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DANIEL’S PROPHECY OF 70 WEEKS

PART 2                                                                                             

Daniel 9:24-27

Part 1 was put up on April 26, 2014

December 22, 2008

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THE 70 WEEKS OF DANIEL’S 9:24-27 PROPHECY – Part 2 

According to the Oxford Concise Dictionary of World Religions, the Evangelical Protestantism Movement emerged in Britain in the 1730s.  The conversion of John Wesley in 1738 is often regarded as the start of the evangelical movement.  Wesley was forced to preach out of doors and to eventually develop an organization of his own.   From 1740 to 1800 the evangelicals were drawn into the movement primarily from Wesleyan Methodists, Primitive Methodists, nonconformist Protestant bodies such as the Congregationalists, and from some Baptist groups. And it shocked many when the Evangelical Movement had spread to the Church of England by 1800.  It was a movement of great emotional outbursts and feelings which affected virtually every corner of preaching and teaching.

Within the Evangelical Movement a different viewpoint arose in the teaching of prophecy, particularly in the interpretation of Daniel 9:27.  I have diligently searched for any commentary published before 1740 that indicated the three “HE’S” in Daniel 9:27 were the antichrist, and have not found a single one.  I am not saying one does not exist, but I have been looking for years, and have never found one.  All publications before 1740 clearly identified the three “HE’S” as Jesus Christ, “the Messiah the Prince,” or as Antiochus Epiphanes.  It has stunned me as to how much of our teaching today about the antichrist is all tied back to the belief that the antichrist is the one referred to in Daniel 9:27.  I beg of you to take a good look at the series on the 70 Weeks of Daniel exposition I am now presenting in Parts. Even if you think it is hogwash, please carefully read all the Parts .  If it is correct, it will help you to understand what is going on when the antichrist does not follow the pattern currently taught in most religious circles.  If it is wrong, it will have done you no harm, but please read it.  I have no ulterior motive for gain in presenting it to you. 

My motive is a very simple one.  I am an old man who is living on borrowed time, and I am very concerned that many are going to be confused when prophetic events suddenly conclude in a manner quite different from what they expect.  For better or for worse, I believe the religious world took a wrong turn in prophetic teaching in 1740, and that many believe what is erroneously tied back to the antichrist representing the three “HE’S” in Daniel 9:27.  It makes a terrific difference in the way the end days in which we now live will come down.

Daniel 9:27 – And HE shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week HE shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations HE shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.

I fully exposited on Daniel 9:24 in Part 1 of the previous Blog, establishing how Daniel had learned, from Jeremiah’s writings, that seventy weeks of years were determined upon the people of Israel and their holy city Jerusalem.  Under Daniel’s formula for the period, each one of Jeremiah’s seventy years was equal to seven years, and he identified each seven year period as one week of years (So 7 X 70 = 490 years or 70 weeks of years).  In verse 25 he gives us a starting point for his prophetic clock to begin ticking toward a countdown of 490 years or 70 weeks of years. 

Daniel 9:25 – Know therefore and understand, that FROM the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem UNTO the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.

The 490 year time clock was to start ticking when “the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem” was issued.  However, there were four different proclamations issued by three Persian kings: 

1.  The Decree of Cyrus in 536 B.C. 

2.  The Decree of Darius Hystaspes in 519 B.C. 

3.  The first Decree of Artaxerxes Longimanus in 457 B.C. 

4.  The second Decree of Artaxerxes Longimanus in 445 B.C. 

The Scripture indicated that FROM the time the commandment (decree) was issued UNTIL the Messiah the Prince arrived, would be 69 weeks of years or 483 years (7 weeks + 62 weeks = 69 weeks of years)  ( 7 X 69 = 483 years) 

Now, some problems arise in the establishment of historical dates that begin at “FROM” and end at “UNTIL” – Are these prophetic years or calendar years – How are they affected by corrections to the Gentile calendars by Rome – And how are they affected by the lunar calendar used by the Hebrews? All these things make it difficult to decide which one of the four decrees applies to Daniel 9:25.  Was Daniel indicating solar years of 365.25 or prophetic lunar years of 360 days?  Most likely he meant years of 360 days. 

