SPELLING EDITED J-1. Does God Have a 7000 Year PLAN of Salvation? Some Christians believe that God has a 7000-year plan of salvation for mankind. Other Christians do not believe that God has a 7000-year plan of any kind because they do not believe in the LITERAL 1000 year reign of Jesus. And yet other Christians have never even HEARD of a 7000-year plan of God. So the question that we will be answering in this study in God’s word is “Does God have a 7000-year plan of salvation for mankind?” So what IS the 7000-year plan of God? Basically, many Bible teachers believe that there are 4000 years from Adam to Jesus. Then there are 2000 years from the first coming of Jesus to the second coming of Jesus, Then there is the 1000 year reign of Jesus. And right after the 1000 year reign of Jesus is the FINAL Day of Judgment where ALL the WICKED will be destroyed in the lake of fire. And then God will create a new heaven and the new earth to begin the ages to come wherein there will be NO MORE wicked people. And therefore, there will be no more need to save anyone from their sins. So if we add up the years from Adam to the END of the 1000 year reign of Jesus those years total 7000 years where God is STRIVING with mankind to stop sinning. To begin this study in God’s word, let us first read Isaiah 46:9,10 where we learn that God decrees the end from the beginning. This means that whatever God has PROPHESIED in his word WILL come to pass. Isaiah 46:9.10. “Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, 10. Declaring the END FROM the BEGINNING and FROM ancient times the things that are NOT yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:” So then, the things not yet done are PROPHESIED in God’s word STARTING at the beginning in ANCIENT TIMES. To me, this means that Genesis 1:1 is the VERY beginning in eternity past, and from Genesis 1:2 forward is the RE-CREATING of the earth. That means that the earth was destroyed by a great flood and God is restoring the earth. This is called the GAP theory which is believed by many Christians. I myself have another theory for WHY God even created mankind. And my theory is that Lucifer rebelled against God to make WAR with the angels of God to try and take over God’s throne so that he could be the supreme ruler of the universe. Please read the studies “UNDERSTANDING WHY?”, “THE WAR IN HEAVEN---REVELATION 12!”, and “WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT UFOs?” For you see, the whole reason for God’s PLAN of SALVATION is to save those of mankind who BELIEVE in his SON Jesus as the atonement or propitiation for their sins. So to ME, it makes sense that God is NOT going to take all eternity future to save those of mankind who make their own CHOICE to BELIEVE in God’s Son as the atonement for their sins. In Genesis 6:3 we learn that God will NOT ALWAYS strive with man. So that tells me that God has set himself a TIME LIMIT as to how long he will be longsuffering toward mankind not willing that any should perish. I believe that the Bible teaches to always be ready for the coming of Jesus by implying that TODAY is the day of salvation Hebrews 3:12-19. “Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. 13. But exhort one another daily, while it is called TODAY; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. 14. For we are made partakers of Christ, IF we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the END; (The END is when a person dies or when Jesus returns, whichever comes first. My point is that there is an END or a TIMELIMIT as to when a person can no longer be saved. In other words, the Roman Catholic doctrine of a purgatory is a FALSE teaching. Once a person dies and they are NOT saved, then it is OVER for that person. And any person who is ALIVE when Jesus returns who is NOT already saved will NOT receive eternal life AT the coming of Jesus. BUT they can repent of their sins and call upon the name of the Lord to be saved ALIVE in their MORTAL bodies to go into the NEXT world or the next AGE to learn how to be saved. The next age or the world to come will be 1000 years long. It is called the 1000 year reign of Jesus and is also referred to as the Millennium. And during the 100-year life span of the mortal people who survive the wrath of God that go into the Millennium, they will be taught God’s way to be saved. The Millennium will be like another church age for the REMNANT of the Jews and the REMNANT of those left alive of the nations after the first half of the WRATH of God has been poured out by Jesus. Only true born-again Christians who endure unto the end will receive eternal life. That is why we are warned to be ready and to stay ready) 15. WHILE it is said, TODAY if you will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation. (To ME, this is saying that if you HEAR the gospel of Jesus Christ BEFORE Jesus returns then be WARNED to NOT REJECT God’s so great a salvation. For if you do, then you may NOT get a chance to repent AT his coming. And 2 Peter 2:20-22 WARNS Christians who are living in a lifestyle of sin and they DIE while living in sin or Jesus returns WHILE they are living in sin that it would have been BETTER had they never known Jesus as their savior. All I am saying is to BE READY and to STAY ready because only a REMNANT of all of mankind will be given a chance to repent AT the coming of Jesus. In other words, the coming of Jesus is NOT a SECOND CHANCE like some people may THINK! TODAY is the day of salvation if you want to receive eternal life AT the coming of Jesus to rule and reign WITH Jesus over the mortals who survive the WRATH of Almighty God!) 16. For some, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses. 17. But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcasses fell in the wilderness? 18. And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not? 19. So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.”
