“Two Days” in Scripture & Other Indications of the Nearness of the Lord’s Coming
Before the Lord Jesus Christ went back to heaven, He promised us that He would come again and take those who believe on Him to His Father’s house. He said, “In My Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also” (John 14:2-32In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. (John 14:2‑3)). This is referring to the Rapture—the moment when believers on the Lord Jesus Christ will be caught up to heaven. It is the “blessed hope” of the church (Titus 2:1313Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; (Titus 2:13)).
The Apostle Paul, in referring to the coming of the Lord, gave us some further details about this wonderful moment. He said, “We which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent [precede] them which are asleep. For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord” (1 Thess. 4:15-1715For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. (1 Thessalonians 4:15‑17)). We learn from this that those who have died in Christ will have their bodies raised and will go to heaven with us. (The “dead in Christ” are believers who have lived in the Christian era.)
Hebrews 11:40,40God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect. (Hebrews 11:40) adds that the saints from Old Testament times will be made “perfect” at the same time as the New Testament saints. This means that they too will join in this great call to heaven. Being made “perfect,” indicates that our bodies will be glorified at that moment (1 Cor. 15:51-5851Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. 55O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? 56The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. 57But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. (1 Corinthians 15:51‑58); Phil. 3:20-2120For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: 21Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself. (Philippians 3:20‑21); Rom. 8:2323And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. (Romans 8:23); Job 14:1414If a man die, shall he live again? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come. (Job 14:14); Psa. 17:1515As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness. (Psalm 17:15)).
Waiting and Watching
The proper posture for the Lord’s people is to be found watching and waiting for His return (Luke 12:36-4036And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately. 37Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them. 38And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants. 39And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through. 40Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not. (Luke 12:36‑40)). He said, “Surely I come quickly” (Rev. 22:2020He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. (Revelation 22:20)), and by this, He intended that the Church should be looking up and watching for His return at any moment. The writer of the epistle to the Hebrews confirmed the imminence of it, saying, “For yet a very little while He that comes will come, and will not delay” (Heb. 10:3737For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. (Hebrews 10:37)–J. N. Darby Trans.).
While the Lord Jesus gave us the sure promise of His coming again, He did not tell us when it would be. One reason why He gave no specific date was that the saints throughout the long range of time—between Pentecost and the Rapture—would have His coming before them as an imminent thing. If the Lord had said that He was going to come in the twentieth century, Christians who lived in earlier times would have given up looking for Him to come in their day. It would have had a negative effect upon them, causing them to settle down in the world. (Compare Matthew 24:48-5148But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; 49And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; 50The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, 51And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (Matthew 24:48‑51).)
Sad to say, regardless of the Lord’s desire to have believers expecting His coming at any moment, the enemy of our souls has found ways to get the saints to let go of that hope. Not long after the apostles left the scene, through the influence of the world, the church lost sight of the hope of the Lord’s coming. Through worldliness, Christians first became indifferent to, and then ignorant of, this wonderful hope. Bad teaching has also resulted in letting go of the imminence of the blessed hope. There are those who teach that certain events in prophecy must happen first. This is false, for Scripture does not teach that there are any prophetic events that need to be fulfilled before the Lord comes. These people are confusing the Rapture with the Appearing of Christ. The effect of such teaching has been devastating. In some Christian circles, it is considered bad doctrine to believe the Lord is coming soon!
The Apostle Paul expressed the proper attitude of expectation that every Christian should have with regard to the Lord’s coming. Even though he was given to know that he would not live to see the Lord’s coming, but would pass on to be with the Lord in the separate state through death (2 Tim. 4:66For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. (2 Timothy 4:6)), he laboured in his ministry to set the Lord’s coming before the saints as their proper hope. He said, “We which are alive and remain ... shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air” (1 Thess. 4:14, 1714For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. (1 Thessalonians 4:14)
17Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. (1 Thessalonians 4:17)). By saying “we,” Paul included himself in the number who expected the Lord to come at any moment. (See also 1 Corinthians 15:5151Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, (1 Corinthians 15:51) and Philippians 3:20-2120For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: 21Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself. (Philippians 3:20‑21).) The truth is that the Lord could come today!
The Signs of the Times
Matthew 24:3636But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. (Matthew 24:36) says, “But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but My Father only.” This verse is sometimes mistakenly used to state that no one knows the moment of the Rapture. While it is quite true that no one knows that moment, this particular verse is speaking of the appearing of Christ after the Great Tribulation, not the Rapture, which will occur before the Tribulation period. Since the Lord did not indicate when He would come again, we do not believe that it is a healthy occupation for the Church to be trying to fix a date for it. Many have done this and have been embarrassed.
However, the Lord did say that we needed to discern the times in which we live. He said, “Can ye not discern the signs of the times?” (Matt. 16:33And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowring. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times? (Matthew 16:3)) There are certain, unmistakable indications that tell us that we are in the last days. In fact, they tell us that we are on the eve of His coming! This should thrill our souls and lift our hearts heavenward in fresh expectation of the Lord’s near return.
The following passages give us seven Scriptural indicators of the nearness of the Lord’s coming.
The Laodicean Condition of the Church
Chapters 2 and 3 of the book of Revelation give us a prophetic history of the state of the professing Church—from the apostles’ day right down to the last days of the Church. The seventh and final stage is depicted in His address to the church at Laodicea in which it is portrayed in a despicable condition of indifference to Him (Rev. 3:14-2214And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; 15I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. 16So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. 17Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: 18I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. 19As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. 20Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. 21To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. 22He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. (Revelation 3:14‑22)). The Apostle Paul also described the condition of the Christian testimony in “the last days” as being in a similar state of ruin, wherein moral and doctrinal evil would abound (2 Tim. 3:1-91This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. 6For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, 7Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. 8Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith. 9But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was. (2 Timothy 3:1‑9)). This description accurately portrays the condition of things in the professing Church today—no one would deny this.
The next thing that takes place in the book of Revelation, after describing the final state of the Church, is that John is called up to heaven (Rev. 4:11After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will show thee things which must be hereafter. (Revelation 4:1)). This is a little picture of where the Church will go after its history on earth is completed. Thereafter, the New and Old Testament saints are seen in heaven under the figure of the “four and twenty elders” (Rev. 4:4,4And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold. (Revelation 4:4) etc.). Furthermore, the Spirit of God no longer addresses the Church as being on earth. The expression, “Let him hear what the Spirit sayeth to the churches” (repeated many times in chapters 1-3), ceases, because the church will be gone from the earth. If we are then, in the last days of the Church period, it is obvious that the Lord’s coming must be very near at hand.
No more to view Thy chosen few
In selfish strife divided;
But drink in peace the living grace
That gave them hearts united!
Lord, haste that day of cloudless ray,
That prospect bright unfailing;
Where God shall shine in light divine,
In glory never fading.
The Midight Cry Has Gone Forth
Matthew 25:1-131Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. 2And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. 3They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: 4But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. 5While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. 6And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. 7Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. 8And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. 9But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. 10And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. 11Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. 12But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. 13Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh. (Matthew 25:1‑13) is another passage that gives us a glimpse of the Church’s testimony on earth from its early days right up to the Lord’s coming. The Lord mentions four distinct periods in this parable that would characterize the time of His absence. These four epochs span the whole period of the Church’s history on earth.
• “They all slumbered and slept” (vs. 5). This would mark another period in the Church’s history when the Christian profession, as a whole, fell asleep as to the reality of the Lord’s coming. This happened shortly after the apostles’ day and carried on through many centuries into the dark ages.
• “At midnight there was a cry” (vs. 6). This refers to a revival that took place during the 1800’s when there was a general awakening in the Christian world to the fact that the Lord Jesus was coming again.
• “The Bridegroom came” (vs. 10). This is the moment that we are all looking for—the Rapture! It will close the Church’s history in this world, and we will be taken home to heaven.
The first verse gives us three things that characterized the early Church. First of all, it says that the virgins “took their lamps.” A lamp speaks of profession. It refers to the bright testimony that they had before the world in that day. There was a manifestation of their faith. Then, it says that they “went forth.” This speaks of separation. They went outside the camp of Judaism and out from their worldly associations (Heb. 13:1313Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach. (Hebrews 13:13); 1 Thess. 1:99For they themselves show of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; (1 Thessalonians 1:9)). Lastly, it says that they went “to meet the Bridegroom.” This speaks of expectation. They had the hope of the Lord’s coming before their souls. There was manifestation, separation, and expectation. It is what marked the early Church.
There were ten virgins; “five of them were wise, and five were foolish” (Matt. 25:22And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. (Matthew 25:2)). The wise had “oil” in their lamps, but the others didn’t. This means that some were saved and sealed with the Spirit, and others were not. They only had the lamp of profession. This depicts the mixture that exists within the Christian profession.
However, that happy state (vs. 1) didn’t last long; they all “slumbered and slept” (vs. 5). The Church got tired of looking for the Lord to come and became affected by the world and bad teaching, which caused it to lose sight of His coming. Note: there was first slumbering and then sleeping. This shows that it was a state that came over the Church gradually.
Then, in the 1800’s, a sovereign work of God took place whereby there was a revival of the truth of the Lord’s coming and many related truths. “At midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the Bridegroom cometh.” People awoke to the fact that the Lord was coming! There was quite a stir among Christians, and many began to look into prophecy. As they looked into the subject of future events as taught in the Word of God, they learned that the Church formed no part of prophecy. They also learned that the Church didn’t belong to the earth but that it had a heavenly calling and destiny. Then they realized that the Lord could come at any moment and take the Church to heaven, as there was nothing in prophecy that first had to be fulfilled.
