Studies in Revelation
Part 8 - The Last Days - Part 2
In Parts Five and Six of this series, I shared an illustration with you that defines the “last days” which Peter spoke of in Acts 2:17, which ends with “the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord” in verse 20. Here’s that illustration once again. Note where I have used red lettering for the “days.”
As shown, our “days” are not literal but instead speak of the spiritual fulfillment of the Feast of Passover and Pentecost followed by the Feast of Tabernacles which consists of three segments; the Day of Trumpets, the Day of Atonement, and the Day or Feast of Tabernacles proper.
Also in our illustration, we find our branches numbered one through seven, indicating that each of the branches not only represent our seven churches, but also our seven prophecies, trumpets and bowls.
In Part Six of this series, we found that the trumpets of Revelation represent the voice and words of Christ to His body, the church, prophetic words which have been and are being fulfilled up to this present time. The trumpets and bowls symbolize the progressive unfolding of God’s will through Christ to the church until “all is fulfilled.” Now, allow me to reiterate a very important point. I believe the seven trumpets and bowls are the unfolding or fulfillment of the seven prophecies to the churches. See Matthew 5:17-18 and John 4:34 for confirmation.
The “last days” began with the Day of Pentecost, for Peter clearly said, “This is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; and it shall come to pass in the last days.” This is why our illustration shows that they incorporate a span of “three and a half days,” which is also our “time and times and half a time,” synonymous with our “forty and two months” in Revelation 11:2 and 13:5 and our 1,260 days in Revelation 11:3 and 12:6.
In Part Six and Seven of this series, we touched on the “time and times and half a time” of Daniel, Chapters 7 and 12, and Revelation 12:14. I emphasize that the “time and times and half a time” refers to the “three and a half days,” the “forty-two months,” and the “1,260 days.” All are synonymous and indicate the time span from the Day of Pentecost through the spiritual fulfillment of the Feast of Tabernacles, so, we have been in the “last days” since that glorious Day of Pentecost almost two thousand years ago.
Now, allow me to show you how I arrived at the understanding of the “time and times and half a time.” We’ll begin with Galatians 4:1-5.
Galatians 4:1-5 (NKJV)
1 Now I say that the heir, as long as he is a child, does not differ at all from a slave, though he is master of all, 2 but is under guardians and stewards until the time appointed by the father. 3 Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world. 4 But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.
Our word “slave” in Galatians 4:1 is the transliteration doulos, the same word used in Revelation 1:1 as “servants.” The King James renders this word as “servant” in Galatians 4:1. The Strong’s definition reads, “A slave (literal or figurative, involuntary or voluntary).”
As Galatians shows, Paul is addressing the idea of an “heir,” that is, someone who is promised an inheritance, telling us that “as long as he is child,” he is no different than a “slave, though he is master of all.” For this reason, the “heir” must be kept under “guardians and stewards until the time appointed by the Father.” This “appointed” time for the Jews and Israel is what Paul referred to as “the fullness of the time” in verse four. Once this fullness was reached, “God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law.” As Paul declares, His disciples received their inheritance, that is, their “adoption as sons.”
Our word “adoption” does not refer to what we are familiar with today. Rather, as the context shows, it regards inheritance. In this context, “adoption” means the placing of a son into the same authority and privileges as his father. For the Lord Jesus, this adoption took place at the Jordan River when He was baptized by John and shows why Jesus was able to manifest God’s kingdom on earth for approximately three and half years.
I believe that “time” in “fullness of the time” defines our “time” in “time and times and half a time,” illustrated by the first four branches of the lampstand which represent the coming of Christ to the Jews and His subsequent ministry, death, burial, and resurrection. This correlates with what Paul recorded in Galatians Four. Christ Jesus was and is our “Passover,” our “unleavened bread,” and the first of the “firstfruits” of God’s purpose in His people; see 1st Corinthians 5:7 and 15:23 for confirmation. It is also true that Christ fulfilled the Feast of Tabernacles within Himself, for again, He is the first of the “firstfruits” of God, our example of the finished process of God in a person who becomes a true “light of the world.” For this reason, He is represented by the central branch of the lampstand; see John 8:12.
It’s important to note that the spiritual meaning of four denotes a “foundation.” Since we have four branches which typify the “fullness of the time,” this then represents the “foundation” which the Lord Jesus Christ established through Himself and His apostles; see 1st Corinthians 3:10-15 and Ephesians 2:20 for clarification. Now, let’s go to Ephesians, Chapter One, for further understanding.
Ephesians 1:3-10 (NKJV)
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, 5 having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He has made us accepted in the Beloved. 7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace 8 which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, 9 having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, 10 that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth--in Him.