Which one of the four decrees was the one that Daniel indicated in his prophecy?  The decree of Cyrus in 536 B.C. was limited to the building of the Temple.  The decree of Darius Hystaspes was also limited to the building of the Temple.  The first decree of Artaxerxes Longimanus in 457 B.C. demonstrated a larger range of granting authority to carry out all that needed to be done, much more than the two decrees before it.  His second decree in 445 B.C. is also very specific in its instruction and authority to rebuild Jerusalem.  So, we are able, because of the lack of reference “to restore and to build Jerusalem” in the first two decrees, to say that it must be one of the two issued by Artaxerxes Longimanus in 457 B. C. and 445 B.C. 

If Daniel’s prophecy is based on our present calendar year, which I doubt, then FROM the time Artaxerxes first decree was issued in 457 B.C. until the baptism of Jesus the Messiah in 27 A.D., would be 483 years or 69 weeks.  This was the viewpoint held by the great Baptist Bible expositor B.H. Carroll in the late eighteen hundreds and early nineteen hundreds.  But Dr. Carroll makes this statement in his writings on Daniel 9:25, when dealing with prophetic years of 360 days: “Hengstenberg, on the other hand, while agreeing with the second decree of 445 B.C., controverts the theory of a year of 360 days, and contests the date usually accepted (445 B.C.).  By an elaborate historical argument of great plausibility he seeks to prove that the 20^th year of Artaxerxes Longimanus falls on the date 455 B.C. and then, by adding 483 years, Hengstenberg puts Christ’s acknowledgment by His Father, at His baptism, as the true coming of Messiah the Prince.”  Sir Robert Anderson has two books on Daniel, “The Coming Prince” and “Daniel in the Critic’s Den.”  He uses the usually accepted debt of 445 B.C. and articulates a strong time sequence to prove his conclusions. 

Now, please allow me to state my conclusions.  I was taught certain things about Daniel 9:24-27 by many old preachers who are now at home with the Lord.  Many of them were born in the 19^th century and lived into the thirties, forties, and fifties of the 20^th.  In northern Arkansas where I was raised, these old fellows read after the leading Baptist theologians of their day from books they had procured from old book stores or the libraries of older preachers when they died.  Some of these books were written in the late 18^th and early 19^th century, and they finally just worn out and fell apart from constant use.  They didn’t have opportunity to attend a seminary, but they were diligent in reading the works of the Baptists who did.  These are the men who first taught me prophecy many years before I graduated from seminaries, colleges, and universities.  In the weeks to come, Lord willing, I am going to pass on to you what they taught me, and you may be surprised.  Now, in all honesty, before God and man, I believe it was 483 years “FROM” the decree “UNTO” the baptism of Jesus, when he began His earthly ministry.  I accept it by faith in God’s word.  The problem is not with the Word of God, it is with the human setting of the time of the proper decree. 

My main reason for writing such a lengthy discourse was to show how difficult it is to absolutely fix the precise date the proclamation was issued to which Daniel referred.  BUT I AM DELIGHTED TO TELL YOU THAT WHAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT CAN BE PROVEN BY A SINGLE WORD, THE WORD “AFTER” IN DANIEL 9:26A. 

Daniel 9:25,26A – Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times. [26] And AFTER threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself:  (The 7 weeks is understood in Hebrew literary style to also be added to the 62 in verse 26 so as to avoid redundancy in a flowing chronological sequence of events, i.e. AFTER 69 weeks.  Otherwise, Messiah would have been cut off before he was born.) 

The Hebrew word used for “AFTER” is “ACHAR,” which means, in context, “AFTERWARD.”  This same word “ACHAR” is used in the following Scriptures. 

Jeremiah 31:33 – But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; AFTER those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. 

Joel 2:28 – And it shall come to pass AFTERWARD, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: 

Hosea 3:5 – AFTERWARD shall the children of Israel return, and seek the Lord their God, and David their king; and shall fear the Lord and his goodness in the latter days. 

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. 

The vast majority of prophetic expositors today claim that Messiah was cut off, crucified, to END the 69^th week, bringing the hands of Daniel’s clock to a standstill, and that we have a full week of seven years waiting to be fulfilled when it begins to tick again, but that cannot be true since Christ was crucified AFTER the 69^th week during the 70^th week, leaving less than seven years to be fulfilled.