The word, “cometh” is not in the earliest MSS (vs. 6). It was put into the text by the KJV translators, but really, it has no business being there. It makes His coming more of an event. The thought, rather, is that a PERSON is coming—the Lord Jesus Christ! It should simply read, “Behold, the Bridegroom!” This portrays the spirit of things at that time more accurately. People in that day were not just looking for an event to take place; they were looking for the Lord to come! The call also exhorted them: “Go ye out to meet Him.” This means that there was an exercise to revert to their original position—outside the camp and the world. They left every ecclesiastical and secular association that they had been connected with and waited for the coming of the Lord.
In the next few verses we see what happened at that time in the Christian profession at large. There was quite a stir to get ready to meet the Bridegroom. Many were discovered to have “no oil” in their lamps. The exhortation of “the wise” to “the foolish” was to go and “buy” it from “them that sell.” This refers to the great gospel effort that marked that day. The gospel was preached freely and many were saved. Buying would speak of having a personal transaction of faith with “them” (the Father and the Son), whereby they would be saved and sealed with the indwelling Spirit of God, of which the “oil” speaks (compare Isaiah 55:1-31Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. 2Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labor for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness. 3Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David. (Isaiah 55:1‑3)). The foolish were told: “Buy for yourselves.” Everyone who gets saved must have a personal transaction with the Lord Himself. It is not possible to buy it for another person.
Then came that happy but solemn moment when the Bridegroom came, and “they that were ready went in with Him to the marriage: and the door was shut” (vs. 10). Those who were foolish and unprepared when the Bridegroom came missed out. Afterward, they came and cried, “Lord, Lord, open to us,” but it was too late! (vs. 11) Five times we get the expression in Scripture, “Lord, Lord,” and it always refers to empty profession (Matt. 7:21; 7:22; 25:1121Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? (Matthew 7:21‑22)
11Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. (Matthew 25:11); Luke 6:46; 13:2546And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? (Luke 6:46)
25When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are: (Luke 13:25)).
Our point in mentioning this is that more than 150 years have rolled by since the time of awakening and revival—and the Church is still on earth! It makes us realize just how near we must be to His coming.
The night is far spent, and the day is at hand;
No sign to be looked for; the Star’s in the sky;
Rejoice then, ye saints, ‘tis your Lord’s own command;
Rejoice, for the coming of Jesus draws nigh.
The Revival of Jewish National Independence and Political Unrest in the Middle East
In Matthew 24:32-34,32Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: 33So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. 34Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled. (Matthew 24:32‑34) Mark 13:28-30,28Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When her branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is near: 29So ye in like manner, when ye shall see these things come to pass, know that it is nigh, even at the doors. 30Verily I say unto you, that this generation shall not pass, till all these things be done. (Mark 13:28‑30) and Luke 21:29-32,29And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees; 30When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand. 31So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand. 32Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled. (Luke 21:29‑32) the Lord taught that when “the fig tree” (a symbol of Israel nationally) would bud again and shoot forth leaves, His coming would be near. In 1948, after many long centuries without any official homeland, Israel gained its national independence by declaring itself a nation again in the land of Palestine. The fig tree has begun to bud again. Presently the nation has only the leaves of profession and no real fruit toward God. It still will not recognize the Lord Jesus as its true Messiah, and the nation will not bring forth fruit for God until such time as it does.
The Lord went on to say, “ ... and all the trees” (Luke 21:2929And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees; (Luke 21:29)). This refers to various other nations. Egypt and Libya have come into prominence in recent years. The Arab nations have also become prominent in recent times. The nations in Western Europe, too, are lining up in a common agreement (the European Economic Committee). This could very well be the forerunner of the ten-nation kingdom of the Beast (Dan.7:7; Rev. 13:1-31And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy. 2And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority. 3And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast. (Revelation 13:1‑3)). We realize that these present happenings are foreshadows and not the very fulfillment of these Scriptures, which will only be fulfilled in the Tribulation period after the Church has been taken to heaven.
The Lord said that when we see these things, then we are to know that His coming is near. The aspect of His coming that He was referring to is His Appearing. Realizing that the Rapture will take place some 7 years before that, causes us to soberly realize that “the end of all things is at hand” (1 Peter 4:77But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer. (1 Peter 4:7)).
The Rapid Pace of Life in the Time of the End
In Daniel 12:44But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased. (Daniel 12:4) the prophet was told, “But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.” A rapid pace of life and increase in knowledge would generally characterize “the time of the end.” It is obvious to all that in recent times there has been an incredible increase in the pace of life. People today live at a frenzied pace.
In the last hundred years there have been some giant steps forward in travel, enabling people to run “to and fro.” People today are running all over the globe in a way and at a rate that was unheard of in history. No generation has seen what we see today in this regard. A hundred years ago there were no airplanes, helicopters, space-ships, etc.—even automobiles are barely 100 years old. This is another indicator that we are definitely in the last days.
The Increase of Knowledge in the Time of the End
Daniel 12:44But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased. (Daniel 12:4) also indicates that there would be an increase of knowledge and information. The prophet was told: “And knowledge shall increase.” A cursory glance at the history of man shows that there has never been a day like this present day for an increase of knowledge in every field—whether it is medicine, technology, science, sports, etc. It is indeed another sign of the times and should confirm to us that “the time is short” (1 Cor. 7:2929But this I say, brethren, the time is short: it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none; (1 Corinthians 7:29)).
‘Tis not far off—the hour
When Christ shall claim His own!
We soon shall hear that voice of power,
The Lord Himself shall come!
The Increase and Prevalence of Skepticism in the Last Days
2nd Peter 3:3-4 says, “Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, and saying, Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.” The Apostle tells us plainly that the last days would be marked by the increase of skepticism. This is another indication that we are near the end of the church period on earth.
It might be argued that people have always scoffed at the promise of the Lord’s coming. Peter does not dispute that; his point is that there would be an increase and prevalence of such people. Could anyone deny that there is less reverence for the things of God today than ever before—especially for the promise of the Lord’s coming? The world is filled with people who are bolder than ever in their scoffing and mockery. It tells us that we are very near the time of the Lord’s coming.
The Figurative Use of “Two Days” in Scripture
2nd Peter 3:8 says, “One day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.” Compare also Psalm 90:44For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night. (Psalm 90:4). If one day is 1000 years with the Lord, then two days would be 2000 years in God’s reckoning. Keeping this in mind, various passages in Scripture use the figure of “two days” to suggest that the approximate time of the Lord’s absence from this world before He comes again will be 2000 years.
This is not some new idea that originated with the author. Brethren have ministered from the figure of “two days” for many years. In fact, a comment appears to this end in Present Testimony (a periodical published in the 1860’s and 1870’s.–edited by G. V. Wigram). Commenting on John 4, it says, “Two days of testimony—in figure, I doubt not, the present time of grace to the Gentiles in which they receive the gift of living water, the Holy Ghost—and then we find the Lord again in Jewish connection, not in Judea, but in Galilee, whence the latter-day light streams forth (Isa. 9).” (Present Testimony, new series, vol. 3, p. 133)
To see this point more clearly it is necessary to understand something of God’s dispensational ways with Israel. On account of Israel’s failure under the law, and their rejection of Christ as their Messiah, they have been set aside in the ways of God for a time and dispersed among the nations (Lev. 26:3333And I will scatter you among the heathen, and will draw out a sword after you: and your land shall be desolate, and your cities waste. (Leviticus 26:33); Psa. 44:1111Thou hast given us like sheep appointed for meat; and hast scattered us among the heathen. (Psalm 44:11)). Meanwhile, God has been sending out the gospel of His grace to the Gentile world to take out of them a people for His name (Acts 15:14; 28:25-2814Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name. (Acts 15:14)
25And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed, after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias the prophet unto our fathers, 26Saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive: 27For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. 28Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it. (Acts 28:25‑28); Rom. 11:11-2711I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy. 12Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness? 13For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office: 14If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them. 15For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead? 16For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches. 17And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree; 18Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee. 19Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in. 20Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear: 21For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee. 22Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off. 23And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again. 24For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert graffed contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be graffed into their own olive tree? 25For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. 26And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: 27For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins. (Romans 11:11‑27)). After the present period of God’s dealings among the Gentiles in His calling of the Church, He will take up with Israel again to bring them into blessing according to the unconditional promises made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. There are many references in Scripture where “two days” appear, suggesting that this present period of grace—when Israel is set aside—would be approximately 2000 years.
Some might point to the fact that we have passed the year 2000 (Y2K) quite some time ago, being that it is now 2018. This is quite true, but the Church has not been on earth for 2000 years yet. It was not formed until the Lord died and rose again, and sent the Holy Spirit from heaven (Acts 1-2). It is generally regarded that this was in 33AD, since the Lord lived 33½ years in this world. If we wanted to get literal about it (and we would miss the point if we did) 2000 years would be in 2033. However, it is common knowledge that our calendar has been tampered with, and the real date of Christ’s birth is 4 or 5 years earlier than what the calendar indicates. Christ was really born in 5 B.C. (See J. N. Darby’s Translation, p. xxiii, in the preface). This means that a literal 2000 years would be somewhere around 2029. If the 7-year Tribulation period is to be subtracted from this (since many of the types speak of Israel being set aside for two days) it would be that much less—perhaps somewhere around 2022.
