble Christians have experienced.
This is why I still cling onto that “little sliver of hope” about using the 360 day Biblical calendar, rather than our modern Gregorian calendar in computing those 7 days. That is why I got so excited when I read your take on the “Later Rain” commencing on some future Nisan (March/April). If Christ fulfilled the first 3 ½ years of Daniel’s 70th Week during his earthly ministry, then the final 3 ½ years MUST begin in the middle of Passover in the Spring MABY THIS YEAR, so as to fulfill the fall feasts in Lev. 23 some 3 ½ years later. If we are to use the 360 day biblical calendar to compute those 7-days, then the 6000 years (6th day) has just ended, and we are in that transition period ON the seventh day. But if this is incorrect thinking, surely in just 27 years the Messianic era will begin around 2033 AD!
I just wanted to share these thoughts with you and the rest of the Doves, just in case this little “sliver of hope” of mine might just happen to be correct. I’m not trying to dates, just “hoping against hope” the Lord will come sooner, rather than 27 years from now. Thanks again David for that great well written information and God bless you.
In His Service,
davidburnette@valink.com