The 1000 year reign of Jesus will be a REST for ONLY true born-again FAITHFUL Christians living without sin in this present world. And since the SEVENTH day is a SIGN or shadow pointing to the seventh 1000 year long day of Yahweh’s REST when Jesus reigns FOR his God and Father while Yahweh takes his Sabbath REST during the Millennium, then it is logical to conclude that God does INDEED have a 7000-year plan of salvation for mankind who BELIEVE in his Son, Jesus as the atonement for their sins. And when we look at all the rest of the verses on this subject we can see that the Scriptures do indeed IMPLY that God has a 7000-year plan of salvation for mankind. Let us begin with Revelation 20:1-20. I feel that it is important to read the entire chapter because there are some Christians who have never heard that there will be TWO HARVESTS of saints. There will be ONLY Christians who will be JUDGED AT the coming of Jesus which we have come to call the judgment seat of Jesus Christ. And then there will be the FINAL Day of Judgment that the Bible calls the white throne judgment at the END of the 1000 year reign of Jesus. And ANOTHER book of life will be opened to judge those who will be living DURING the Millennium. Also, all the wicked from Adam to the final Day of Judgment will be judged as well in the white throne judgment. Some Christians have failed to see that there will indeed be many righteous IN Jesus Christ DURING the Millennium who will be saved DURING the 1000 year reign of Jesus. Keep all these things in mind as you read Revelation chapter 20. It is only 15 verses long. Revelation 20:1-15. “And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. 2. And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and BOUND him a THOUSAND years, (Here we see that the tempter, the oppressor of sickness and disease, and the accuser of the brethren will be BOUND during the 1000 year long day of the Lord.) 3. And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the THOUSAND years should be FULFILLED: and after that, he must be loosed a little season. 4. And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads or in their hands; and THEY lived and reigned with Christ a THOUSAND years. (The THEY here is speaking of ONLY the true born-again faithful Christians from the first Christians at the day of Pentecost when the church began all the way TO the second coming of Jesus right before the Seventh 1000 year-long Day of the Lord) 5. But the REST of the dead lived not again UNTIL the THOUSAND years were finished. This is the first resurrection. (Speaking of the resurrection of the faithful Christians) 6. Blessed and holy is he that has a part in the FIRST resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ and shall reign WITH him a THOUSAND years. (ONLY the faithful Christians will be given eternal life at the coming of Jesus. Thus we can REST from all our works. There will be no worries of the SECOND DEATH after we receive eternal life in the world to come) 7. And when the THOUSAND years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, 8. And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. 9. And they went up on the breadth of the earth and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them. (This is speaking of the second half of God’s wrath. The first half of God’s wrath will be poured out by Jesus right after the rapture of the church which will take place right after the 3 ½ years of the great tribulation and right before the 1000 year reign of Jesus as Lord of the Sabbath) 10. And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are and shall be tormented day and night forever and ever. 11. And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. 12. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and ANOTHER book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were JUDGED out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. (This is speaking of the FINAL Day of Judgment to judge everyone who was NOT judged at the coming of Jesus. REMEMBER that ONLY true born-again faithful Christians will receive eternal life AT the coming of Jesus. And that is why the WARNINGS to get sin out of our life in this PRESENT world so that we will be accounted WORTHY to receive eternal life at the coming of Jesus. If you are not living DURING the Millennium in your MORTAL body then you do NOT want to be judged at the WHITE THRONE judgment. Trust me when I say that you want to make SURE that you receive eternal life At the coming of Jesus BEFORE the Millennium begins. Because then the SECOND death will have NO POWER over you) 13. And the sea gave up the dead which was in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which was in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. 14. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” We know from the writings of the early church writers that they believed and taught the 7000-year plan of God. For you see, one of those early church writings was written by the apostle Barnabas who worked alongside the Apostle Paul. And in that FIRST-century writing by Barnabas, he wrote that there would be 6000 years from Adam and then the 1000 year reign of Jesus would begin. Here is a quote from one of the writings of Barnabas. “Therefore, children in six days, that is, in six thousand years, everything will come to an end.” Another early church writer name Lactantius wrote. “As there have been two thousand years from Adam to Abraham and two thousand years from Abraham to Christ, so there will be two thousand years for the Christian era and then would come the Millennium.” So what Scripture did the early church writers use to teach or support their teaching of this 7000-year plan of God’s salvation for mankind? Well, there are two passages of Scripture that teach us that 1000 years is as one day with God and that one day is as a 1000 years. Please read Psalm 90:4. “For a thousand years in your sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night.” Peter is quoting Psalm 90:4 in 2 Peter 3:8. “But, beloved, be NOT IGNORANT ignorant of this ONE THING, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years and a thousand years as one day.” Since Peter is WARNING us not to be ignorant of this ONE thing that one day is AS 1000 years then it must be important. Peter did not say that a day is around a thousand years. So a thousand years is NOT a general random number. So if we take Isaiah 44:9,10 where God PROPHESIED the END FROM the BEGINNING and combine the inspired word of God given to us in 2 Peter 3:8 which is another piece of Scriptural evidence or clue then all we need to do is to go to the BEGINNING of the creation of mankind and read Genesis 1:1 through Genesis 2:1-3 as PROPHECY. So then, when we go back to the BEGINNING in Genesis 2:1-3 and we read it from a LITERAL translation, then we can see that God worked for six days or for six thousand years and then he will rest IN the SEVENTH 1000 year long day which is the Day of the Lord. That is why Peter said to NOT be IGNORANT of the Day of the Lord being 1000 years long. Some Christians WRONGLY believe that Jesus will not return until the END of the 1000 year reign of Jesus because they have FAILED to see that the reign of Jesus in the world to come is a LITERAL 1000 years long. So be NOT IGNORANT! The reign of Jesus is indeed a LITERAL 1000 years. Here is the LITERAL translation of Genesis 2:1-3. “And they ARE BEING finished the heaven and the earth and all the host of them. 2. And Elohim he IS FINISHING IN the day the SEVENTH the work of him which he did and HeIS CEASING IN day the SEVENTH from all the work of him which he did. 3. And he is blessing Elohim day of SEVENTH and He IS MAKING holy HIM that IN HIM (This IN HIM is a PROPHECY speaking of his SON Jesus) has CEASED from all work of HIM which HE (Yahweh) created (The pronoun HIM is speaking of Yahweh's SON Jesus) to do of (Or for the work that Yahweh gave his Son to accomplish on the cross).”