However, to count literal years like this is to miss the point of the figure entirely. “Two days,” in Scripture, must not be interpreted as a literal 2000 years. It has been employed of the Spirit to suggest two millenniums in a general sense. It is a picture for us—nothing more. But what a tremendous picture it is! And what a tremendous encouragement for the saints who are watching and waiting! It makes us realize that the Lord is coming very soon. Perhaps today!
Some References Where the Figure “Two Days” Appears in Scripture
“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 that latter and former rain unto the earth.” The repentant in Israel are speaking here—they say: “After two days (the present period of grace of approximately 2000 years) He will revive us, in the third day (the coming 1000 year reign of Christ—the Millennium), He will raise us up and we shall live in His sight.”
2) Luke 10:30-3530And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. 31And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side. 33But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, 34And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee. (Luke 10:30‑35)
“A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, and went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.”
In these verses, the “certain man” who falls in the wayside by predators is a picture of the awful condition into which man has fallen through Satan’s operations. Before God, man lies in the ditch of sin “half-dead.” He is physically alive but spiritually dead. The “priest” and the “Levite” who wouldn’t help the man, illustrate how that religion can’t save man out of his terrible condition. The “Samaritan” who appears on the scene to rescue the man is a picture of the Lord Jesus Christ, the rejected Saviour. He rescues the man and brings him—not back to Jerusalem, which answers to the old order of things in Judaism—but to an “inn.” The inn is a picture of the assembly. At the inn he received help, food, and fellowship to meet his needs. After leaving the man in the care of “the host” (the Holy Spirit), the Samaritan pays for the man’s stay at the inn with two pennies, promising to come back again. This suggests that the time he intended to be away was two days, for in those days a penny was a day’s wages (Matt. 20:22And when he had agreed with the laborers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard. (Matthew 20:2)).
In John 1:2929The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. (John 1:29) and 43 we have two days. (Verses 29 and 35 are the same day. Verse 35 says, “Again,” linking it with vs. 29). The details found in these two days (vss. 29 and 43) answer to certain things that are characteristic of the Church period. Reference is made to Christ being made known as the Lamb of God (vss. 29, 35) and the Son of God (vs. 34), the Holy Spirit’s descent and baptism (vss. 32-33), Christ’s dwelling place, which is the assembly (vss. 38-39), and the gospel going out bringing others to Christ (vss. 40-42, 45-50).
4) John 4:1-541When therefore the Lord knew how the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John, 2(Though Jesus himself baptized not, but his disciples,) 3He left Judea, and departed again into Galilee. 4And he must needs go through Samaria. 5Then cometh he to a city of Samaria, which is called Sychar, near to the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. 6Now Jacob's well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour. 7There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink. 8(For his disciples were gone away unto the city to buy meat.) 9Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans. 10Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water. 11The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water? 12Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle? 13Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: 14But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. 15The woman saith unto him, Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw. 16Jesus saith unto her, Go, call thy husband, and come hither. 17The woman answered and said, I have no husband. Jesus said unto her, Thou hast well said, I have no husband: 18For thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband: in that saidst thou truly. 19The woman saith unto him, Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet. 20Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship. 21Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. 22Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. 23But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. 24God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. 25The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things. 26Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he. 27And upon this came his disciples, and marvelled that he talked with the woman: yet no man said, What seekest thou? or, Why talkest thou with her? 28The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men, 29Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ? 30Then they went out of the city, and came unto him. 31In the mean while his disciples prayed him, saying, Master, eat. 32But he said unto them, I have meat to eat that ye know not of. 33Therefore said the disciples one to another, Hath any man brought him ought to eat? 34Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work. 35Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest. 36And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together. 37And herein is that saying true, One soweth, and another reapeth. 38I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labor: other men labored, and ye are entered into their labors. 39And many of the Samaritans of that city believed on him for the saying of the woman, which testified, He told me all that ever I did. 40So when the Samaritans were come unto him, they besought him that he would tarry with them: and he abode there two days. 41And many more believed because of his own word; 42And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world. 43Now after two days he departed thence, and went into Galilee. 44For Jesus himself testified, that a prophet hath no honor in his own country. 45Then when he was come into Galilee, the Galileans received him, having seen all the things that he did at Jerusalem at the feast: for they also went unto the feast. 46So Jesus came again into Cana of Galilee, where he made the water wine. And there was a certain nobleman, whose son was sick at Capernaum. 47When he heard that Jesus was come out of Judea into Galilee, he went unto him, and besought him that he would come down, and heal his son: for he was at the point of death. 48Then said Jesus unto him, Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe. 49The nobleman saith unto him, Sir, come down ere my child die. 50Jesus saith unto him, Go thy way; thy son liveth. And the man believed the word that Jesus had spoken unto him, and he went his way. 51And as he was now going down, his servants met him, and told him, saying, Thy son liveth. 52Then inquired he of them the hour when he began to amend. And they said unto him, Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him. 53So the father knew that it was at the same hour, in the which Jesus said unto him, Thy son liveth: and himself believed, and his whole house. 54This is again the second miracle that Jesus did, when he was come out of Judea into Galilee. (John 4:1‑54)
The chapter opens with the Lord Jesus being rejected by the Jews in Judea (vss. 1-3). This foreshadows the nation formally rejecting the Lord Jesus and eventually crucifying Him (Acts 2:23; 3:13-1523Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: (Acts 2:23)
13The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go. 14But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you; 15And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses. (Acts 3:13‑15)). Being rejected, He leaves them and goes to the Samaritans, which are a people of Gentile extraction, and there He reveals Himself to a poor sinful woman and her people (vss. 4-42). This is a picture of the gospel going out to the Gentiles after the nation of Israel refused it (Acts 15:1414Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name. (Acts 15:14); Rom. 11:16-2016For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches. 17And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree; 18Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee. 19Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in. 20Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear: (Romans 11:16‑20)). It is noteworthy that the Lord chose, at that time, to reveal to this woman the truth of the passing away of the old Judaic order of worship and the introduction of true Christian worship in spirit and truth (vss. 23-24). It is also of note that the Lord did not do any miracles in Samaria. He used only His Word to accomplish His work there. This has largely been the way God has carried on the Christian testimony among the Gentiles. This present era has not been marked by signs and wonders, but by the power of His Word alone going forth and converting souls.
It is significant that the Lord remained “two days” among the Samaritans telling out the heart of God to them (vs. 40). Then, after the “two days” expired, He returned to His own people—the Jews in Galilee (vss. 43-54). His work in Galilee is a picture of the time in the near future when He will resume His dealings with a remnant of Israel. The nobleman that comes to Him suggests that the leaders who have caused Israel to reject Christ will repent first (Joel 2:12-1712Therefore also now, saith the Lord, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: 13And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil. 14Who knoweth if he will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind him; even a meat offering and a drink offering unto the Lord your God? 15Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly: 16Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children, and those that suck the breasts: let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet. 17Let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare thy people, O Lord, and give not thine heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them: wherefore should they say among the people, Where is their God? (Joel 2:12‑17)). The Lord then raised up the nobleman’s son, which is a picture of Israel’s national resurrection (Ezek. 37:1-281The hand of the Lord was upon me, and carried me out in the spirit of the Lord, and set me down in the midst of the valley which was full of bones, 2And caused me to pass by them round about: and, behold, there were very many in the open valley; and, lo, they were very dry. 3And he said unto me, Son of man, can these bones live? And I answered, O Lord God, thou knowest. 4Again he said unto me, Prophesy upon these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the Lord. 5Thus saith the Lord God unto these bones; Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live: 6And I will lay sinews upon you, and will bring up flesh upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and ye shall live; and ye shall know that I am the Lord. 7So I prophesied as I was commanded: and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold a shaking, and the bones came together, bone to his bone. 8And when I beheld, lo, the sinews and the flesh came up upon them, and the skin covered them above: but there was no breath in them. 9Then said he unto me, Prophesy unto the wind, prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind, Thus saith the Lord God; Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live. 10So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up upon their feet, an exceeding great army. 11Then he said unto me, Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel: behold, they say, Our bones are dried, and our hope is lost: we are cut off for our parts. 12Therefore prophesy and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, O my people, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel. 13And ye shall know that I am the Lord, when I have opened your graves, O my people, and brought you up out of your graves, 14And shall put my spirit in you, and ye shall live, and I shall place you in your own land: then shall ye know that I the Lord have spoken it, and performed it, saith the Lord. 15The word of the Lord came again unto me, saying, 16Moreover, thou son of man, take thee one stick, and write upon it, For Judah, and for the children of Israel his companions: then take another stick, and write upon it, For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim, and for all the house of Israel his companions: 17And join them one to another into one stick; and they shall become one in thine hand. 18And when the children of thy people shall speak unto thee, saying, Wilt thou not show us what thou meanest by these? 19Say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I will take the stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel his fellows, and will put them with him, even with the stick of Judah, and make them one stick, and they shall be one in mine hand. 20And the sticks whereon thou writest shall be in thine hand before their eyes. 21And say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I will take the children of Israel from among the heathen, whither they be gone, and will gather them on every side, and bring them into their own land: 22And I will make them one nation in the land upon the mountains of Israel; and one king shall be king to them all: and they shall be no more two nations, neither shall they be divided into two kingdoms any more at all: 23Neither shall they defile themselves any more with their idols, nor with their detestable things, nor with any of their transgressions: but I will save them out of all their dwellingplaces, wherein they have sinned, and will cleanse them: so shall they be my people, and I will be their God. 24And David my servant shall be king over them; and they all shall have one shepherd: they shall also walk in my judgments, and observe my statutes, and do them. 25And they shall dwell in the land that I have given unto Jacob my servant, wherein your fathers have dwelt; and they shall dwell therein, even they, and their children, and their children's children for ever: and my servant David shall be their prince for ever. 26Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them; it shall be an everlasting covenant with them: and I will place them, and multiply them, and will set my sanctuary in the midst of them for evermore. 27My tabernacle also shall be with them: yea, I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 28And the heathen shall know that I the Lord do sanctify Israel, when my sanctuary shall be in the midst of them for evermore. (Ezekiel 37:1‑28); Dan. 12:1-21And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: 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. 2And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. (Daniel 12:1‑2)).
