Sermon - The 7000 Year Theory Part 5: Have we less than 20 years?

Sermon on

The 7000 Year Theory Series:

Part 5: Have we less than 20 Years?

By C. B. Pepper

This is the fifth and final of a series of 5 sermons which examine the 7000 Year Theory. In sermon Part 1 we looked at the introduction of sin into this world and God revealing His Plan of Redemption. In Part 2 we looked at the days of Noah and the antediluvian world and saw parallels to our world today. In Part 3 we looked at the coming of Jesus as the Passover lamb and the significance of this to the plan of redemption. In Part 4 we looked at when Christ was crucified. In Part 5 we look at the destruction of Jerusalem and consider whether it is possible to predict the Second Coming of Christ. We also consider what will transpire in the last 1000 years of the 7000 year theory.

Final Warnings to the Jews

In 66 AD, just 3½ years prior to the siege of Jerusalem and the destruction of Herod's temple the Jewish historian Josephus recorded several dramatic events and warnings that concerned the Temple worship system at Jerusalem (War, Book 6. ch.5.) and foretold the end of the Temple worship system at Jerusalem. The following are just a few of the many warnings of impending disaster to come upon Jerusalem.

1. During the Feast of Unleavened Bread in 66 A.D. (3½ years prior to destruction of temple), at about 3 in the morning, a light as bright as daylight appeared around the altar for half an hour. Although some thought it was a good sign, the scribes understood it to be a precursor to the supernatural events that followed during the Feast:

A heifer being led for sacrifice was said to have given birth to a lamb in the midst of the Temple. Around midnight, during the Feast, the huge eastern gate of the inner court of the temple, which was made of brass and normally took twenty men to shut, opened on its own. Josephus says that this was understood by knowledgeable men to mean that the Temple's protection had vanished and that the gate was opened for the benefit of their enemies. These enlightened men publicly declared that this sign foreshadowed the disaster that was coming on them (Wars IV,5,3).

2. On the twenty first of the month of Iyar, just before sunset, chariots and soldiers in armour were seen running about in the clouds around the city. See Lk.21:20.

3. During the night portion of the day of Pentecost in 66 A.D., as the priests were entering the inner court of the Temple, they felt a quaking and heard a great noise and a sound like a great multitude of voices saying, "Let us remove hence".

4. Jewish historical records state that the shekinah glory departed the Temple at that time and remained over the Mount of Olives for 3½ years, during which time, a voice could sometimes be heard coming from the mount pleading for the Jews to repent. See Midrash Lamentations 2:11. It is said that, just before the Roman's final siege of Jerusalem, that this light which appeared over the Mount of Olives disappeared into the heavens.

The Jews failed to heed these and many other warnings to repent of their sins and return to their God in humble obedience. If indeed the nation of Israel began its covenant relationship with the Creator God on the day of Pentecost at the foot of Mount Sinai, it ended this relationship on the day of Pentecost in 66 A.D.⁴¹

Jerusalem Siege and Temple Destruction in 70 AD

As soon as the walls of Jerusalem were breached on the 9th of Ab in 70 A.D., a Roman military force of about 30,000 troops under the command of Titus marched into Jerusalem and began a systematic slaughter of the Jews and the destruction of the Temple and Jerusalem—exactly as Jesus foretold 40 years earlier.

The Romans brutally slaughtered an estimated 600,000 people in Jerusalem including many of the Passover visitors who had been trapped there for the 143 days during the Roman siege. Many of the people who were not killed by Roman soldiers were shipped off to the gladiatorial games, Roman mines, and otherwise exiled from Judea and scattered throughout the Roman empire and other nations. By the year 73 A.D., all traces of a self-ruling Jewish nation had completely disappeared.

Josephus records that the Romans put the city and the Temple to the torch and that these fires were still burning a month later on the eighth day of the Roman month Gorpieus (Jewish month Elul).

The magnificent Temple that Herod had built was completely destroyed as the fires raged inside and out. These fires were so hot that the gold fittings, and the gold gilding inside and on it's outside walls melted and ran into the cracks between and in the stones. During the pillaging of the Temple these stones were broken up to get at the gold. Therefore, fulfilling Jesus' prophecy that no stone would be left on another—the destruction was total, just as Jesus foretold.⁴¹

Can we Predict the Second Coming?