Genesis 2:1-3 is actually a PROPHECY of Jesus accomplishing the task of OBEYING all the WILL of his God and Father even to suffer and die on the cross for our sins. The Sabbath was given to the children of Israel to keep throughout THEIR generations as a SIGN pointing to the TRUE Sabbath which is Jesus the Messiah. WE are Yahweh's WORK of his NEW CREATION that his Son Jesus WILL be FINISHING IN the SEVENTH 1000 year long DAY of the Lord while Yahweh RESTS IN HIS SEVENTH day. God is NOT finished with us YET. We have NOT actually received our NEW immortal glorified bodies of flesh and bone like Jesus has now. God is STILL YET MAKING us HOLY who are IN HIM, his SON Jesus the Christ, whom Yahweh CREATED to accomplish the task of redeeming mankind. We are yet still being conformed into the image of God's Son Jesus. Yahweh the Father is STILL YET working. So then, God has NOT YET RESTED IN or during his SEVENTH day. If you read Genesis chapter 1 verses 1-31 you will see that the first SIX days of creation are DESCRIBED as the evening and the morning was the FIRST day, the second day, the third day, the fourth day, the fifth day and the sixth day, but in describing the SEVENTH day, God does NOT say and in the even and the morning of the seventh day. That is because the SEVENTH DAY is NOT a LITERAL 24 hour day. God inspired the men of old to write it this way so that we would see that Genesis 2:1-3 is a PROPHECY of his yet coming SON, Jesus. Genesis 2:1-3 PROPHESIES how God will sanctify HIM, speaking of his creation of mankind, IN or DURING the SEVENTH 1000 year long DAY of the Lord who are IN HIM, speaking of his SON Jesus. You see dear children of God, IN the seventh day of the Lord, WE who are already IN Jesus Christ NOW, during this present world or age, will be COMPLETED IN the world to come, which IS the SEVENTH 1000 year long DAY of Yahweh. In other words, we will be CHANGED from mortal to immortal to receive our new glorified bodies as Jesus received. But there will ALSO be the remnant of Israel and those left alive of the nations, who will be, being sanctified or made holy IN or DURING the SEVENTH 1000 year long day, LEARNING about Jesus and the Father. In other words, they will NOT receive eternal life at the coming of Jesus. ONLY those who are RESTING IN Jesus NOW, in this present world, will be given eternal life in the world to come. The remnant of Jews and those who are left of the nations will go into the SEVENTH day in their MORTAL bodies to be TAUGHT of the Lord. In other words, they will learn what WE have already learned that the SCRIPTURES spoke of Jesus and the weekly Sabbath was a SIGN, pointing to Jesus the TRUE Sabbath, to CEASE from their OWN WORKS of self-righteousness done in our own strength. So the SEVENTH day prophesied in Genesis has NOT YET come. God CEASED from the work he DID during the first six days of creation, but in truth, we are still IN the SIXTH day, speaking of the 1000 year long sixth day. God is NOT yet FINISHED with his NEW creation being created IN his Son Jesus Christ who was the FIRSTBORN of every new creation. Please read the study “WHAT DOES FIRSTBORN OF EVERY CREATURE MEAN?” But for now, let us continue with this study on God’s 7000-year plan of salvation for mankind. Hebrews chapters 3 and 4 teach us about God’s REST. The weekly Sabbath day was a shadow pointing to our TRUE rest IN Jesus. And as long as we REMAIN in Jesus we will enter into our COMPLETE rest in the world to come to rule and reign WITH Jesus during the seventh 1000 year long day of Yahweh’s rest. We already read most of Hebrews chapter 3 earlier in this study. So now let us read Hebrews 4:1-11 which teaches us of ANOTHER day that the children of Israel will learn about the TRUE rest in Jesus. And then we will read the prophecy in Isaiah that God has promised to turn to Israel a SECOND time to save them.
Hebrews 4:1-11.
“Let us therefore FEAR, lest, (Or for FEAR that) a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. 2. For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: (Speaking of the Jews who REJECTED Jesus as their Messiah) but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. 3. For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. 4. For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works. 5. And in this place again, If they shall enter into my rest. 6. Seeing, therefore, it REMAINS that SOME must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief: (Again, speaking of the Jews who rejected Jesus as being their Messiah in this present world. But God has prophesied that he will turn to the Jews a SECOND time in Isaiah which we will read in a moment) 7. Again, he LIMITS a certain day, saying in David, TODAY, after so long a time; as it is said, TODAY if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts. 8. For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of ANOTHER DAY. (Remember that one DAY is a THOUSAND years. So this ANOTHER day is speaking of the Millennium that the Bible calls the 1000-year reign of Jesus) 9. There remains, therefore, a rest to the people of God. (Speaking of the children of Israel) 10. For (Or BECAUSE) he that IS entered into his rest, he also has ceased from his OWN works, as God did from his. 11. Let us labor, therefore, to enter into THAT rest, (Speaking of resting IN Jesus so that we will be accounted worthy to receive eternal life in the world to come to rule and reign over the children of Israel, the UNSAVED Jews who will NOT receive eternal life at the coming of Jesus. But rather they will suffer the WRATH of God along with the rest of the unsaved world) lest any man falls after the same example of unbelief.”
Now let us read Isaiah 11:10,11.
“And in that DAY (Speaking of the Millennium) there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his REST shall be glorious. 11. And it shall come to pass in that DAY, (Speaking of the second coming of Jesus) that the Lord shall set his hand again the SECOND TIME to recover the remnant of his people, (Speaking of the Jews who SURVIVE that WRATH of God by being taken captive and by calling upon the name of the Lord to SAVE them from their enemies lest there be no children of Israel left alive. There will only be a REMNANT of Jews) which shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea.”