In this passage the Lord Jesus is again seen as rejected by the Jews who tried to stone Him to death. He escaped out of their hand into a place beyond Jordan, outside the land of Israel. In that place many people believed on Him and were blessed. Again, this is a picture of the Lord leaving off His dealings with Israel on account of their unbelief and rejection of Him, and turning to the Gentiles. It is also significant that He remained in that place for “two days” (John 11:66When he had heard therefore that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same place where he was. (John 11:6)).
In chapter 11 Lazarus is dead. This is a figure of Israel’s national condition before God (Ezek. 37:1-21The hand of the Lord was upon me, and carried me out in the spirit of the Lord, and set me down in the midst of the valley which was full of bones, 2And caused me to pass by them round about: and, behold, there were very many in the open valley; and, lo, they were very dry. (Ezekiel 37:1‑2)). Mary and Martha, in their sorrow, are a picture of the godly Jewish remnant in the coming day who will call for the Lord to return (Psa. 6:3-4,3My soul is also sore vexed: but thou, O Lord, how long? 4Return, O Lord, deliver my soul: oh save me for thy mercies' sake. (Psalm 6:3‑4) etc.). After “two days” the Lord went to Lazarus and raised Him up. This again is a picture of Israel being raised up in a coming day.
When the Lord got to where Lazarus was, it says that he had been dead for “four days.” (John 11:17, 3917Then when Jesus came, he found that he had lain in the grave four days already. (John 11:17)
39Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days. (John 11:39)) This points to the nation’s whole history before God, from Abraham’s time onward. We all know that Israel’s national history can be traced back to Abraham who lived 2000 years before Christ. From that time, to the coming of Christ to raise up Israel (at His Appearing), is approximately 4000 years (“four days”). After Lazarus was raised up the Lord went up to Jerusalem and the Gentiles came to Him (John 12:12-2212On the next day much people that were come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, 13Took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord. 14And Jesus, when he had found a young ass, sat thereon; as it is written, 15Fear not, daughter of Sion: behold, thy King cometh, sitting on an ass's colt. 16These things understood not his disciples at the first: but when Jesus was glorified, then remembered they that these things were written of him, and that they had done these things unto him. 17The people therefore that was with him when he called Lazarus out of his grave, and raised him from the dead, bare record. 18For this cause the people also met him, for that they heard that he had done this miracle. 19The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, Perceive ye how ye prevail nothing? behold, the world is gone after him. 20And there were certain Greeks among them that came up to worship at the feast: 21The same came therefore to Philip, which was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and desired him, saying, Sir, we would see Jesus. 22Philip cometh and telleth Andrew: and again Andrew and Philip tell Jesus. (John 12:12‑22)). At that time the crowds cried, “Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord,” and, “Thy King cometh, sitting on an ass’s colt.” This is a picture of the Millennium when Israel and the Gentile nations will acknowledge Christ as the King of Israel (Zech. 2:1111And many nations shall be joined to the Lord in that day, and shall be my people: and I will dwell in the midst of thee, and thou shalt know that the Lord of hosts hath sent me unto thee. (Zechariah 2:11); Psa. 47:99The princes of the people are gathered together, even the people of the God of Abraham: for the shields of the earth belong unto God: he is greatly exalted. (Psalm 47:9)).
6) Acts 20:7-127And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight. 8And there were many lights in the upper chamber, where they were gathered together. 9And there sat in a window a certain young man named Eutychus, being fallen into a deep sleep: and as Paul was long preaching, he sunk down with sleep, and fell down from the third loft, and was taken up dead. 10And Paul went down, and fell on him, and embracing him said, Trouble not yourselves; for his life is in him. 11When he therefore was come up again, and had broken bread, and eaten, and talked a long while, even till break of day, so he departed. 12And they brought the young man alive, and were not a little comforted. (Acts 20:7‑12)
“Upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight. And there were many lights in the upper chamber, where they were gathered together. And there sat in a window a certain young man named Eutychus, being fallen into a deep sleep: and as Paul was long preaching, he sunk down with sleep, and fell down from the third loft, and was taken up dead. And Paul went down, and fell on him, and embracing him said, Trouble not yourselves; for his life is in him. When he therefore was come up again, and had broken bread, and eaten, and talked a long while, even till break of day, so he departed. And they brought the young man alive, and were not a little comforted.”
In this passage we have a picture of the Church in its proper order, as it was during the early days of Christianity. They were in “the upper room” (Luke 22:1212And he shall show you a large upper room furnished: there make ready. (Luke 22:12); John 13-17), “gathered together” (Matt. 18:2020For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. (Matthew 18:20)), “breaking bread” (1 Cor. 11:23-2623For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: 24And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. 25After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. 26For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord's death till he come. (1 Corinthians 11:23‑26)) on “the first day of the week.” There is the suggestion of two days here—“the first day of the week” and “the morrow.”
The happy scene, however, was interrupted by the fall and bringing up again of Eutychus. This points to the fact (to which history attests) that the Church slipped into the world from its lofty and separated position, and then has been graciously recovered in a remnant testimony. The whole meeting, however, did not break up until “daybreak” on the morrow. This is significant, and it speaks of the Lord’s coming to close up this dispensation of grace.
“The LORD said unto Moses, Go unto the people, and sanctify them today and tomorrow, 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.” Here, the Lord was hidden from Israel’s view for two days (“today and tomorrow”), prior to His coming down in the sight of all the people to make a covenant with them on “the third day.”
The two days, again, could answer to this present dispensation during which time the Lord has remained hidden from Israel and the world which have rejected Him. As we have seen already, the “third day,” answers to the time of the Lord’s public manifestation at His second coming—His appearing. (Rev. 1:77Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen. (Revelation 1:7)). Therefore, in the giving of the first covenant we have a hint as to when the new covenant will be made with Israel (Jer. 31:31-34; Heb. 8:8-128For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah: 9Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord. 10For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people: 11And they shall not teach every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest. 12For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more. (Hebrews 8:8‑12)). Although Israel failed to keep the law given to them in that day (when they were under the first covenant), in the coming day they will keep His law, for it will be written in their hearts (Ezek. 36:25-27; 37:2625Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. 26A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. 27And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them. (Ezekiel 36:25‑27)
26Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them; it shall be an everlasting covenant with them: and I will place them, and multiply them, and will set my sanctuary in the midst of them for evermore. (Ezekiel 37:26); Rom. 11:25-2725For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. 26And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: 27For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins. (Romans 11:25‑27)).
“Then spake Joshua to the LORD in the day when the LORD delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel, Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon; and thou, Moon, in the valley of Ajalon. And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies. Is not this written in the book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and hasted not to go down about a whole day. And there was not a day like that before it or after it, that the LORD hearkened unto the voice of a man: for the LORD fought for Israel.”
In the ninth chapter, Israel failed in their responsibility, and consequently, the Gibeonites were brought in among them. These people were Gentiles, and as a result of the failure Joshua was obligated to “save” the Gibeonites (Josh. 10:66And the men of Gibeon sent unto Joshua to the camp to Gilgal, saying, Slack not thy hand from thy servants; come up to us quickly, and save us, and help us: for all the kings of the Amorites that dwell in the mountains are gathered together against us. (Joshua 10:6)). This tells the story of the opportunity that has been given to the Gentile world to be saved by the grace of God in the face of Israel’s failure (Rom. 11:11-2011I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy. 12Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness? 13For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office: 14If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them. 15For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead? 16For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches. 17And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree; 18Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee. 19Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in. 20Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear: (Romans 11:11‑20)).