So we have three perspectives, Biblical, historical and mathematical calculation and a three way triangulation pointing to Jesus' death on Nisan 14^th (7 April), 30 AD.

We see that 4000 redemptive years were completed at the cross. Another 2000 years redemptive work covers the period from the cross to the Second Coming. After Christ's resurrection He returned to heaven and has been performing High Priestly duties as our intercessor in the heavenly sanctuary.

So does that mean we can confidently predict that Jesus will return on 7 April 2030? The answer is no because in Matthew 24:36 Christ said "But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only."

It is important to note that Jesus never said the angels did not know the year of His return. Since the angels all know the year of Adam's and Eve's fall, and they can surely do simple arithmetic, they can calculate the exact year that the 6,000-year period will end. The fallen angels' comments in Matthew 8:29 also indicate that they knew there was a fixed timetable for them to be free because they asked Jesus if He would "torment [them] before the time." Revelation 20:2 shows the future period of restraint for Satan and his angels is based on the same one-day-equals-1,000-years principle that governs the length of the Millennium.¹⁴

Coming may be Sooner than we think

In Matthew 24:22 Jesus said "And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened." So we see the end of our age will be "shortened" by an unspecified number of days in order to stop human extinction.

In Matthew 24:45-51 and 25:1-13 Jesus offered two parables that also made the point that believers at the end of the age will be surprised that Jesus returns sooner, not later, than they expected.

So while Matthew 24:36 tells us that God has reserved to Himself some flexibility regarding the hour and day when this age will end, that flexibility would result in our age being shortened.

Rather than being preoccupied with calculating the date (or year) of Jesus' return, Christians are better served by being spiritually ready for our Lord's return. (Matthew 24:45-46).

Will Jesus Rule over the Earth for 1000 Years?

Some proponents of the 7000 year theory are of the view that after 6000 years there will be a 1000 year period of time when Jesus Christ will come back, and personally take over the government of this earth, after man has made a real mess of it for the previous 6000 years since Adam's fall.

According to this theory Christ with His Church halts Armageddon. Antichrist and his forces are slain. Israel accepts the Lord as the Messiah, and enters with Him as His covenant people into a 1000 year Kingdom Age. Christ rules directly over the nations in their mortal state from the throne of David in Jerusalem. Incongruous as it may seem (after Calvary and Christ's mediatorial ministry) the temple and the typical services function again. Those who reject Christ's rule are eventually judged and destroyed at the end of the Millennium; the new believers receive immortality, and eternity begins.

The problem with this interpretation is that it is contrary to the Scriptures since it proposes a kingdom on earth-ruled directly by Christ - composed of glorified saints (the Church) on the one hand, and non-glorified Jews and nations on the other! Such a scheme creates the anomaly of offering grace to both Jews and Gentiles after human probation has closed.

The Bible is clear that the mediatorial ministry of Jesus ceases just prior to His coming (cf Heb 7:25; Rev 8:3-5; 15:1, 5-8). No subsequent Millennial age can provide another chance for salvation when Christ's ministry terminates in the heavenly temple. The day of grace will then be over for both Jew and Gentile. Christ brings His reward with Him when He comes-not a further extension of grace (Rev 22:12).

Furthermore, the destruction wrought upon the earth by the seven last plagues (Rev 16), and the slaying of the world's impenitent by Christ's glorious return (Rev 19:19-21; 2 Thess 2:8; Isa 11:4) renders the earth unfit for a millennial reign.⁴⁴

The Redemptive Sabbath

6000 years after the first Passover is the last Passover, the greatest Passover. The seventh day in the 7000 year theory is the redemptive Sabbath — otherwise known as the Millennium — to which the saints look forward. As Paul writes: “There remaineth therefore a Sabbath-keeping (sabbatismos) to the people of God” (Hebrews 4:9). This sabbath-keeping is associated with that “better resurrection,” in which the promises made to the Fathers shall be fulfilled. Until that resurrection occurs, death must continue. But only in a limited sense.