The significance of the placement of “AFTER” in Daniel 9:26A cannot be overemphasized.  Why?  Because it definitely states that Messiah would not be cut off to END the 69^th week, but would be crucified “AFTER” it, at some time in the 70^th week.  The clock of Daniel stopped ticking at some time in the final 70^th week.  So when was Jesus cut off by crucifixion in the 70^th week?  The answer is of the utmost importance.  I know we have less than seven years once the clock starts to tick again, but how much less do we have?  It has to be less than 2520 days, but more than 1260 days?  We will proceed into verses 26 and 27 in a future update to find the answers to these questions, Lord willing. 

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A New Heaven – A New Earth and a Holy City Kingdom with Dominion!

Part 8

May 10, 2014

They’ll be a Shaking for Saved and Lost Before the 7^th Trumpet Rapture!

The Rapture of the 2 Witnesses and all the saved occurs on the same Day!

A Great Earthquake occurs in the same hour they’re caught up to Heaven

And the Saved Remnant Quickly give Glory to God Knowing He is Coming

He Comes To Catch Out ALL Saved on the Same Day 2 Witnesses Went Up!

All the saved are Judged in heaven by Jesus as 7 wrath vials pour on Earth

THE GREAT BOOM – BOOM – BOOM –  THE RAPTURE ON THE SAME DAY

Revelation 11:12-18 – And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them. [13] And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven. [14] The second woe is past; and, behold, the third woe cometh quickly. [15] And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever. [16] And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God, [17] Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned. [18] And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.

Part 1, March 31

Part 2, April 15

Part 3, April 22

Part 4, April 22

Part 5, April 25

Part 6, April 25

Part 7, April 27

All Angels made their one-time choice long ago to worship God or Lucifer and they are forever sealed in it. 

Man’s choice can be made during the accountable years of life, and that person is sealed in that choice forever.

God created the Angels and Lucifer was appointed to be over the earth, but he rebelled against God.

Ezekiel 28:13-15 – Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created. [14] Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. [15] Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.

God created Man and appointed him to be over the earth, but he rebelled against God in the Garden of Eden.

Genesis 3:15-21 – And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and HER SEED;  it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise HIS heel. [16] Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee. [17] And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; [18] Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; [19] In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return. [20] And Adam called his wife’s name Eve; because she was the mother of all living. [21] Unto Adam also and to his wife did the Lord God make COATS OF SKIN, and clothed them.

Genesis 4:25,26 – And Adam knew his wife again; and she bare a son, and called his name Seth: For God, said she, hath appointed me ANOTHER SEED instead of Abel, whom Cain slew. [26] And to Seth, to him also there was born a son; and he called his name Enos: THEN BEGAN MEN TO CALL UPON THE NAME OF THE LORD. 

Romans 10:13-21 – FOR WHOSOEVER SHALL CALL UPON THE NAME OF THE NAME OF THE LORD SHALL BE SAVED.  [14] How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? [15] And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! [16] But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? [17] So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. [18] But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world. [19] But I say, Did not Israel know? First Moses saith, I will provoke you to jealousy by them that are no people, and by a foolish nation I will anger you. [20] But Esaias is very bold, and saith, I was found of them that sought me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me. [21] But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people.

Today’s final generation of the New Testament Age, like Old Testament Israel, has now become a disobedient and gainsaying people. And God will soon shake his own creation to its foundation.

Haggai 2:5-9 – According to the word that I covenanted with you when ye came out of Egypt, so my spirit remaineth among you: fear ye not. [6] For thus saith the Lord of hosts; Yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land; [7] And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the Lord of hosts. [8] The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the Lord of hosts. [9] The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, saith the Lord of hosts: and in this place will I give peace, saith the Lord of hosts.

Ezekiel 40:1,2 – In the five and twentieth year of our captivity, in the beginning of the year, in the tenth day of the month, in the fourteenth year after that the city was smitten, in the selfsame day the hand of the Lord was upon me, and brought me thither. [2] In the visions of God brought he me into the land of Israel, and set me upon a very high mountain, by which was as the frame of a city on the south.

Ezekiel 43:1-5 – Afterward he brought me to the gate, even the gate that looketh toward the east: [2] And, behold, the glory of the God of Israel came from the way of the east: and his voice was like a noise of many waters: and the earth shined with his glory. [3] And it was according to the appearance of the vision which I saw, even according to the vision that I saw when I came to destroy the city: and the visions were like the vision that I saw by the river Chebar; and I fell upon my face. [4] And the glory of the Lord came into the house by the way of the gate whose prospect is toward the east. [5] So the spirit took me up, and brought me into the inner court; and, behold, the glory of the Lord filled the house.

