God And His Word - A Question And Answer Approach To Understanding The Bible

LESSON 3: PROPHETIC PROOFS OF GOD'S PLAN NOTE: THE PURPOSE OF THIS LESSON is to give Scriptural proofs that God's Plan is actually a "Week of Redemption" composed of seven days, each of which is equal to 1,000 years. It may appear at first that the unusual collection of illustrations given below is a poor example of Bible exegesis. We believe, however, that prayerful reflection on these thoughts will convince the student that God Himself has inspired these Bible pictures to help us better retain the Truth. 1. ONE DAY OF THE LORD = 1,000 YEARS. 2 Peter 3:8; Psalms 84:10; 90:4. 2. THE PASSOVER LAMB WAS TO BE HIDDEN FOUR DAYS. Exodus 12:3-6. For four days (or, 4,000 years) from Adam to the Cross, Jesus was "kept," destined to die as the final Passover Lamb for the sins of the world. 1 Peter 1:20; Revelation 13:8. 3. THE "PASSION WEEK" ILLUSTRATES GOD'S WEEK. The Passion Week recorded in the Gospels is actually a small replica of the more extended plan of the ages. Daniel 9:27 states that the Christ was to cause sacrifice to cease "in the midst of the week" - which, of course, means Wednesday, not "Good Friday." Note "three days" in Matthew 12:40. Thus, Jesus fulfilled His redemptive ministry on earth at the close of the fourth day, both in God's Week as well as the Passion Week. 4. THE "MILLENNIUM" WILL BE GOD'S SABBATH. The world "millennium" does not occur in the Bible; however, since it is an English word meaning "a thousand years" (Webster), it is perfectly proper to use it. The expression "thousand years," occurs six times in Revelation 20:2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7; the context indicates that this is the seventh 1,000 year day (or, Sabbath) of God's Plan of the Ages. 5. PETER USES THE EXPRESSION THE LAST DAYS." Acts 2:17. Since some of what Peter mentioned has not yet come to pass, how could it be the LAST days? Answer: Peter lived in the fifth day of God's Plan and the Church today lives in the sixth day; hence, both the early Church and today's Church live in the "last days."

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