Now, since the 1000 year reign of Jesus is connected to RESTING from all our works and the SEVENTH day is also connect to God resting from all his works in Genesis 2:1-3 then it is not a stretch to conclude that the first SIX days of creation are also each 1000 years long to total 6000 years. Keep in mind that the creation account is BOTH a historical account and a PROPHECY of the 7000-year PLAN of God for mankind. In other words, the very days of creation themselves are TYPES, SHADOWS, and FIGURES of the true yet to come. For example, God DIVIDED the LIGHT from the DARKNESS on the FIRST day of the week or the FIRST 1000 years. And during that FIRST 1000 year day, Adam ate from the tree of knowledge, his eyes were open to DISCERN between GOOD and EVIL or LIGHT from DARKNESS. All through the Bible LIGHT is a figure of GOOD and DARKNESS is the shadow of EVIL. God divided the waters with a firmament on the SECOND day. It did not rain during the first 1000 year day. God changed the way that the ground was watered when he made it rain for forty days and forty nights at the flood of Noah during the SECOND 1000 year day. God divided the waters and made the dry ground appear on the THIRD day. During the THIRD 1000 year day God divided the Red Sea and made the DRY ground appear. God made two great lights on the FOURTH day, a greater light by day and a lesser light by night. During the FOURTH 1000 year day God sent two great lights out into the world. The greater light was Jesus and the lesser light was John the Baptist. God created life in the waters on the FIFTH day. During the FIFTH 1000 year day the Holy Spirit, represented by LIVING water, was given to all who believe in Jesus. God created man on the SIXTH day. But God is NOT yet FINISHED with his creation. For you see, some of the Jews REJECTED God's so great a salvation. So God turned to the Gentiles to provoke Israel to jealousy and promised to turn back to them a SECOND time. Therefore, at the end of the SIXTH 1000 year day, ONLY God's NEW creation RIGHTEOUS men and women who are IN Jesus Christ will be PERFECTED or COMPLETED DURING the seventh day. We are IN the SIXTH day of creation presently. And AT the coming of Jesus will BEGIN the SEVENTH day of REST. And ONLY the faithful Christians will be granted the right to eat of the tree of eternal life to REST from all our works during the 1000 year long SEVENTH day. The remnant of Jews and a remnant of the nations left alive after the first half of God’s wrath will be perfected at the END of the Millennium at the WHITE THRONE judgment God RESTED from all his works IN the SEVENTH day. During the SEVENTH 1000 year day WE, who believe in Jesus NOW, in this present world BEFORE the second coming of Jesus, will REST with Almighty God the Father from all our labors. The second death will have NO power over us, who are RESTING in Jesus now in this present world CEASING from our OWN WORKS of righteousness to become God's WORKMANSHIP. Adam himself was used to make a comparison between the NATURAL and the SPIRITUAL showing us that one day, yet in the future, that the natural will take upon that divine spiritual nature of immortality. So do NOT let any weekly Sabbath-keeping Church denomination DECEIVE you, dear children of God, by saying that the Sabbath day is NOT a type or shadow of our future 1000 year day of REST and the REST we NOW have in Jesus CEASING from our OWN WORKS of righteousness. Another reason that I believe that God has a 7000-year-long plan of salvation for mankind is that there are many other types and shadows in the word of God pointing to God’s 7000-year plan of salvation for mankind who believe in his Son, Jesus, as the atonement for their sins. Far too many to give them all to you in this study, but here are a few patterns in the Bible of SIX and then comes SEVEN. There are also patterns of TWO days followed by ONE day which I will get to after the THIRD DAY Scriptures. So keep reading to see all the many different kinds of evidence found in God’s word to support the INTERPRETATION of the Scriptures that God does indeed have a 7000-year plan of salvation for mankind. Here are a few Scriptures showing the pattern of SIX and then comes the SEVENTH. Job 5:19. “He shall deliver you in SIX troubles: yea, in SEVEN there shall no evil touch you.” I believe that this a prophecy referring to the first SIX seals, trumpets, and vials in the book of Revelation where the SEVENTH seal, trumpet, and vial is the WRATH of God which we, as Christians, are NOT appointed. Please read the study “WRATH OF GOD VERSUS THE GREAT TRIBULATION” God TAUGHT the children of Israel to works six days and the rest on the seventh day. Genesis 16:4-30. Noah was 600-years old when the flood came and the ark rested in the seventh month. And in Exodus 21:2 we read that a slave was to work seven years and then be set free in the seventh year. Exodus 21:2. “If you buy a Hebrew servant, six years he shall serve: and in the seventh, he shall go out free for nothing.” Also, God commanded the children of Israel to work the land to plant crops for SIX years and then let the land REST during the SEVENTH year. See Exodus 23:11 and Leviticus 25:4. Another reason for the 7000-year plan of God is the meaning of numbers in the Scriptures. In the Bible, the number seven seems to carry the meaning of being perfect and complete. And the number six seems to represent the toil of mankind working. The number six also means sin and rebellion. So the pattern seems to fit God allowing mankind to choose his OWN way until the seventh day. The Bible says that Jesus will rule with a rod of IRON. Now, we as Christians will be ruling and reigning WITH Jesus over the mortals down on the surface of the earth. The second death will have no more power over us. We will have already received our reward of eternal life for enduring unto the end to remain faithful and obedient to the teachings of Jesus under the New Covenant written in the New Testament. BUT the mortals will have a two-strike rule and you are out. The first time that a MORTAL disobeys Jesus during the Millennium the punishment will be no rain on their crops. The second time they disobey then it appears that they will be judged as UNWORTHY to receive eternal life at the end of the Millennium. So that is why I say that you will want to be found worthy to receive eternal life AT the coming of Jesus so that the second death will have no more power over you. TODAY is the day of salvation. So be ready and stay ready for the coming of Jesus. Another reason why I, myself, believe that God has a 7000-year plan of salvation is that Jesus spoke of THREE DAYS that he must work. So when you take a day as being 1000 years long then Jesus has 3000 years that he must work. And we know that Jesus will be working during the Millennium to separate the sheep from the goats. So that leaves 2000 years for the age of the church. Let us look at some of those THIRD day Scriptures. I have a study with ALL the third day Scriptures called “THE THIRD DAY AND THE RAPTURE?” But for now, here are a couple of passages of Scripture just to get you started. Please read Luke 13:32,32. “And he said unto them, Go ye, and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I shall be perfected. 