Ezekiel 48:35 – It was round about eighteen thousand measures: and the name of the city from that day shall be, The Lord is there.

God turned to the Gentiles after Israel rejected him, but will restore them at the beginning of the Millennial Reign and the Millennial Temple will be built during his early Reign.II

Corinthians 3:14-16 – But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ. [15] But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart. [16] Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away.

The Book of Hebrews gives some interesting information about relations between God, Angels. snd Humans.  It also gives several instructions believers should take to heart in their worship of God in the first two Chapters.

Hebrews Chapter 1 – God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, [2] Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; [3] Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; [4] Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. [5] For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son? [6] And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him. [7] And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire. [8] But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. [9] Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. [10] And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands: [11] They shall perish; but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment; [12] And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail. [13] But to which of the angels said he at any times, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool? [14] Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?

Hebrews Chapter 2 – Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. [2] For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward; [3] How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; [4] God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will? [5] For unto the angels hath he not put in subjection the world to come, whereof we speak. [6] But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that thou visitest him? [7] Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands: [8] Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him. [9] But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man. [10] For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. [11] For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren, [12] Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee. [13] And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me. [14] Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; [15] And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. [16] For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham. [17] Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. [18] For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.

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CREATION BY ETERNAL GOD IN THE BEGINNING

Part 3

Part 1 was issued on April 28, 2014

Part 2 was issued on May 1, 2014

The Gap Theory of God’s Creation of the Earth

May 9, 2014

In Part 2, I covered the history of what is now known as “The Gap Theory,” from its origin by Dr. Thomas Chalmers, in 1814.  Some of those, who seem to have an intense dislike of it, accuse those who propagate it as believing in evolution, and some of the creation scientists have actually called it heresy. As I indicated in Part 2, I could care less what people believe about how and when the earth was created, as long as they believe Genesis 1:1

Genesis 1:1 – In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth

Let us suppose that the Gap Theory is correct, and that the earth really is billions of years old. Just think of all that time, and all the many things that transpired during those billions of years. And, continuing to accept it is correct, suppose that God had given Moses a detailed history of all these events to present to the group traveling with Moses, a group that knew nothing about when and how God created the earth, what do you think they would have done to Moses? More than likely, they would have thrown him out from among them, and left him on his backside in the sands of Sinai. God chose to give Moses the truth about his creation in an easy simplified form they could understand and accept. And accept it they did, until man began to run to and fro across the earth, such that his knowledge was tremendously increased in the things on it, under it, and above it. Now, it is possible for us to better understand the when and the how of the earth’s creation.

Daniel 12:4 – 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.

The Gap Theory is not difficult to understand, and its premises are based on Biblical linguistics, on the Word of God. It involves three verses of Scripture in the direct evidence of its validity – Genesis 2:1,2 and Isaiah 45:18. And the Hebrew words, WAS, WITHOUT FORM, and NOT IN VAIN, in these three verses, constitute the motivational linguistic reasons that led me to accept the Gap Theory.

Genesis 1:1,2 – In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. [2] And the earth WAS WITHOUT FORM, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.

Isaiah 45:18 – For thus saith the Lord that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it NOT IN VAIN, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the Lord; and there is none else.

“WAS,” in verse 2, is the Hebrew word “HAYETHAH.” Many expositors on this verse claim that the word “HAYETHAH” is merely a copula. A copula, in the Hebrew grammar, is a weakened verb form of the word, which merely acts as the link between a subject, and the predicate of a preposition. However, the placement of HAYETHAH in this grammatical structure is not copular.

HAYETHAH is a verb, but it is not used in the copular sense. HAYETHAH means “BECAME.” The earth was not created in verse 1 as “without form and void.” It BECAME “without form and void” in verse 2 for some reason, after it was created in a stable condition in verse 1. The Hebrew language does not contain a verb equivalent to our English state of being verb “be.” The sense of the verb “be” in Hebrew is indicated by the absence of a verb in cases where the sense of a verb is required. HAYETHAH comes from the vocabulary root form HAYAH, which Strong lists as a primary root, meaning “to exist, to be or to become,” and states the following: “It is emphatic, and not a mere copula.” Nelson’s Expository Dictionary of the Old Testament, says of HAYAH: “it means to become, occur, come to pass, be,” and goes on to state: “This verb occurs only in Hebrew and Aramaic. The Old Testament attests HAYAH about 3,560 times. Often this verb means more than simple existence of identity (this may be indicated by omitting the verb altogether).” In the writings of Moses, the word HAYAH is translated as BECAME some 22 times in the KJV, and the New International Version of the Bible carries a footnote stating the WAS in Genesis 1:1 may be correctly translated as BECAME. Wilson’s Old Testament Word Studies also says HAYAH is frequently translated BECOME. For those of you who know the Hebrew, HAYETHAH is Qal stem, perfect tense, third person, singular number and feminine gender. The verb agrees in person, number and gender with the feminine subject, which is “earth,” i.e., “the earth became.” It may be translated fully as: “the earth she became.” The first portion of Genesis 1:2, laid out in the English language of today for the purpose of deriving its interpretative exposition, is as follows.