Our Saviour's purpose was to annul death in two distinct stages, corresponding to His two advents. The first advent took care of spiritual death. The second advent will take care of physical death.

What therefore remains to be annulled but physical death? This will occur at the Lord’s second advent, when the bodies of the saints will rise from the dust and be refashioned after the image of Christ. This resurrection is yet future. It was foreshadowed by Christ’s “first-fruits” resurrection (1 Cor. 15:20, 23), and the raising of many saints from their graves (see Matt. 27:52-53).

According to the law, the ”first-fruits“ demands a future harvest of the same nature and kind — not of something different. Because fulfilment of the first-fruits resurrection was physical in nature, the harvest will also be physical.

However, I trust it is clear to any honest and intelligent student of Scripture that the “death” brought upon the race by Adam includes physical death, which will one day be annulled at the glorious appearing of Jesus. “For our seat of government (politeuma) is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto His glorious body, according to the working whereby He is able even to subdue all things to Himself” (Phil. 3:20-21).²

Back to the Questions

Let's now come back to the initial questions and see if we now have the answers:

Q1. Does God have a plan for planet Earth? If so, what are the objectives, the timeframe, what has occurred and what is yet to occur?
Answer: Yes, the Passover plan was revealed to Adam, Eve and the serpent after the fall of Adam. This substitutionary sacrifice represented Jesus who would pay the ransom for the penaty of sin some 4 prophetic days later. After the resurrection, Jesus returned to heaven and is making intercession for sinners in His High Priestly role.

Q2. Was the Earth created in 7 literal days? Does it really matter?
Answer: Yes, if creation was not literal and Adam had not committed the original sin there would have been no need for a Saviour.

Q3. Can we determine how long Adam and Eve were in the Garden of Eden?
Answer: A guesstimate of 33½ years corresponding to the life of Christ.

Q4. What is the significance of Jesus the Passover lamb?
Answer: Jesus paid the ransom to atone for the sins of the world. Eternal salvation is now assured to as many who believe and accept Christ's sacrifice.

Q5. Can we determine when Christ was crucified?
Answer: A guesstimate of 30 AD according to the assumptions in our analysis.

Q6. Can we predict the Second Coming of Christ?
Answer: A guesstimate of no later than 7 April 2030 AD according to the assumptions in our analysis.

Q7. What will occur after Jesus returns?
Answer: At His second coming (6000th year) Jesus will give us eternal life (defeat death) and take His saints to be with Him in heaven. After the millennium (the 7000th year) God will re-create the Earth and destroy the devil and the wicked.

Conclusion

In conclusion I would say that the 7000 year theory is very interesting and gives us insight into what might be God's grand plan for Planet Earth and the eradication of sin in the universe. When we look back in history we can see that events predicted by this theory have come to pass, and I think it would be fool hearted for one to ignore future predictions. However until these predictions come to pass the 7000 year theory remains a theory. Whether we wish to believe in the 7000 year theory is a very individual thing, like whether we choose to believe and accept God's free gift of salvation.