33. Nevertheless, I must walk today, and tomorrow and the day following: for it cannot be that a prophet perishes out of Jerusalem.” The word perfect means complete. Also, this Scripture has a DUAL mean. God made the Son of MAN, Jesus, PERFECT after the THIRD literal day when God raised him from the dead and GAVE him eternal life. See Hebrews 9:5, John 5:27,27, and 2 Peter 1:4. One of the meanings of being made PERFECT is to be made COMPLETE and being made a partaker of the DIVINE NATURE means to be given eternal life which COMPLETES God’s NEW creation. Jesus was the FIRSTFRUITS of God’s NEW CREATION, the FIRSTBORN of every creature to be made in the perfect IMAGE of God. And we are being conformed into the image of God's dear Son. The faithful Christians will be next to become firstfruits unto God AT the coming of Jesus. And then comes the END speaking of the end of the Millennium which is when the FINAL harvest of saints will take place to become firstfruits unto God. Please see 1 Corinthians 15:20-28. So then, we, as the BODY of Christ, will be made PERFECT or COMPLETE at the coming of Jesus. And the WHOLE body of Christ, as in, the REST of the saints that overcome sin DURING the Millennium, will not be fully complete until the end of the THIRD day. Keep in mind that the third day corresponds to the SEVENTH day, the 1000 year long day of the Millennium. In other words, there will be TWO harvests of the saints. The first harvest is BEFORE the Millennium where ONLY faithful Christians will be given eternal life to rule and reign WITH Jesus over the MORTALS for 1000 years. The SECOND harvest will be at the END of the Millennium which is when those living in their mortal bodies DURING the Millennium will be judged to see if they are worthy to receive eternal life. Again, there are MANY third day scriptures that are hidden prophecies of the FINAL three 1000 years long days. That is why the THRID day is the SAME as the SEVENTH day. The THIRD day is the LAST day of the FINAL THREE days 1-2-3-4-5-6-7 1-2-3 The 7th and the 3rd day coincide Now let us take a look at a prophecy in Hosea 6:2 which is referring to the children of Israel being REVIVED at the second coming of Jesus and then raised up from the dead to be given eternal life at the END of the Millennium. Hosea 6:2. “AFTER TWO DAYS will he revive us: in the THIRD DAY he will RAISE US UP, and we shall LIVE in his sight.” So AFTER the two days of the church age, Jesus will revive the REMNANT of the children of Israel by filling them with the Holy Spirit when they call upon the name of the Lord to be saved. Then DURING the Millennium, the children of Israel will be taught of the Lord, according to HIS WAY of salvation under the NEW COVENANT. And then, IN or DURING the third day speaking of at the END of the Millennium there will be another resurrection and another rapture of sorts. In other words, there will be a CHANGE from mortal to immortal for those who will be found worthy of eternal life BUT there will be no catching up into the air. For you see, the city of God will come DOWN and God will dwell among his NEW CREATION of righteous human beings on the new earth. Again, please read ALL the THIRD DAY Scriptures in the study “THE THIRD DAY AND THE RAPTURE!” You will be amazed at how many there are. Then another reason why I believe that God has a 7000-year plan of salvation is the shadows and types pointing to the pattern of TWO and then followed by ONE. Please read John 4:40-43. “So when the Samaritans came unto him, they sought him that he would tarry with them: and he abode there TWO DAYS days. 41. And many more believed because of his own word; 42. And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of your saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world. 43. Now AFTER TWO DAYS he DEPARTED thence, and went into GALILEE.” Now, when we think of God turning to the Gentiles to provoke Israel to jealousy then we can see a pattern of the age of the church being TWO DAYS. For you see, the Samaritans were like the Gentiles to the Jews. Even though the ministry of Jesus in the days of his FLESH was finished on the earth, Jesus still taught his disciples through the Holy Spirit after he DEPARTED from them by ascending into heaven. Jesus also will depart from the Gentiles after TWO DAYS when the Gentiles have come to FULL and not one more Gentile will seek after God IN this PRESENT world. Jesus departing on the AFTER TWO days and going into Galilee represents Jesus going to his OWN people, the Jews. And this agrees with the prophecy of God turning a SECOND time the save his people, the Jews. Now imagine if you will that the deception of Satan blinding the eyes of the Jewish people to the true gospel of Jesus Christ as being like a SICKNESS while you read the account of Lazarus being sick and nigh unto death. And then think about Jesus NOT coming to heal Lazarus immediately, but rather Jesus ministered to the people where MANY BELIEVED on him for TWO DAYS before he came to heal Lazarus by resurrecting him from the DEAD. Now, think of being resurrected from SPIRITUAL DEATH when you first BELIEVED in Jesus as your Messiah. In other words, it may not be that obvious at first that the two days Jesus waited before COMING to resurrect Lazarus represents the two 1000 year-long days of the church age. And even though it is not as obvious as the first example in John 4:40-42, I believe you can still see that pattern of the 2 days for the church age and Jesus coming again to minister to the children of Israel who he loves dearly as he did Lazarus. You can read the account of Lazarus in John 11:1-44. Also, there is the parable of the good Samaritan who gave TWO pence or TWO DAYS wages and promised to RETURN to give the caretaker more if he spent more for the care of the wounded man. A pence or a denarius is a day's wages, according to Matthew 20:2 where the worker agreed on a wage of a penny a day. The same Greek word is used in both Matthew 20:2 and Luke 10:35. Now, the TWO DAYS and then comes ONE DAY is not as noticeable in just the parable alone. But if you read the whole context of a Jewish man asking Jesus what he must do to inherit ETERNAL LIFE then I am sure that you can see the analogy of the LAST THREE days of God’s plan of salvation. Now, some of you may think that I am seeing things that are not there but if you consider the words of the disciples of Jesus saying that THEY were in the LAST