Genesis 1:2a – And the earth BECAME (HAYETHAH) a desolation (THOHU) and a waste (VABOHU)

KJV Translation – Genesis 1:2a – And the earth was without form, and void; (“was” is HAYETHAH, “without form” is THOHU, and “void” is VABOHU).

THOHU is the vocabulary form TOHU. It describes a state or condition of desolation and wreckage, and it describes the condition into which the earth came, apparently after having originally been created in a perfect condition. The next word is VABOHU, which is parallel with TOHU. The vocabulary form is BOHU, and it means “waste.” It is the result of an activity or a wrecking force, as described in the previous word TOHU. The VA prefixed to BOHU is simply the coordinating conjunction, and both BOHU and TOHU are nouns.

So, up to this point, I have offered linguistic proof that the word “was” preceding “without form and void” in Genesis 1:1, can legitimately be translated as “became” without violating the inspired Word of God. Now, if this was the only way I could prove my case, I freely admit that, from a linguistic standpoint, I would have reservations about it being correct to the point of definitely stating “was” should be interpreted as “became.” However, the very reason I know it should be understood as “became,” is that I believe the word of God to be inspired, and I do not believe it contradicts itself. Let us now examine Isaiah 45:18, bearing in mind the statement I have just made concerning inspiration of the Bible.

Isaiah 45:18 – For thus saith the Lord that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it NOT IN VAIN, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the Lord; and there is none else.

The two English words IN VAIN are translated from the Hebrew word TOHU, and the NOT preceding it definitely states that God did NOT create the earth in a TOHU condition. So, if we let WAS, which precedes TOHU (without form) in Genesis 1:2, stand as the correct interpretation of HAYETHAH, rather than BECAME, we have a direct contradiction between the statement of Moses in Genesis 1:1 and the prophet in Isaiah 45:18, which I do not accept. Some of the proponents for an earth 6000 to 12000 years old insist that Isaiah 45:18 is not talking about the original creation. I have listened to, and read the tenets of their claim, and find no valid justification for it.

Since I am a proponent of the Gap Theory, I feel a certain responsibility to advance what I believe occurred during a very long period of time that passed on this present earth from the time it initially became TOHU and BOHU until God, in Genesis 1:3, began a restoring of it to exist much as we know it today. As I stated in Part 1 and now again in this Part, I don’t care when or how he created it. I am only concerned for those who do not believe God created it. In my 80 years on this planet I have seen many men throw themselves into debates, arguments, and indignant states of dislike for one another on the issue of creation. I certainly think the discussion of it is worthwhile, but I do not intend to waste what time I have left in active service in debating, arguing, or even breaking fellowship over it. It is a lot like the rapture, which is certainly worth discussing and studying, but I’m not overly concerned as to “when” you believe Jesus is coming.  I am only concerned for those who don’t believe he is coming. That God created the heavens and the earth, and that his Son, Jesus Christ is going to return for all believers, and then rule and reign on it, is Christian doctrine. “When” God created the earth, and “when” his Son is returning, is Christian opinion.As I mentioned in Part 1, Dr. Fred Stevenson, who taught Hebrew at the Missionary Baptist Seminary for many years, spoke slower than any one I have ever known, except Brother Buddy Pennington. And some of the content in Part 2 comes directly from Dr. Stevenson’s audio cassettes, which were recorded during his classes at the seminary. Dr. Stevenson’s words were transcribed directly by Brother Joe Barker from the cassettes. Dr. Dennis Richey, the pastor of Glendale BC, used his transcription in the preparation of his Doctoral Thesis he presented to Landmark Missionary Baptist Institute, which is sponsored by Glendale Baptist Church in Mauldin, South Carolina. His Father-in-Law, Dr. J.O. Phillips, and myself, were strong advocates of the Gap Theory.