After a conflict for one full day, Joshua realized that there was not enough time to complete the victory, so he called for the sun not to go down, and so it stood still over Gibeon for another whole day. The battle, therefore, went on for two days, as we would count time! This is a picture of this lengthened out day of grace when the sunshine of God’s grace has shone over this world “until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in” (Rom. 11:25). There was “not a day like it,” and there is no day like this present day of grace when Gentiles from all over the world are being saved by the thousands. After the long day in Gibeon, Israel returned to “Gilgal”—the place that speaks of self-judgment (vs. 15; Josh. 5:1-91And it came to pass, when all the kings of the Amorites, which were on the side of Jordan westward, and all the kings of the Canaanites, which were by the sea, heard that the Lord had dried up the waters of Jordan from before the children of Israel, until we were passed over, that their heart melted, neither was there spirit in them any more, because of the children of Israel. 2At that time the Lord said unto Joshua, Make thee sharp knives, and circumcise again the children of Israel the second time. 3And Joshua made him sharp knives, and circumcised the children of Israel at the hill of the foreskins. 4And this is the cause why Joshua did circumcise: All the people that came out of Egypt, that were males, even all the men of war, died in the wilderness by the way, after they came out of Egypt. 5Now all the people that came out were circumcised: but all the people that were born in the wilderness by the way as they came forth out of Egypt, them they had not circumcised. 6For the children of Israel walked forty years in the wilderness, till all the people that were men of war, which came out of Egypt, were consumed, because they obeyed not the voice of the Lord: unto whom the Lord sware that he would not show them the land, which the Lord sware unto their fathers that he would give us, a land that floweth with milk and honey. 7And their children, whom he raised up in their stead, them Joshua circumcised: for they were uncircumcised, because they had not circumcised them by the way. 8And it came to pass, when they had done circumcising all the people, that they abode in their places in the camp, till they were whole. 9And the Lord said unto Joshua, This day have I rolled away the reproach of Egypt from off you. Wherefore the name of the place is called Gilgal unto this day. (Joshua 5:1‑9)). Similarly, after the day of grace has run its course, Israel will be brought to self-judgment and repentance before the Lord, after which time they will be blessed in His kingdom (Psa. 51; Zech. 12:9-149And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem. 10And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn. 11In that day shall there be a great mourning in Jerusalem, as the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the valley of Megiddon. 12And the land shall mourn, every family apart; the family of the house of David apart, and their wives apart; the family of the house of Nathan apart, and their wives apart; 13The family of the house of Levi apart, and their wives apart; the family of Shimei apart, and their wives apart; 14All the families that remain, every family apart, and their wives apart. (Zechariah 12:9‑14)).
“Now it came to pass after the death of Saul, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, and David had abode two days in Ziklag; it came even to pass on the third day, that, behold, a man came out of the camp from Saul with his clothes rent, and earth upon his head: and so it was, when he came to David, that he fell to the earth, and did obeisance.”
David is a type of Christ here. In 1 Samuel, he was rejected by his brethren and resorted to Ziklag, which was a place outside the land that Israel occupied in that day (1 Sam. 27:4-64And it was told Saul that David was fled to Gath: and he sought no more again for him. 5And David said unto Achish, If I have now found grace in thine eyes, let them give me a place in some town in the country, that I may dwell there: for why should thy servant dwell in the royal city with thee? 6Then Achish gave him Ziklag that day: wherefore Ziklag pertaineth unto the kings of Judah unto this day. (1 Samuel 27:4‑6)). It appears that David lived in Ziklag for 16 months (1 Sam. 27:77And the time that David dwelt in the country of the Philistines was a full year and four months. (1 Samuel 27:7)). But it is striking that this verse says that he abode there “two days,” before he moved forward on “the third day” to publicly take the throne in Hebron. David, in his rejection, answers to Christ at this present time being rejected by Israel and the world. The “third day,” as we have seen previously, answers to the time when the Lord will come in power and glory to take the throne in Israel and to reign as the rightful King over all (Isa. 32:11Behold, a king shall reign in righteousness, and princes shall rule in judgment. (Isaiah 32:1); Zech. 14:99And the Lord shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one Lord, and his name one. (Zechariah 14:9)).
10) 2 Kings 19:35-20:735And it came to pass that night, that the angel of the Lord went out, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians an hundred fourscore and five thousand: and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses. 36So Sennacherib king of Assyria departed, and went and returned, and dwelt at Nineveh. 37And it came to pass, as he was worshipping in the house of Nisroch his god, that Adrammelech and Sharezer his sons smote him with the sword: and they escaped into the land of Armenia. And Esar-haddon his son reigned in his stead. 1In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz came to him, and said unto him, Thus saith the Lord, Set thine house in order; for thou shalt die, and not live. 2Then he turned his face to the wall, and prayed unto the Lord, saying, 3I beseech thee, O Lord, remember now how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight. And Hezekiah wept sore. 4And it came to pass, afore Isaiah was gone out into the middle court, that the word of the Lord came to him, saying, 5Turn again, and tell Hezekiah the captain of my people, Thus saith the Lord, the God of David thy father, 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. 6And I will add unto thy days fifteen years; and I will deliver thee and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria; and I will defend this city for mine own sake, and for my servant David's sake. 7And Isaiah said, Take a lump of figs. And they took and laid it on the boil, and he recovered. (2 Kings 19:35‑20:7)
“And it came to pass that night, that the angel of the LORD went out, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians an hundred fourscore and five thousand: and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses. So Sennacherib king of Assyria departed, and went and returned, and dwelt at Nineveh. And it came to pass, as he was worshipping in the house of Nisroch his god, that Adrammelech and Sharezer his sons smote him with the sword: and they escaped into the land of Armenia. And Esarhaddon his son reigned in his stead. In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz came to him, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Set thine house in order; for thou shalt die, and not live. Then he turned his face to the wall, and prayed unto the LORD, saying, I beseech Thee, O LORD, remember now how I have walked before Thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in Thy sight. And Hezekiah wept sore. And it came to pass, afore Isaiah was gone out into the middle court, that the word of the LORD came to him, saying, Turn again, and tell Hezekiah the captain of My people, Thus saith the LORD, the God of David thy father, 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. And I will add unto thy days fifteen years; and I will deliver thee and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria; and I will defend this city for Mine own sake, and for My servant David’s sake. And Isaiah said, Take a lump of figs. And they took and laid it on the boil, and he recovered.”
In this passage we see that after the Lord defeated Sennacherib and his Assyrian army, Hezekiah (who was “sick unto death”) was raised up to health again on “the third day.” Sennacherib and the Assyrians are a well-known type of the Russian hordes who will come down upon the land of Israel in their last days (Ezek. 38-39). Hezekiah’s sick condition (at the point of death) is a picture of Israel’s spiritual condition before God. It is significant that Hezekiah laid in this condition for two days before he called upon the Lord on “the third day,” and was raised up. So with Israel, when they call upon the Lord in their distress at the end of the Great Tribulation (Joel 2:15-1715Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly: 16Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children, and those that suck the breasts: let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet. 17Let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare thy people, O Lord, and give not thine heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them: wherefore should they say among the people, Where is their God? (Joel 2:15‑17)), they will be raised up by Him.
11) Jonah 1-3
In chapter 1, God communicated His mind to Jonah, thus making him a responsible witness to the Ninevehites (Gentiles). Similarly, the nation of Israel was given a privilege, having the oracles of God committed to them (Rom. 3:22Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God. (Romans 3:2)), and this made them responsible to bear testimony to the world of the true knowledge of God (Rom. 2:18-2018And knowest his will, and approvest the things that are more excellent, being instructed out of the law; 19And art confident that thou thyself art a guide of the blind, a light of them which are in darkness, 20An instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, which hast the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law. (Romans 2:18‑20); Isa. 43:1010Ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. (Isaiah 43:10)). Just as Jonah rebelled and went out from the presence of the Lord, Israel has also rebelled against the Lord and has failed to render a proper testimony of the Lord to the world. Their poor conduct under law has only given the nations cause to blaspheme God (Rom. 2:23-2423Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonorest thou God? 24For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written. (Romans 2:23‑24)).
Just as Jonah was thrown overboard into the sea, Israel, in the ways of God, has been set aside for a time. They are presently dispersed in the sea of nations (Rev. 17:1515And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues. (Revelation 17:15); Matt. 21:2121Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done. (Matthew 21:21)). After Jonah was thrown into the sea, the Gentile sailors turned to God. This is another picture of salvation coming to the Gentiles through Israel being set aside.
The struggles of Jonah in the great fish’s belly, in chapter 2, is a picture of the troubles and sorrows the Jews have gone through during the long years of their dispersion. It is interesting to note that although Jonah had been swallowed up by the great fish, he would not pray to God until the third day! It says, “Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights. Then Jonah prayed” (chap. 1:17–2:1). And when Jonah finally prayed in true brokenness, God answered his prayer and delivered him (Jonah 2:1010And the Lord spake unto the fish, and it vomited out Jonah upon the dry land. (Jonah 2:10)). This is a foreshadow of Israel’s deliverance and restoration to God.
Jonah came into public view again and was willing to be used as an instrument of blessing to the Ninevehites who are a picture of the many nations in the Gentile world who will convert to Israel’s God through Israel’s testimony (Jonah 3:1-101And the word of the Lord came unto Jonah the second time, saying, 2Arise, go unto Nineveh, that great city, and preach unto it the preaching that I bid thee. 3So Jonah arose, and went unto Nineveh, according to the word of the Lord. Now Nineveh was an exceeding great city of three days' journey. 4And Jonah began to enter into the city a day's journey, and he cried, and said, Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown. 5So the people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them. 6For word came unto the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, and he laid his robe from him, and covered him with sackcloth, and sat in ashes. 7And he caused it to be proclaimed and published through Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles, saying, Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste any thing: let them not feed, nor drink water: 8But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily unto God: yea, let them turn every one from his evil way, and from the violence that is in their hands. 9Who can tell if God will turn and repent, and turn away from his fierce anger, that we perish not? 10And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not. (Jonah 3:1‑10)). Israel will be used to be a blessing to the nations in that day (Isa. 2:1-3; 60:1-5; 62:1-31The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. 2And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. 3And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. (Isaiah 2:1‑3)
1Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. 2For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. 3And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising. 4Lift up thine eyes round about, and see: all they gather themselves together, they come to thee: thy sons shall come from far, and thy daughters shall be nursed at thy side. 5Then thou shalt see, and flow together, and thine heart shall fear, and be enlarged; because the abundance of the sea shall be converted unto thee, the forces of the Gentiles shall come unto thee. (Isaiah 60:1‑5)
1For Zion's sake will I not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and the salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth. 2And the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness, and all kings thy glory: and thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the Lord shall name. 3Thou shalt also be a crown of glory in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of thy God. (Isaiah 62:1‑3)).
