2007

                                                                                       By Pastor F. M. Riley

 

     “But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.”

 

                                                                                                     Matthew 24:37

 

The Days of Noah

 

    The inspired Word tells us that Noah was born 1056 years after the creation of Adam.  We find this by adding up the years from the birth of a son until the birth of that son’s son, as recorded in Genesis 5:3-29.   The Word also tells us that the flood came upon the earth “In the six hundredth year of Noah’s life….,” Genesis 7:11.  This means that the flood occurred 1656 years after the creation of Adam; 1056 + 600 = 1656.  The Scriptures also state, “And Noah lived after the flood three hundred and fifty years,” Genesis 9:28.  This means that Noah lived a total of 950 years, just as stated in Genesis 9:29, dying 2006 years after the creation of Adam. 

 

          The year of Noah’s birth   1056            The year of the flood            1656

                             Noah’s life       950             Noah lived after the flood      350

          The year of Noah’s death  2006            The year of Noah’s death     2006

 

The Days of Noah are Past

 

    December 31, 2006 marked the end of 2006 years of this present “dispensation of grace,” Ephesians 3:2 [Gentile calendar].  If we superimpose “the days of Noah” upon this present dispensation, we can then conclude that December 31, 2006 also marked the end of “the days of Noah” [Gentile calendar].  For those of our readers who don’t understand this statement, I will demonstrate it as follows…..

 

      The creation             The birth                     The flood                              Noah’s 

      of Adam                   of Noah                                                                     death

      0                              1056                            1656                                      2006

                                       ------------The          days           of          Noah-------------

 

 

     The birth                                                                                                   

___of_Christ_____________________________________________________________

       0                             1056  A.D.                   1656                                     2006  

                                       ------------The           days          of         Noah--------------

 

        Superimposing the ancient “days of Noah” on the days that bring this present dispensation to an end is quite thought provoking.  What I am wondering is if there was a

notable event that corresponds to the year 1056 in modern history?  Was some notable

 

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person born that year?  Or was there a war, a plague, a religious or political uprising, or some other event that significantly altered the course of human history?  Do any of our readers have knowledge of this particular year? 

    Likewise for the year 1656.  Was there any significant event that occurred in 1656 that might have altered the course of human history?  Can any of our readers fill in the blanks here?  If so, I would appreciate hearing from you.

 

A New Beginning

 

    A truth that is commonly overlooked or ignored is the fact that the very next year after the death of Noah, 2007 years after the creation of Adam, the Lord made a “new beginning” in the human race.  Compare Psalm 90:4.  It was during the year 2007 [from Adam’s creation] that Terah placed the “seed” in his wife’s womb that resulted in the birth of Abraham nine months later, Genesis 11:26-27. The day of the year that Noah actually died is not revealed in the Scriptures, but in round figures there was only a one year interval between the death of Noah and the birth of Abraham.  We can conclude that only a very short time intervened between the death of Noah and the conception of Abraham in the womb of Terah’s wife.  Abraham was born 2008 years after the creation of Adam. 

 

The Correct Year

 

    At this point I can almost see some of God’s people coming unglued.  “Oh no!  Abraham was born 1948 years after the creation of Adam.”  Oh!  Who said so?  “Why, all the Bible dictionaries and commentaries say so.”  Then they are all wrong! 

    Folks, I want to remind our readers that “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God….,” 2 Timothy 3:16.  Commentaries, Bible dictionaries, Bible atlases, etc. are written by uninspired men.  Men often make mistakes, sometimes even when studying God’s Word.  I urge our readers to depend upon God’s inspired Word, rather than upon fallible men [including myself].  Even your “favorite” preacher or author is subject to making mistakes.  Don’t depend upon men.  Get serious about God’s Word and study it for yourself.  Emulate the Bereans, Acts 17:10-11. 

    Now I want to demonstrate for our readers…..

 

1.           That Abraham was not the firstborn son of Terah, even though he is listed first in Genesis 11:26-27.

2.           That Abraham’s year of birth can easily be determined by a careful study of God’s Word.

 

The Birth of Abraham

 

        Folks, by continuing to add up the years from the birth of a son until the birth of that son’s son as recorded in Genesis 11:10-26, it becomes obvious that Terah, the father of Abraham, was born 1878 years after the creation of Adam.  Add the genealogical records up for yourself.   Then in Genesis 11:32 we are told that Terah was “two hundred and five years” of age when he died, and that he “died in Haran.”  If we then add the 205 years of Terah’s life to the year of his birth, Terah died 2083 years after the creation of Adam.  1878 + 205 = 2083. 