Both Dr. Stevenson and Dr. Phillips were strong advocates of the Gap Theory.

I did not intend to ever place on our web pages what I believed about the Genesis creation account, because it so controversial and naturally tends to generate strife among the brethren, but over the last three years I have been flooded with requests as to what I believed concerning it. So, in the next few Updates, Lord willing, I intend to write what I believe about the dinosaurs, cloning, when man was created, and several other subjects in question about the long period of time that I believe passed between 1:1 and 1:3 in Genesis. These are things I have taught at Dardanelle MBC for 38 years, but until the late nineties I stayed off controversial subjects like creation and the rapture as I traveled to some 800 churches, and 21 colleges, universities, and seminaries.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A DEFINITE PUZZLE HAS COME TOGETHER FOR ME – PART 3

Part 1 of this Series was put up on April 29, 2014.

Part 2 of this Series was put up on April 30, 2014

Part 2A of this Series was put up on May 7, 2014

Stop Worrying about World Prophetic Fulfillment

Start being concerned about your relationship with God

This is a full exposition of one of the events used in Part 1

Special Prophecy Update Number 123B

June 9, 2003

Age of the Prophecy Revisionists

The majority of preachers today are not aware of the major revisions to prophetic teachings that were brought in during the age of the great revisionists from 1740 to 1832.  Many of these teachings came out of the Evangelical Age and he Age of the great Awakening.

I do not accept many of the revisions that were made during this period.

I challenge anyone reading this to produce a pre-1740 book on prophecy, based on Biblical interpretation, that shows a diagram dividing the tribulation period into two sections, each one 3 and ½ years in length, with the first resurrection occurring at the beginning of the first 3 and ½ year period.

I would also like for someone to show me a published book before 1740, based on Bible interpretation, showing a diagram dividing the tribulation period into sections, each one 1260 days in length, with the first resurrection occurring at the beginning of the second period of 1260 days.

For that matter, I would also like to see a published book before 1740, based on Bible interpretation that taught the rapture would occur at the middle or the beginning of the tribulation period.  If you should find one, which is possible, try to find two more.  And after you do that, try to find a book that stated the three “HE’s” in Daniel are Jesus Christ. I implore you to do this before the Rapture.

It is possible that a pre-1740 published book does exist somewhere that shows the tribulation period divided into two sections, each one 3 and ½ years in length, but I have looked long and hard for it in many old musty religious book archives in the U.S. and abroad, and I have yet to find it.

Prophetic teachers of this generation have lived with the two division diagrams so long they think they came over on the Mayflower.  But basically these diagrams were a product of the first of the week rapture position, which is such an ingrained part of prophecy teaching today.  The so-called “first of the week” position, as well as what is known as the “middle of the week” position, cannot be found in existence in any published book about the Bible before 1740.  In fact, it is the term “week,” appropriated by the revisionists, that is largely responsible for the mass exodus from orthodox prophetic teaching, which occurred in the late 18^th and early 19^th centuries.  The bulk of all prophetic teaching of today is based, directly or indirectly, on the revisionist teaching on Daniel 9:27, which, to a large extent, was accelerated with the initial appearance of the “first of the week” position in the early 19^th century.  If the teaching on Daniel 9:27 by the revisionists is incorrect, then much of today’s prophetic teaching is in error.  I believe this is the case, and I have been labeled as a revisionist myself because of it.  I am certain that the great Bible expositor B.H. Carrol, who continued to believe the pre-1740 teachings until his death, was correct in what he taught concerning Daniel’s 70^th week.  For you see, before 1827, the majority of orthodox prophetic teachers were convinced that the “he” in Daniel 9:27 was Jesus Christ, not the antichrist – THEY WERE RIGHT.  We are not waiting for a “week of seven years” to be fulfilled!  Why not?  Because Jesus has already fulfilled most of the first 3 and ½ years.  We are facing a tribulation period of the last 3 and ½ years, preceded by a much briefer period of hudna peace than many are expecting.

I implore you to take a look at what was taught by most orthodox prophetic teachers before 1827 about Daniel’s 70^th Week.  It is fully exposited in our Prophecy Archives on Updates 55, 56, 57 and 58.  Also please scan Updates 74A, 73D, and 82A for the pre-1740 Rapture Position.