12) Leviticus 23
The two days, in this chapter, are seen in a different way. It is first necessary to have a simple understanding of the dispensational outline of the chapter before these two days can be seen. There are seven yearly feasts in the chapter that foreshadow events from the cross of Christ to the coming kingdom of Christ. They are: “the Passover”—signifying the death of Christ (1 Cor. 5:77Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: (1 Corinthians 5:7)), “the Feast of Unleavened Bread”—signifying the practical fellowship in holiness in the community of believers (1 Cor. 5:88Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. (1 Corinthians 5:8)), “the Feast of First-Fruits”—signifying Christ risen and ascended to glory (1 Cor. 15:2323But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming. (1 Corinthians 15:23)), “the Feast of Pentecost”—signifying the Church as formed into one body by the descent and indwelling of the Spirit (Acts 2:11And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. (Acts 2:1)), “the Feast of Trumpets”—signifying Israel being gathered in from among the nations after their dispersion during this present day (Matt. 24:3131And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. (Matthew 24:31)), “the Day of Atonement”—signifying Israel’s repentance before God (Zech. 12:9-149And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem. 10And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn. 11In that day shall there be a great mourning in Jerusalem, as the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the valley of Megiddon. 12And the land shall mourn, every family apart; the family of the house of David apart, and their wives apart; the family of the house of Nathan apart, and their wives apart; 13The family of the house of Levi apart, and their wives apart; the family of Shimei apart, and their wives apart; 14All the families that remain, every family apart, and their wives apart. (Zechariah 12:9‑14); Psa.51), and “the Feast of Tabernacles”—signifying the Millennial blessing of the earth in the Kingdom of Christ (Psa. 72).
The first four feasts have been fulfilled and the last three are yet to be fulfilled. All of the feasts, except the middle two, were celebrated on specific Jewish calendar days and answer to the Jewish order of things wherein they observe times and seasons (Gal. 4:9-109But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage? 10Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years. (Galatians 4:9‑10)). But there were no calendar dates mentioned for “the Feast of First-Fruits” and “the Feast of Pentecost.” These feasts answer to this present Christian dispensation. They speak of Christ gone into heaven and the Spirit of God sent down to form the Church, the body of Christ. These are the two distinguishing characteristics of Christianity (John 7:3939(But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.) (John 7:39)). These two feasts were both to be kept on the first day of the week! These two first days of the week stand out from the rest of the feast days and typify this present period of approximately 2000 years.
13) Matthew 15:1-391Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying, 2Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread. 3But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition? 4For God commanded, saying, Honor thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death. 5But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; 6And honor not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition. 7Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, 8This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoreth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. 9But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. 10And he called the multitude, and said unto them, Hear, and understand: 11Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man. 12Then came his disciples, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying? 13But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up. 14Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch. 15Then answered Peter and said unto him, Declare unto us this parable. 16And Jesus said, Are ye also yet without understanding? 17Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught? 18But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. 19For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: 20These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man. 21Then Jesus went thence, and departed into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon. 22And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil. 23But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us. 24But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 25Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me. 26But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs. 27And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table. 28Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour. 29And Jesus departed from thence, and came nigh unto the sea of Galilee; and went up into a mountain, and sat down there. 30And great multitudes came unto him, having with them those that were lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and many others, and cast them down at Jesus' feet; and he healed them: 31Insomuch that the multitude wondered, when they saw the dumb to speak, the maimed to be whole, the lame to walk, and the blind to see: and they glorified the God of Israel. 32Then Jesus called his disciples unto him, and said, I have compassion on the multitude, because they continue with me now three days, and have nothing to eat: and I will not send them away fasting, lest they faint in the way. 33And his disciples say unto him, Whence should we have so much bread in the wilderness, as to fill so great a multitude? 34And Jesus saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven, and a few little fishes. 35And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground. 36And he took the seven loaves and the fishes, and gave thanks, and brake them, and gave to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude. 37And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets full. 38And they that did eat were four thousand men, beside women and children. 39And he sent away the multitude, and took ship, and came into the coasts of Magdala. (Matthew 15:1‑39)
In the first part of this chapter the Lord exposed the state of the Jews as being corrupt and far from God. After pronouncing His judgment upon them nationally, He departed to “Tyre and Sidon,” which are Gentile cities in Syria (Acts 21:33Now when we had discovered Cyprus, we left it on the left hand, and sailed into Syria, and landed at Tyre: for there the ship was to unlade her burden. (Acts 21:3)). This was a symbolic action of the Lord showing that God would break off His dealings with Israel, and that He would visit the Gentiles in this present day with the gospel of His grace. A Gentile woman was blessed there on the principle of faith, being a sample of the material of which the Church would be composed. After dealing with the woman, He returned into Jewish regions and took a place in a mountain in Galilee where He administered blessing to all who came to Him. This signifies God resuming His dealings with Israel in a coming day. The blessing that flowed out foreshadows Millennial blessing in the Kingdom of Christ. All were healed (vss. 29-31) according to Isaiah 35:5-6,5Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. 6Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert. (Isaiah 35:5‑6) and all were satisfied with bread (vss. 32-39) according to Psalm 132:1515I will abundantly bless her provision: I will satisfy her poor with bread. (Psalm 132:15). This blessing took place on the third day (vs. 32).
14) Matthew 17:1-81And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, 2And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. 3And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him. 4Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias. 5While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him. 6And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid. 7And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid. 8And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only. (Matthew 17:1‑8)
“And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, and was transfigured before them: and His face did shine as the sun, and His raiment was white as the light. And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with Him. Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if Thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for Thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias. While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye Him. And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid. And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid. And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only.” This account of the transfiguration of the Lord Jesus Christ on the mountain is a preview of His Millennial Kingdom glory. It took place “after six days.” Assuming that a thousand years is as one day (2 Peter 3:88But, 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)), this figuratively indicates that the Kingdom of Christ would be established after approximately 6000 years of man’s history on the earth. Christ was born 4000 years after Adam—or, after four days. If this passage indicates that His Kingdom will be established at approximately 6000 years (“six days”), we are then left with two days, or 2000 years, representing this present day of grace.
15) Esther 1-10
When God removed the seat of His government in the earth from Israel, He gave it into the hands of the Gentiles. This period of Gentile authority is called “the times of the Gentiles” (Luke 21:2424And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled. (Luke 21:24)). Thereafter, the various Gentile monarchs that ruled during that period were indirectly an extension of God’s authority in the earth. In the book of Esther, king Ahasuerus ruled in that place of authority over the known world of his time—“from India even unto Ethiopia” (chap. 1:1). He is a type of God who rules over the whole world from behind the scenes (Dan. 4:1717This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men. (Daniel 4:17)).
The first chapter of Esther tells us that king Ahasuerus made a feast “unto all,” both “great and small” (chap. 1:1-5). This is a picture of the great feast that God has made for all mankind through the gospel of His grace (Luke 14:1616Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many: (Luke 14:16)). The purpose of Ahasuerus’ feast was to show “the riches of His glorious kingdom” and “the honour of his excellent majesty.” The gospel, too, tells forth the glory of God and “the riches of His grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus” (Eph. 2:7-87That in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. 8For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: (Ephesians 2:7‑8)). Just as Ahasuerus’ feast carried on for “many days,” God in His longsuffering love and mercy has also extended the invitation to His feast for many days—nearly two thousand years. The guests who accepted the invitation of king Ahasuerus came to his feast were called “nobles and princes.” Likewise, those who accept God’s invitation to His gospel feast are similarly made “kings and priests” (Rev. 1:66And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. (Revelation 1:6)).
At the feast the king provided “beds [couches] of gold and silver” for the guests to rest on (chap. 1:6-8). Silver and gold, in Scripture, are symbols of redemption and divine righteousness. These things give the believer a place to rest for salvation, and consequently, he has peace with God and rest in his soul (Matt. 11:2828Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28)). There were also beautiful colored “hangings” at the feast for the guests to enjoy. They were suspended from above by “silver rings,” and are a type of the Christian’s heavenly blessings that are theirs through redemption (Eph. 1:33Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: (Ephesians 1:3)). Moreover, the king provided the guests with His “royal wine in abundance.” This speaks of the joy that God gives to those who receive and believe the gospel of His grace (Judg. 9:1313And the vine said unto them, Should I leave my wine, which cheereth God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees? (Judges 9:13); Psa. 104:1515And wine that maketh glad the heart of man, and oil to make his face to shine, and bread which strengtheneth man's heart. (Psalm 104:15)).