    Remember that Terah “died in Haran.”  This is stated quite clearly in Genesis 11:32.   In Genesis 12:4 it is specifically stated that “…Abram was seventy and five years old

 

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when he departed out of Haran.”   Then in Acts 7:4 the inspired Scripture says, “Then came he [Abraham] out of the land of the Chaldeans, and dwelt in Charran: and from thence, when his father was dead, he removed him into this land, wherein ye now dwell.”  

    Now folks, just do the math.  The inspired Word tells us that Terah was 205 years old when he died, and that he died in Haran.  It also tells us that Abraham was 75 years old when he departed out of Haran, and that he departed out after Terah had died.  Simple arithmetic.  205 – 75 = 130.  Terah was 130 years old when Abraham was born.   What can we conclude from this? 

    We can conclude that Abraham was not Terah’s firstborn child, for the Scripture emphatically states that Terah became a father when he was 70 years old, Genesis 11:26.  It is obvious that Haran [or Nahor] was the son of Terah that was born 1948 years after the creation of Adam.   Haran, and possibly even Nahor, were born before Abraham.  The Scripture does not specifically state who was the eldest son in Terah’s family, but it is clear that it wasn’t Abraham.

    We also know that Terah died 2083 years after the creation of Adam.  Abraham was only 75 years old at that time.  Therefore Abraham was born 2008 years after the creation of Adam.  2083 – 75 = 2008.  You can also reverse the process.  Terah was born 1878 years after the creation of Adam.  When he was 130 years of age he fathered Abraham.  1878 + 130 = 2008.  Folks, Abraham was born 2008 years after the creation of Adam, according to God’s inspired Word, and that settles the matter. Period! Those so-called “authorities,” [Bible dictionaries; Atlases; Commentaries; etc.] are wrong.  The people that wrote or assembled them should have studied more and “opined” less. 

 

The Application

 

     Some readers may wonder why I have gone to such lengths to prove this point.  Because the time of Abrahams conception and his birth are vitally important in view of   God’s great prophetic plan of the ages.  Noah died in the 2006th year after the creation of Adam.  When we superimpose that period of time on this present “dispensation of grace,” the year 2006 has just ended [Gentile calendar].  The present “days of Noah” ended at midnight on December 31, 2006.  They are over!  It is time for the Lord to make “a new beginning.”  Glory!

    What can we then expect to occur in 2007?  Just as the “seed” that was planted in the womb of Terah’s wife in the 2007th  year resulted in the birth of Abraham in 2008, so the glorious “seed” of the gospel of Christ [Matthew 13:3-9; 13:18-23] will be planted in the hearts of the descendants of Abraham [the Jews] this year, resulting in the salvation and sealing of 144,000 of them in 2008.   This year, 2007, the year following the end of “the days of Noah,” the Lord is going to make “a new beginning” for all of His people.  Glory to God!  Hallelujah!  Praise the Lord!      

    This year, 2007, true believers [Jew and Gentile] saved during this present dispensation will be bodily removed from among humanity by the resurrection and rapture, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 1 Corinthians 15:51-58.  This is in fulfillment of the type set forth when “the days of Noah” ended with Noah’s death, bodily removing him from among mankind. 

    Immmediately following the resurrection and rapture of all true believers in Christ, God’s “two witnesses” [Revelation 11:3-12] will appear in the streets of Jerusalem preaching the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, sowing the “seed of the gospel” [Matthew 13:3-9;18-23] in the hearts and minds of thousands of Jews.  This will result in 144,000 of them being “born again”[John 3:3;7] and “sealed” [Revelation 7:1-8]  by the Holy

 

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Spirit in 2008, exactly as typified by the birth of Abraham 4000 years ago. 

    Glory!  Hallelujah!  Praise the Lord!  Our Lord’s coming is at the door.  Look up and be encouraged, my beloved brethren.  Our redemption draweth nigh, Luke 21:28. 

 

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    This ministry is supported solely by freewill offerings.  All comments, questions, or correspondence should be addressed to:    Last Call Gospel Ministry, Pastor F. M. Riley, 3900 Clark Lane Lot 178, Columbia, MO 65202.  Our email address is:  fmrglbd5@aol.com