DAYS and that it was almost two thousand years ago when they said that God has spoken to us by his Son in THESE last DAYS then it makes me think that the Bible does not always mean a 24 hour day when speaking of a day. In the Old Testament, we can see that a day was equal to one year. Jacob worked a WEEK for Rachael and that week was seven years long. This would be considered a WEEK of YEARS. Also, read Numbers 14:34. “After the number of the DAYS in which you searched the land, even forty DAYS, each DAY for a YEAR, shall ye bear your iniquities, even forty years, and you shall know my breach of promise.” And then, there is the feast of WEEKS which is SEVEN weeks-long PLUS one DAY which happens to be the day of PENTECOST. Now we know that God poured out his Spirit on the day of Pentecost. And we know that God’s Holy Spirit has been being poured out all throughout the entire church age. And we know that the Holy Spirit will be poured out on the REMNANT of the children of Israel when Jesus RETURNS. So the LAST DAYS are clearly speaking of the last 3000 years of God’s 7000-year plan of salvation for mankind. Now IF this interpretation of the Scripture is correct then that means that the coming of Jesus is very near. For you see, if we add 2000 years to the year that Jesus was crucified and resurrected from the dead then that places the return of Jesus somewhere between the fall of 2030 AD and 2034 AD. Most Bible teachers agree that Jesus was resurrected within a 10 year period. And the most widely accepted years are 30 AD, 31 AD, 32 AD, and 33 AD. Also, most Bible teachers believe that Jesus will return on one of the THREE FALL feast days since he has already fulfilled the FOUR spring feast days at his first coming. Here is one more reason why I believe that God has a seven thousand year plan of salvation for those of mankind who BELIEVE in his Son, Jesus, as the atonement for their sins. God is very specific in giving us the ages of the patriarchs listed in the genealogies. Now, most Bible teachers will say that there are approximately 2000 years from Adam to Abraham. So I did a little math for myself to see how close their approximation is and I was amazed at the accuracy of God’s word. Let me show you what I mean. You can find the genealogy of Adam in Genesis 5:3-29 so you can follow along in your Bible. We will be looking at the ages of when each patriarch had their firstborn son. For now, let us ASSUME that Adam was created on year ONE which we are also assuming is 4000 years before Jesus was crucified and resurrected. Let us begin. Adam was 130 years old when he had Seth. So we will start with the year 130. Forget about the BC and AD for the moment because it does not matter. We are only calculating the NUMBER of years and NOT the DATE. So for simplicity think of a new calendar BEGINNING in the year Adam was created which we are calling year 1. So then, we take the year 130, which is the year Seth was born to Adam. And then we add the year that Seth had his firstborn son. Seth was 105 when he had Enos. You get the idea. 130 Seth was born to Adam. 105 Enos was born to Seth 90 Cainan was born to Enos 70 Mahalaleel was born to Cainan 65 Jared was born to Mahalaleel 62 Enoch was born to Jared 65 Methuselah was born to Enoch 187 Lamech was born to Methuselah 182 Noah was born to Lamech I stopped at Noah temporarily to show you that God showed us two ways to know what year the flood of Noah came. When we add all the years listed above we arrive at the total years being 956 as being the year that Noah was born. The Bible says that Noah was 500 years old when Seth, Ham, and Japeth were born. See Genesis 5:32. The Bible also says that Noah was 600 years old when the flood came. So let us add 600 years to the year Noah was born. 956 The year Noah was born. 600 The age of Noah when the flood came. This brings us to the year 1556 as being the year of the flood by using a temporary calendar starting at year 1 as being the year Adam was created by God. Now let us go back to the year Methuselah was born which is the year 587. Now add to that year 587 the age that Methuselah died which is 969. 587 + 969 = 1556 the year of the flood which agrees exactly with the total number of ages in years when each patriarch had their firstborn son. Here is some interesting information that I found while researching what others have to say about the 7000-year plan of God. The name Methuselah comes from two Hebrew words. It comes from the Hebrew word “muth”, a root that means “death”. It also comes from the Hebrew word “shalach”, which means “to bring,” or “to send forth.” Put the two meanings together and the name Methuselah means “his death shall bring”. But bring what? Some Bible scholars say that there was a prophecy given to Enoch that his son would not see the Day of Judgment speaking of the flood of Noah. In other words, God promised Enoch that his son would die before God sent the flood. I have not searched this prophecy out for myself as yet. If it exists, it is probably in the book of Enoch. But most of the meanings of the Hebrew name from Adam to Noah can be found in Bible concordances. Here is one of the most widely used lists of the meaning of the names in this genealogy of Adam to Noah. Adam - Man or mankind Seth - Appointed, I found the name Seth to mean to put or to set. Enos - Mortal I found the name Enoe to mean Cainan- Sorrow. Now, the concordances that I use say fixed, as in, the making of a nest or dwelling place. So I am guessing that these Bible scholars saw Cainan’s life as being a life of sorrow. Mahalelel - The Praise of Lord I found the two compound Hebrew word that makes up the name Mahalelel to mean praise el. So Mahaleleel means Praise God. Jared - Descend I found the name to mean descent or to descend down Enoch - Dedicated I found Enoch to mean INITIATE which means to begin, to accept one into a group such as a secret society, to be entrusted with secret knowledge. So initiate can mean to inaugurate or to dedicate something or someone’s beginning Methuselah - His death shall bring (Fausset's) The concordance on Bible Hub says that Methuselah means man of the dart. Math or Muth means man, and the Hebrew word shalac means weapon, missile, and spout. Now a spout does bring forth life. And weapons do bring death. Lamech - Lamentator, the poor, brought low (Hitchcock) The concordance on Bible Hub says that the meaning is uncertain and gives no meaning. Noah - Comfort The concordance says REST, and the Bible says that Noah shall COMFORT in Genesis 5:29. Now, if we use the meanings that these Bible scholars listed above and we put them all together to form a sentence or paragraph we have the following. Man is appointed to be mortal and sorrowful. But the Praise of the Lord will descend, dedicated that His death shall bring the desparing, low, and poor comfort.