The Gentile queen “Vashti,” who had a very privileged place in the kingdom—being associated with the king publicly—was also invited to the feast. Her part was to contribute to the glory of the king by showing the people her beauty. But when she was called, she “refused” to come because her heart was lifted up in pride and rebellion (Chap. 1:9-12, compare Rev. 18:77How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow. (Revelation 18:7)). She liked the place that she had of being publicly associated with the king, but she had no use for his feast. Vashti is a type of the professing Church which has been outwardly identified with God before the world, but without real faith. Apostate Christendom has had the greatest opportunity to receive the salvation and blessing that is offered in the gospel, but like Vashti, it has had no use for it.
On the final day of the feast (chap. 1:5, 10) Vashti’s rebellion came to a head, and because of her disobedience and failure to show herself in a manner that would glorify the king, she was dismissed from her place as queen (chap. 1:13-22). This foreshadows what will happen to apostate, professing Christendom at the end of the day of grace. The rebellion and disobedience of Christendom has risen to such a height that God will no longer tolerate it. When the Lord comes (the Rapture), He will also publicly disown apostate, professing Christendom by leaving all those who are mere professors behind. He will “spue” it out of His mouth (Rev. 3:1616So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. (Revelation 3:16)). Christendom, like Vashti, will be “cut off” and set aside in God’s dealings (Rom. 11:17-2217And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree; 18Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee. 19Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in. 20Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear: 21For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee. 22Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off. (Romans 11:17‑22)). As Vashti experienced “the wrath of king Ahasuerus” (chap. 2:1), so will apostate Christendom be judged by God at that time—and this, on account of its failure to glorify God in the earth.
The exercise in chapter two is that one might be brought in to replace Vashti. In the process of finding someone to take that place, Esther comes into view (chap. 2:1-7). She is a type of the godly Jewish remnant. Romans 11 indicates that when Gentile Christendom is disowned and set aside for its unfaithfulness, God will take up with Israel again and bring a remnant of that nation into blessing. Being an orphan, Esther had no support in the world, and this aptly describes the destitute character of the godly remnant of Jews in the Great Tribulation to come. They will be totally shut up to God. Though an orphan, Esther was taken up and cared for by Mordecai her cousin. He is a type of Christ who will providentially care for the Jewish remnant.
Before Esther could be brought into relationship with the king, she had to go through purification (Chap. 2:8-14). This speaks of the results of the exercises the Jewish remnant will go through during the Great Tribulation. During that time they will be purified and made ready for their King (Dan. 12:1010Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand. (Daniel 12:10); Mal. 3:2-42But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap: 3And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness. 4Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the Lord, as in the days of old, and as in former years. (Malachi 3:2‑4); Zech. 13:99And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The Lord is my God. (Zechariah 13:9)). During the period of her purification, Mordecai took great interest in her welfare. Although he could not openly communicate with her, for her time of purification was not yet complete, he passed by the place where she was each day to inquire of how she did. In the same way, during the Great Tribulation, Christ will not communicate directly with the Jewish remnant, but He will observe their progress with intense interest. He will do it from a distance, so to speak (Isa. 8:17; 18:4; 54:817And I will wait upon the Lord, that hideth his face from the house of Jacob, and I will look for him. (Isaiah 8:17)
4For so the Lord said unto me, I will take my rest, and I will consider in my dwelling place like a clear heat upon herbs, and like a cloud of dew in the heat of harvest. (Isaiah 18:4)
8In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the Lord thy Redeemer. (Isaiah 54:8); {s 12176}Song of Solomon 5:66I opened to my beloved; but my beloved had withdrawn himself, and was gone: my soul failed when he spake: I sought him, but I could not find him; I called him, but he gave me no answer. (Song of Solomon 5:6); Gen. 42:7, 23-24; 43:307And Joseph saw his brethren, and he knew them, but made himself strange unto them, and spake roughly unto them; and he said unto them, Whence come ye? And they said, From the land of Canaan to buy food. (Genesis 42:7)
23And they knew not that Joseph understood them; for he spake unto them by an interpreter. 24And he turned himself about from them, and wept; and returned to them again, and communed with them, and took from them Simeon, and bound him before their eyes. (Genesis 42:23‑24)
30And Joseph made haste; for his bowels did yearn upon his brother: and he sought where to weep; and he entered into his chamber, and wept there. (Genesis 43:30)). He will do this until the work of repentance and purification is complete in the remnant, at which time He will reveal Himself to them (Gen. 45).
The incident at the end of the second chapter, of Mordecai looking out for the welfare of the king (when Bigthan and Teresh attempted insurrection), illustrates how Christ also cares for the glory of God and will work behind the scenes to that end (chap. 2:21-23).
In chapter 3, we see King Ahasuerus promoting Haman the Agagite in the kingdom and giving him a seat above all the princes. Haman, who was “the Jews’ enemy,” is a type of Antichrist. His promotion in the kingdom foreshadows the time when God will allow Antichrist to rise to a place of prominence and power in the earth—particularly in the land of Israel. Haman used his place of power for his own exaltation and required that all should bow to him in reverence. Antichrist, “the man of sin,” will do the same thing by demanding the worship of himself (2 Thess. 2:3-43Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; 4Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. (2 Thessalonians 2:3‑4)).
Mordecai refused to bow to Haman (chap. 3:2). This drew out Haman’s hatred, and Antichrist (who Haman prefigures), will attempt to obliterate the name of Jesus Christ from the earth. He also “sought to destroy all the Jews that were throughout the whole kingdom” (chap. 3:5-15). This foreshadows the terrible persecution that the Antichrist will cause during the Great Tribulation in his attempt to exterminate the God-fearing Jews. Haman had ten sons that apparently helped him in his cause (chap. 5:11, 14; 9:7-10). They, perhaps, may be a type of the ten-nation confederacy in Western Europe called “the Beast,” that will help Antichrist enforce his persecution against the godly remnant. The king gave Haman his signet “ring” thereby authorizing the wicked plan (chap. 3:10). This speaks of God allowing Antichrist to have his way in persecuting the godly remnant for a time. He does this to test their reality and to deepen His work in them.
On account of Haman’s wicked designs, the lives of the Jews were in great jeopardy. This caused much weeping and wailing in every province (chap. 4:1-3). It is a picture of the sorrow and deep exercise of soul that the Jewish remnant will pass through in the Great Tribulation. Mordecai also “put on sackcloth with ashes, and went out into the midst of the city, and cried with a loud and bitter cry.” This illustrates the feelings of Christ. He will feel, with deepest sympathy, all that the remnant will pass through in the time of their trouble (Isa. 63:99In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old. (Isaiah 63:9)). The book of the Psalms particularly illustrates Christ’s sympathetic sufferings with the remnant.
Upon learning of her people’s awful plight, Esther is told that she must “go in unto the king to make supplication unto him” (chap. 4:4-9). But it was something she had not done before and feared to do because no person could draw near into the king’s presence on his own without being put to death. It speaks of the fact that a person cannot come to God on his own terms. However, the law was such that if the king should hold out “the golden scepter” to a person, which depicts divine grace, he would live and not die. Grace has enabled man to draw near to God (chap. 4:10-11).
Mordecai, still speaking to Esther from a distance (through “Hatach”), pressed upon her that she must approach the king, even if it meant taking her life in her hand, for it was the only means of deliverance for her people (chap. 4:12-14). Then, after much prayer and fasting, Esther resolved to go to the king (chap. 4:15-17). Likewise, the remnant, after much exercise of soul, will approach God.
When Esther approached the king after not being in his presence for a long period of time, she obtained favour in his sight, and “the golden scepter” was extended to her (chap. 5:1-2). In the same way, the broken and afflicted remnant will approach God in prayer and supplication and will obtain grace in the time of their great trial. It is remarkable that it was on “the third day” that Esther approached the king. The number three speaks of resurrection, in Scripture (Jonah 1:17, 2:10, Matt. 12:40,40For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. (Matthew 12:40) Heb. 11:1919Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure. (Hebrews 11:19)), and points to Israel’s national resurrection (Dan. 12:1-21And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: 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. 2And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. (Daniel 12:1‑2)), when God will step in for the godly Jewish remnant, bringing deliverance to them and a remnant of the whole nation of Israel. Compare Hosea 6:22After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight. (Hosea 6:2).
Having come into the king’s presence, Esther did not immediately unburden the depths of her heart to him. Instead, she requested that a banquet be made for the king and Haman, at which time she thought to make known her real request. But when the time came, she deferred to express herself to the king until the following day (chap. 5:3-14). This illustrates how the remnant will at first lack confidence to lay open their heart to God, but at length, on account of expedience, they will do so. (Compare Psalms 25, 32, 38, 41, 51—the Penitential Psalms. Note the progression of their exercise of soul deepening.)
On the very night that Haman was planning to kill Mordecai, the King could not sleep. And similarly, “He that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep” (Psa. 121:44Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. (Psalm 121:4)). This will be especially so during that time when the Antichrist will be attempting to do away with the Name of Christ from the earth. The night passes with a strange turn of events for the Jews. The king sees fit to publicly exalt Mordecai and to display him in “royal apparel” and with “the crown royal” before all the people! When the day came, the despised man Mordecai was ushered through the streets of the city with glory, dignity, and honour for all to see (chap. 6:1-11). This is a picture of the appearing of Christ at His second coming when He will come to the earth with power and glory; and “every eye shall see Him” (Rev. 1:77Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen. (Revelation 1:7)).