PLEASE SCAN DOWN TO READ PREVIOUS UPDATES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A DEFINITE PUZZLE HAS COME TOGETHER FOR ME – PART 2A

Part 1 of this Series was put up on April 29, 2014.

Part 1A of this Series was put up on April 30, 2014

Part 2 of this Series was put up on May 3, 2014

Stop Worrying about World Prophetic Fulfillment

Start being concerned about your relationship with God

This is a full exposition of one of the events used in Part 1

May 7, 2014

http://www.tribulationperiod/

BELIEVER – DO YOU CARE ABOUT THE GLORIFIED RESURRECTION BODY GOD HAS PROMISED TO ALL THE SAVED?

SPECIAL PROPHECY UPDATE NUMBER 115D

April 16, 2003

THE GLORIOUS BODY OF THE BETTER RESURRECTION WILL BE SEEN BY ALL BELIEVERS AT JESUS’ JUDGMENT SEAT

NOT ALL BELIEVERS WILL HAVE THE SAME DEGREE OF GLORY IN THE MILLENNIAL AND FINAL HEAVEN AGE.

THE DEGREE OF GLORY MANIFESTED WILL DETERNINE WHERE ONE LIVES IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD.

II Corinthians 5:1,2,10 – For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. [2] For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: [10] For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

Colossians 3:23-25 – And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily (from the soul), as to the Lord, and not unto men; [24] Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. [25] But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.

Since 1982, I have openly contended that Revelation 11:18 pictures the saved in heaven being judged for rewards after the seventh trump, the last trump, is sounded, and that the seven vials of wrath are being poured out on the earth while they are being judged.  I contend that the better resurrection in Hebrews 11:35 will are directly tied to the degree of “glory” manifested by the spiritual bodies all shall see at the judgment seat.

Hebrews 11:35 – Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that THEY MIGHT OBTAIN A BETTER RESURRECTION.

In II Corinthians Paul talks about this spiritual body, as compared to our temporal, and the advantage gained in glory by not fainting in our labors in this temporal body while waiting for the first resurrection.   And he advises us that we will receive in our new bodies a recompense for what we have done in our temporal body.

II Corinthians 4:14 to 5:2,10 – Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you. [15] For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God. [16] For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. [17] For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; [18] While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal. [1] For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. [2] For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: [10] For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

When the bodies of the saved are resurrected they will be changed at the last trump, the seventh trump, for the temporal flesh and blood body cannot inherit anything in the kingdom of God.

I Corinthians 15:50-52 – Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. [51] Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, [52] In 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.

I have long contended that all the saved will receive glorified bodies, and that all will be glorious, but I also contend that there will be a difference in the degrees of glory they manifest.  I believe that some will receive a “better resurrection” than others, and that this relates to the degree of glory manifested by the person of the new body in which they will dwell.  Paul’s conclusion to the last trump rapture in II Corinthians stresses the advantage gained in laboring for the Lord in your temporal body.

I Corinthians 15:58 – Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

The verses that lead up to the last trump in I Corinthians, and those that follow it, point out that when the temporal body is sown in the earth at the time of its physical demise, the glory of its resurrection will be in proportion to the degree of its spiritual labors during physical life.  God will give every saved person a body as it pleases him, and I conclude he will give a body proportionate in glory to what the individual sowed in his or her lifetime.

Galatians 6:7 – Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

I Corinthians 15:38-41 – But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body. [39] All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds. [40] There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. [41] There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory.

In verse 42 Paul draws a conclusion to what he has just stated.  He has pointed out that the sun to our eyes us more glorious in appearance than the moon, and in turn the moon is more glorious than the stars.  The word “So” is a definite conclusion to what he summarized beginning with verse 35.

I Corinthians 15:35,41,42 – But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come? [41] There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory. [42] SO ALSO is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:

Paul then leads into the quickening change by the last Adam, Jesus, at the first resurrection, informing us that we will bear the image of the heavenly in our spiritual body at the time when we shall all be changed.

I Corinthians 15:42-51 – So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: [43] It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: [44] It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. [45] And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. [46] Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. [47] The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven. [48] As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. [49] And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. [50] Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. [51] Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,

The change in our inner man, that we let the Lord make in us while we are still present in our temporal body, will be reflected in our final body.

II Corinthians 3:18 – But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

John 6:62,63 – What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before? [63] It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

James 1:25 – But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

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