Now, if we use the meanings of the patriarch's names that I found and using THEIR meaning of the name Lamech then the paragraph reads as follows. Man was set to be mortal making his own nest but praise God a decent will initiate a man with secret teaching. And his death with spout forth to bring life to the poor who are humble and they shall rest and be comforted. Now, we know this to be true by the rest of the Bible but I am not confident to use their meaning of the name Lamech, to the poor who are humble, unless I find a concordance that has that SPECIFIC meaning. Anyway, I thought this was interesting and I thought I would share it with my readers. It is a good example to not believe every single detail that you hear or read. Do your own research. I mean I used to love the middle verse of the Bible sermon until I found that it was not Biblically accurate. If you have not heard that interesting sermon please read the study “WHAT IS THE CENTER CHAPTER OF THE BIBLE?” Let us get back to the genealogy of Abraham so that we can add those years to the year 1456 which was the year Noah had Shem. You can follow along in your Bible by turning to Genesis 10:11-26. Do not get distracted by how old the patriarchs lived after they had their firstborn son. Right now, we are only concerned with how old they were when they had their firstborn son. Now you can add the year they were born to the previous total of years to find the year that each patriarch was born. For example, 1456 + 100 = 1556, the year Arphaxad was born to Shem. But in this study, we are focused on the year that Abram was born. And for that reason, I will not total each year of every patriarch. These are the generations of Shem. 1456 The year Shem was born to Noah. 100 Arphaxad born to Shem. 35 Salah born to Arphaxad. 30 Eber born to Salah. 46 Peleg born to Eber. 30 Reu born to Peleg. 32 Serug was born to Reu. 30 Nahor was born to Serug. 29 Terah, Abram’s father was born to Nahor. 70 Abram was born to Terah. Please notice that Abram was born to Terah and NOT Abraham was born to Terah. We must remember that God CHANGED Abram’s NAME to Abraham. So the years to Abram totals to 1858 as the year Abram was born. But God did not SEAL his covenant of PROMISE to Abram with his commandment of circumcision in the flesh that he would become the father of many nations until he was 99 years old. See Genesis 17:1-27. And that is when God CHANGED his NAME to Abraham. Ishmael was 13 years old at that time that the seal of circumcision began. So from the CREATION of Adam to Abraham as opposed to Abram was 1957 years for that was the year that God CHANGED the NAME Abram to ABRAHAM. Now, how we arrive at the year 1957 is that we simply add 99 years to the year Abram was born. Abram was born in the year 1858 + 99 = 1957. In other words, God made his covenant of PROMISE to Abraham WITH the seal of circumcision in the flesh in the year 1957 using the calendar starting date at day one of Adam’s creation. Now 1,957 years is 43 years short of exactly 2000 years. Close, but not exact. But we have to remember that Isaac, the PROMISE seed of Abraham was born in the SAME year that Abraham turned 100 years old. Please read Genesis 17:17. “Then Abraham fell upon his face, and laughed, and said in his heart, Shall a child be born unto him that is a hundred years old? and shall Sarah, that is ninety years old, bear?” Also, God prophesied that this time NEXT YEAR that Isaac would be born. Please read Genesis 17:21. “But my covenant will I establish with Isaac, which Sarah shall bear unto you at this set time in the next year.” Now to me, this means nine months later in the next year and NOT in the next year to mean AFTER Abraham turned 101 years of age. Keep in mind that we are focused on the years that the patriarchs were born of their father. So to me, Abraham was still 100 years old when Isaac was born. Therefore, to me, Isaac was born in the year 1958 which is 42 years short of being exactly 2000 years that the seed of PROMISE was born, which to ME, is the most important event in the life of Abraham. So let us now ASSUME that the starting dated from Adam to the most important event in the life of Abraham BEGAN the day Adam and Eve sinned and God COVERED them with animal skins, the first shedding of blood to cover sins. And the 2000 years ended on the day that God made his covenant of PROMISE to Abraham. For this to happen, then that would mean that it took Adam and Eve 42 years to sin. Now, given the lifespan of Adam being 930 years old when he died, 42 years is not that long. We also have to remember that Adam named all the animals. Eve was not yet created. And after Eve was created we see them communing with God in the garden in the cool of the day. So considering these things, then 42 years is relatively a short period of time that it took for Adam and Eve to sin. With that being said, it appears to be exactly 2000 years from Adam to Abraham. And given all the Biblical evidence that we have already covered, it should be logical to conclude that it is also 2000 years from Abraham to the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. And then 2000 years from the beginning of the age of the church to the rapture of the church. And then the final 1000 year reign of Jesus. It is also interesting to note that the Biblical meaning of the number 42 means the COMING of Jesus. So how appropriate for Adam to sin 42 years after he was created because the number 42 is connected with Jesus and Jesus is the ATONEMENT for SIN. There were 42 generations from Abraham to Jesus. Please read Matthew 1:17. “So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; and from David until the carrying away into Babylon are fourteen generations; and from the carrying away into Babylon unto Christ are fourteen generations.” If we add 14 +14 + 14 = 42 generations from Abraham to the FIRST COMING of Jesus. It is also interesting to note that the number 42 is also connected to the SECOND COMING of Jesus. And 2000 years divided by 42 generations equals 47.6 years per generation. But since the generations in the Bible are rounded off so to speak, it would not be wise to try to calculate the second coming of Jesus using 42 generations. The generations in the Bible are 40 years, 70 years, and 100 years, according to some Bible teachers. All we know for sure is that Jesus will not return until the FULNESS of the Gentiles in this present world is completed because that is when God will remove the blindness from the remnant of Israel and turn to them a second time. Please read Romans 11:25-27. “For