When Esther saw that divine providence was working for the Jews’ good and blessing, and that the king had exalted Mordecai before the people, she waxed bold and came immediately into his presence at the banquet and unburdened her heart. Likewise, when the godly Jewish remnant will see Christ arrayed in glory, they will at once unburden their heart (Zech. 12:10-1410And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn. 11In that day shall there be a great mourning in Jerusalem, as the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the valley of Megiddon. 12And the land shall mourn, every family apart; the family of the house of David apart, and their wives apart; the family of the house of Nathan apart, and their wives apart; 13The family of the house of Levi apart, and their wives apart; the family of Shimei apart, and their wives apart; 14All the families that remain, every family apart, and their wives apart. (Zechariah 12:10‑14)). Esther accused Haman of his wickedness and entreated the king for his destruction. The king answered her request and Haman was hung on His own gallows! (chap. 7:1-10) This answers to the time when God will answer the cry of the remnant and judge the Antichrist. “The triumphing of the wicked is short” (Job 20:55That the triumphing of the wicked is short, and the joy of the hypocrite but for a moment? (Job 20:5)). “No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn” (Isa. 54:1717No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord. (Isaiah 54:17)).
We marvel at how precise these types are! Mordecai is exalted and displayed before the people in royal robes (chap. 6), and then Haman is hung (chap. 7). This is the same order in prophecy. Immediately after Christ appears in glory, Antichrist (with the Beast) will be removed by judgment and cast into the lake of fire (Rev. 19:11-2011And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. 12His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. 13And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. 14And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. 15And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. 16And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS. 17And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God; 18That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great. 19And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. 20And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. (Revelation 19:11‑20)).
After Haman was executed, Esther made known to king Ahasuerus her relationship to Mordecai. Similarly, after Christ has returned and Antichrist is judged, the godly Jewish remnant will gladly confess that they belong to Him. “O Lord our God, other lords beside Thee have had dominion over us: but by Thee only will we make mention of Thy Name” (Isa. 26:1313O Lord our God, other lords beside thee have had dominion over us: but by thee only will we make mention of thy name. (Isaiah 26:13); John 20:2828And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. (John 20:28)). Then Haman’s house (his estate) was given to Esther, and she gladly turned it all over to Mordecai (chap. 8:1-2). This is a picture of the Jews, in that day, gladly giving Christ the rightful place that belongs to Him. “Thy people shall be willing in the day of Thy power” (Psa. 110:33Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: thou hast the dew of thy youth. (Psalm 110:3)).
Then we are told, “The king took off his ring, which he had taken from Haman, and gave it unto Mordecai” (chap. 8:2). This speaks of God giving Christ that place of rule and authority in the earth that the Antichrist would have had falsely. (Compare Isaiah 22:15-2515Thus saith the Lord God of hosts, Go, get thee unto this treasurer, even unto Shebna, which is over the house, and say, 16What hast thou here? and whom hast thou here, that thou hast hewed thee out a sepulchre here, as he that heweth him out a sepulchre on high, and that graveth an habitation for himself in a rock? 17Behold, the Lord will carry thee away with a mighty captivity, and will surely cover thee. 18He will surely violently turn and toss thee like a ball into a large country: there shalt thou die, and there the chariots of thy glory shall be the shame of thy lord's house. 19And I will drive thee from thy station, and from thy state shall he pull thee down. 20And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will call my servant Eliakim the son of Hilkiah: 21And I will clothe him with thy robe, and strengthen him with thy girdle, and I will commit thy government into his hand: and he shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to the house of Judah. 22And the key of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder; so he shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open. 23And I will fasten him as a nail in a sure place; and he shall be for a glorious throne to his father's house. 24And they shall hang upon him all the glory of his father's house, the offspring and the issue, all vessels of small quantity, from the vessels of cups, even to all the vessels of flagons. 25In that day, saith the Lord of hosts, shall the nail that is fastened in the sure place be removed, and be cut down, and fall; and the burden that was upon it shall be cut off: for the Lord hath spoken it. (Isaiah 22:15‑25).)
Then, in answer to the cry of Esther, Mordecai (by the king’s authority) delivered the Jews from the awful edict that was upon them. He wrote letters authorizing their deliverance and published it in every province. The Jews were free! (chap. 8:3-14) This foreshadows the deliverance that Christ will effect for the Jewish remnant.
Then “Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in royal apparel of blue and white, and with a great crown of gold, and with a garment of fine linen and purple” (chap. 8:15; 9:3-4; 10:3). This is a type of Christ in His official Kingdom glory. The Jews, consequently, had “gladness, and joy, and honour,” and this, of course, refers to the joy of the remnant in the day of their deliverance (Isa. 25-26).
The Jews also “smote all their enemies with the stroke of the sword” (chap. 9:5-19). In that coming day, Israel will exercise judgment on the nations surrounding their land (Psa. 47:33He shall subdue the people under us, and the nations under our feet. (Psalm 47:3); Psa. 118:10-1210All nations compassed me about: but in the name of the Lord will I destroy them. 11They compassed me about; yea, they compassed me about: but in the name of the Lord I will destroy them. 12They compassed me about like bees; they are quenched as the fire of thorns: for in the name of the Lord I will destroy them. (Psalm 118:10‑12); Isa. 11:1414But they shall fly upon the shoulders of the Philistines toward the west; they shall spoil them of the east together: they shall lay their hand upon Edom and Moab; and the children of Ammon shall obey them. (Isaiah 11:14); Jer. 51:20-2320Thou art my battle axe and weapons of war: for with thee will I break in pieces the nations, and with thee will I destroy kingdoms; 21And with thee will I break in pieces the horse and his rider; and with thee will I break in pieces the chariot and his rider; 22With thee also will I break in pieces man and woman; and with thee will I break in pieces old and young; and with thee will I break in pieces the young man and the maid; 23I will also break in pieces with thee the shepherd and his flock; and with thee will I break in pieces the husbandman and his yoke of oxen; and with thee will I break in pieces captains and rulers. (Jeremiah 51:20‑23); Mic. 4:13; 5:5-6, 813Arise and thresh, O daughter of Zion: for I will make thine horn iron, and I will make thy hoofs brass: and thou shalt beat in pieces many people: and I will consecrate their gain unto the Lord, and their substance unto the Lord of the whole earth. (Micah 4:13)
5And this man shall be the peace, when the Assyrian shall come into our land: and when he shall tread in our palaces, then shall we raise against him seven shepherds, and eight principal men. 6And they shall waste the land of Assyria with the sword, and the land of Nimrod in the entrances thereof: thus shall he deliver us from the Assyrian, when he cometh into our land, and when he treadeth within our borders. (Micah 5:5‑6)
8And the remnant of Jacob shall be among the Gentiles in the midst of many people as a lion among the beasts of the forest, as a young lion among the flocks of sheep: who, if he go through, both treadeth down, and teareth in pieces, and none can deliver. (Micah 5:8); Zech. 12:66In that day will I make the governors of Judah like an hearth of fire among the wood, and like a torch of fire in a sheaf; and they shall devour all the people round about, on the right hand and on the left: and Jerusalem shall be inhabited again in her own place, even in Jerusalem. (Zechariah 12:6); Mal. 4:33And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the Lord of hosts. (Malachi 4:3)).
After this, Mordecai instituted a “feast” (called “Purim”) wherein “the Jews rested” in all the provinces of the kingdom (chap. 9:20-32). They gave gifts to one another and had great gladness, fasting, and joy. This speaks of the millennial rest that will pervade the earth in that day.
King Ahasuerus then enforced “a tribute upon the land, and upon the isles of the sea” (chap. 10:1). In that coming day, when all nations will be subdued under Israel, they will be put to tribute. Israel will suck “the wealth of the Gentiles” (Isa. 60:5-6, 16; 61:65Then thou shalt see, and flow together, and thine heart shall fear, and be enlarged; because the abundance of the sea shall be converted unto thee, the forces of the Gentiles shall come unto thee. 6The multitude of camels shall cover thee, the dromedaries of Midian and Ephah; all they from Sheba shall come: they shall bring gold and incense; and they shall show forth the praises of the Lord. (Isaiah 60:5‑6)
16Thou shalt also suck the milk of the Gentiles, and shalt suck the breast of kings: and thou shalt know that I the Lord am thy Saviour and thy Redeemer, the mighty One of Jacob. (Isaiah 60:16)
6But ye shall be named the Priests of the Lord: men shall call you the Ministers of our God: ye shall eat the riches of the Gentiles, and in their glory shall ye boast yourselves. (Isaiah 61:6); Psa. 72:1010The kings of Tarshish and of the isles shall bring presents: the kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts. (Psalm 72:10)).
Thereafter, Mordecai was “next unto the king,” and his occupation was “seeking the wealth of his people, and speaking peace to all his seed” (chap. 10:3). In the world to come, Christ will have the highest place in the Kingdom and will devote His energies to the blessing of His earthly people Israel, and there will be world peace.
The point we want to emphasize in this book of Esther is that things turned around for the Jews when Esther went in on “the third day” to the king (chap. 5:1).
Summary
These encouraging indications of the nearness of the Lord’s coming ought to lead us to the happy expectation of His return at any moment. “Yet a [very] little while, and He that shall come will come, and will not tarry.” “Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus” (Heb. 10:3737For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. (Hebrews 10:37); Rev. 22:2020He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. (Revelation 22:20)).
He and I in that bright glory,
One deep joy shall share.
Mine to be forever with Him,
His that I am there.