References and notes
1. What is spiritual death? - http://www.gotquestions.org/spiritual-death.html
2. What Death Did Adam Die? - http://antipreterist.wordpress.com/2009/04/14/what-death-did-adam-die/
3. THE 6000 YEARS - http://www.cephasministry.com/water/bible_believers_6000_years.html
4. God's Redemptive Week - http://bibleteachingonline101.net/God_s_Redemptive_Week.html
5. Spiritual Pictures of 6000 and 7000 Years in the Bible - Part I - http://www.hebroots.com/lul11.html
6. Why the Week Has Seven Days - http://www.almanac.com/content/why-week-has-seven-days
7. The 6000 Year Timeline Dilemma -
http://www.escapeallthesethings.com/6000-year-timeline.htm
8. How could there be light on the first day of Creation if the sun was not created until the fourth day? - http://www.gotquestions.org/light-first-sun-fourth.html
9. ECLIPSES A MIRACLE OF GOD’S DESIGN (WITH FUTURE SIGNIFICANCE?) - http://stevenmcollins.com/WordPress/?p=594
10. THE VITAL IMPORTANCE OF BELIEVING IN RECENT CREATION - http://www.icr.org/i/pdf/btg/btg-138.pdf
11. What does Genesis 1 really teach? - http://www.wcg.org/lit/bible/OT/tripp.htm
12. Globalization and the Tower of Babel - http://shepherdtheflock.com/2009/01/26/globalization-and-the-tower-of-babel/
13. Sermon: The Days of Noah - http://cgg.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Audio.details/ID/2201/Days-Noah.htm
14. 6,000 years for mankind as understood by Churches of God still valid - http://www.thejournal.org/issues/issue121/six-thousand-years-for-man-still-valid.html
15. Globalization and the Tower of Babel - http://shepherdtheflock.com/2009/01/26/globalization-and-the-tower-of-babel/
16. Online Text Sermon - The Days of Noah, Matthew ch.24 v.37 - http://www.bible-sermons.org.uk/text-sermon/421-the-days-of-noah/
17. Revealing That The Days of Noah and The Flood Are Here! - http://www3.telus.net/thegoodnews/noah.htm
18. Jesus in the Life of… Isaac – The Sacrificed Son - http://www.jesusplusnothing.com/studies/downloads/jcisaac.doc
19. First Adam - Last Adam - http://www.hebrew4christians.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=122&t=504
20. Jesus, Son of God, Son of Man - http://ldolphin.org/accomplish.html
21. Why did Jesus preach for such a short period of time? - http://andrewconard.com/2009/09/01/why-did-jesus-preach-for-such-a-short-period-of-time/
22. Old Testament Pictures of Jesus - http://www.onlinethoughts.com/onlinethoughts/old_testament_pictures_of_Jesus.htm
23. Hebraic Spring Festivals/Holy Days - http://www.tedmontgomery.com/bblovrvw/c_4a.html
24. THE FEAST OF PASSOVER - http://brenda.ratcliffs.net/03Passover.pdf
25. The Last Supper (Luke 22:7-23) - http://bible.org/seriespage/last-supper-luke-227-23
26. THE PASSOVER - http://www.bibleprophesy.org/feasts2.htm
27. The Feast of Passover Exodus 12 - http://www.bibleinsong.com/Music/Images1/Jesus%20the%20Passover%20Lamb.pdf
28. It is Finished Six Hours One Friday… - http://www.onlinethoughts.com/onlinethoughts/it_is_finished.htm
29. Jesus Died a Startling Death - http://www.christianinconnect.com/jstardea.htm
30. Christ Our Passover is Slain for Us - http://www.abideinchrist.com/messages/ex12v1.html
31. Was Jesus crucified on Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday? - http://biblelight.net/pasover.htm
32. The date of Armageddon without using the code - http://www.biblecodeintro.com/intro44.html
33. A CHRONOLOGY OF THE BIBLE - http://www.cocoris.com/BBC%20pages/Microsoft%20Word%20-%201.%20Bible%20Chronolgy.doc.pdf
34. ON WHAT DAY DID JESUS DIE? - http://www.angelfire.com/nt/theology/date-crucified.html
35. Notes on The Sabbath - http://ldolphin.org/sabbath.html
36. Jesus born 5 B.C. #1 - http://www.keithhunt.com/Wheborn1.html
37. Daniel's Prophecy - Foretells date of crucifixion - http://www.ldsmag.com/sci_rel/040915prophecy.html
38. Year of Jesus' Death - http://www.rusearching.com/nostradamus/nostradamusyearofdeath.htm
39. When Was the Crucifixion? - http://www.hissheep.org/messages/when_was_the_crucifixion.html
40. A Prophecy Explained - http://www.mundall.com/erik/ezekiel4.htm
41. THE TEMPLE DESTROYED, 70 A.D. - http://www.bibleresearch.org/articles/a11pws.htm
42. THE MYSTERIOUS EVENTS OF THE YEAR 30 A.D.! - http://www.ensignmessage.com/archives/mysteriousevents.html
43. IMPORTANT HAPPENINGS ON THE DAY OF ATONEMENT - http://www.electalert.org/content/b7c62.html
44. Futurism's Countdown: Fact or Fantasy? - http://biblicalresearch.gc.adventist.org/documents/Futurism's%20Countdown.htm