I would not, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fulness of the Gentiles has come in. 26. And 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: 27. For this is my covenant unto them when I shall take away their sins.” Now, we do not see any direct connection as yet with the number 42 in this passage of Scripture other than the assumption that Adam was 42 years old when he SINNED by eating of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. But when we search for all the possible meanings of the phrase “the fullness of the Gentiles” then we come across Revelation 11:2. So let us now read Revelation 11:2. “But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months.” And when we search the phrase “forty and two months” in the Bible we find that the number 42 is also connected to the antichrist, the man of SIN who will be destroyed at the COMING of Jesus. So again, the number 42 is connected to the second COMING of Jesus. Please read Revelation 13:5. “And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.” And we know that Jesus will NOT come until AFTER the antichrist or the man of sin is revealed. Please read 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4. “Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, AND by our gathering together unto him, (Speaking of the rapture of the church) 2. That you are NOT SOON shaken in mind or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. (In other words, the rapture of the church will NOT happen UNTIL some prophecies are FULFILLED first) 3. Let no man deceive you by any means: (Speaking of the false teaching of the PRE-tribulation rapture of the church and the MID-tribulation rapture of the church) for that day shall not come, (Speaking of the COMING of Jesus AND our gathering together by the angels to meet Jesus in the AIR, the DAY of the rapture of the church) shall NOT COME except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; 4. Who opposes and exalts himself (For 42 months) above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sits in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.” So now we can see more clearly the connection of the number 42 with the SECOND COMING of Jesus which is WHEN the rapture of the church will occur. Please do NOT be DECEIVED by the false teaching of any kind of rapture BEFORE the period of the GREAT tribulation. For you see, there are some Christians who do indeed believe in the 7000-year plan of God BUT they SUBTRACT 7 or more years from the plan of God by wrongly believing in a PRE-tribulation rapture of the church. And that false belief in a pre-tribulation rapture of the church could cause some Christians to fall away from following God when Jesus does NOT return to rapture them to ESCAPE the great tribulation. History has already proven that some Christians have fallen away from their faith in God when they fully expected Jesus to return because of false teaching and Jesus did NOT return. They felt that they were lied to and if their church denomination did not have the truth then how could any other church denomination be teaching the truth? Remember that we learned that if we add 2000 years to the year that Jesus was crucified and God raised him from the dead then we can determine the approximate YEAR of the rapture of the church. And to me, the best possible year for the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus is the year 31 AD. To learn how I concluded that 31 AD is the best possible year of the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus please read the study “WHAT YEAR WAS JESUS CRUCIFIED?” But for now, please know that no one can positively know that exact time of the rapture of the church until MORE prophecies are FULFILLED. But IF the 7000-year plan of salvation is sound Biblical teaching then the approximate year of the COMING of Jesus and the rapture of the church is the year 2031 AD. Again, if you are a believer in a PRE-tribulation rapture of the church then I implore you to read the studies that I have on this subject that prove beyond any shadow of a doubt that there will be NO PRE-tribulation of any kind. Here is a link that will give you a list of all the studies that I have on the subject of end-time prophecy, the second coming of Jesus, and WHEN the rapture of the church will occur. >>>PROPHECY---SECOND COMING OF JESUS<<< Thanks for reading. And may God bless you richly as you continue to seek the truth of the WHOLE word of Almighty God. If you have any questions please feel free to write to me at MarkatAMatterOfTruth@Gmail.com
Your brother in our Lord Jesus Christ, Brother Mark.
RETURN TO HOMEPAGE AT Here are a few more interesting pieces of evidence to support God's 7000-year plan of salvation for those of mankind who BELIEVE that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God who was crucified for the sins of the whole world and raised from the dead after three days. The Greek word “anastasis”, Strong’s number 386 is found 42 times in the King James Version of the Bible. It is translated as “resurrection” 41 times and as “rising again” 1 time in Luke 2:34. Let us read this prophecy in Luke 2:34,35. “And Simeon blessed them and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again (Or this child is set for the fall and the RESURRECTION) of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against; 35. (Yea, a sword shall pierce through your own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”
It is also interesting to note that in 2 Kings 2:23,24 we read that 42 of the children that mocked Elisha saying, GO UP bald man, GO UP bald man were mauled by 2 she bears after Elijah cursed them. And 2 Peter 3:3,5 prophesies that we will be MOCKED concerning our preaching of the coming of Jesus and the rapture of the church by people, possibly even Christians who have fallen away from God, saying. “WHERE in the promise of his coming.” The number 42 is also a product of 6X7=42. The number 6 is the number for man, and more specifically for the sinfulness of mankind. And number 7 means perfect and complete. The disciples asked Jesus the question, “Who then can be saved?” And Jesus answered, “With MEN it is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” So then, WITH God PERFECTING those of mankind who BELIEVE at the SECOND coming of Jesus connect the number 42 with the SECOND coming of Jesus. We will be made perfect AT the coming of Jesus by our partaking of the divine nature of immortality to receive a BODY as Jesus received AFTER the cross.
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