Here Paul speaks of himself and the other apostles as those who were “predestined” to “adoption as sons,” just as their Lord and Savior had been. Due to this spiritual placement, the Lord “made known” to them “the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself.” And what was this mystery? Paul clarifies, stating, “That in the dispensation of the fullness of the times,” plural, “He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth—in Him.” Beloved, I believe “times” in “fullness of the times” is the “times” referred to in “time, times, and half a time.” This helps to explain the following from Mark 13:27, which agrees with verse 10 in our previous passages.
Mark 13:27 (NASB95)
27 "And then He will send forth the angels, and will gather together His elect from the four winds, from the farthest end of the earth (i.e. those which are on earth) to the farthest end of heaven (i.e. those which are in heaven).
In Galatians Four, Paul reveals our “time” in “time and times and half a time,” while in Ephesians One, Paul reveals our “times” in “time and times and half a time,” described as “the dispensation of the fullness of the times.” Folks, this is where the church has been since shortly after the spiritual fulfillment of the Day of Pentecost and is what Jesus called the “times of the Gentiles” or nations in Luke 21:24. (On a side note, compare Luke 21:24 with Revelation 11:2). This being the case, we can safely say that our “time and times and half a time” and our “dispensation of the fullness of the times” correlate with the “last days” as noted in our illustration.
Our word “dispensation” is defined as, “Administration (of a household or estate),” translated elsewhere in the King James as “stewardship,” which Google defines as, “The job of supervising or taking care of something, such as an organization or property.” This is the meaning of our word “adoption.” Once we are “sons” and no longer “children,” we are ready to receive our inheritance in Christ and participate in the “administration” of the gospel of Christ. As you might guess, this speaks of true spiritual maturity and divine authority.
Now, also note our word “fullness” in “fullness of the times.” This, my friend, is a “seven” and indicates that our other six branches are indeed brought together in the central branch, representing Christ Himself, the first of the “firstfruits” of God. The fact that this is also symbolized by the vertical beam of the cross symbolizes all who are “baptized into His death” as the 120 were in the upper room; see Romans 6:3 and 4.
So who is taking care of the household of God at this time? Is it not our Lord along with those He chooses? Isn’t this what Jesus meant in Revelation 3:21 when He said, “To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne”? Hebrews 2:10 confirms our stance, stating, “For it was fitting that he,” i.e. Christ, “for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering” (ESV).
In the King James New Testament, the main word for “chosen” is the Greek transliteration eklektos (ek-lek-toss) which means, “Select; by implication favorite.” It’s used a total of 22 times. In his book, The Biblical Meaning of Numbers from One to Forty, Stephen Jones tells us that “twenty-two is the number of sonship, or the Sons of Light,” agreeing perfectly with Galatians 4 and the “adoption as sons.”
Look once more at our illustration where we see “time,” indicating the spiritual fulfillment of the Feast or Day of Pentecost and what followed after. We are given a brief glimpse into this spiritual phenomenon and what followed in the book of Acts, and, just as night follows day, so the space between the central branch and the fifth branch indicates the following.
John 9:4-5 (ESV)
4 We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work. 5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world."
Now, consider the following from John, Chapter Two.
John 2:18-19 (NASB95)
18 The Jews then said to Him, "What sign do You show us as your authority for doing these things?" 19 Jesus answered them, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up."
“Destroy this temple,” Jesus said, “and in three days I will raise it up.” Does “destroy this temple” correlate with “night is coming, when no one can work”? I believe it does, and to which “temple” was Jesus referring? He was referring to both the literal temple as well as those who are the true “temple of God” (See 1st Cor. 3:16), and the scriptures and history both prove that since the days of Christ and the apostles, this “temple” has been destroyed, His church has fallen away, and we are now at a place where Christianity is so greatly divided that it is not even a shadow of the glory of the New Testament Church in Paul’s day. But again, Jesus followed this evident destruction with the promise that “in three days” He would “raise it up.” As we now know, our “three days” equates to the spiritual fulfillment of the Feast of Tabernacles.
So, allow me to point out something in regard to what Jesus said in John 2:18 and 19. Here’s what’s recorded just before these passages.
John 2:13-17 (NKJV)
13 Now the Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14 And He found in the temple those who sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the moneychangers doing business. 15 When He had made a whip of cords, He drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen, and poured out the changers' money and overturned the tables. 16 And He said to those who sold doves, "Take these things away! Do not make My Father's house a house of merchandise!" 17 Then His disciples remembered that it was written, "Zeal for Your house has eaten Me up."
What did Jesus do before the Jews asked Him, “What sign do You show us as your authority for doing these things”? Beloved, He had just given them the sign of His authority by cleansing the temple of God of the “moneychangers doing business.” Not for a moment do I believe that this was just a coincidental action on the part of the Lord, rather, I believe it was a prophetic indication of what was to come in our time where the “temple of God” as we see it today would be filled with all manner of merchandising. Whether we wish to admit it or not, much of Christianity is now a “business,” run much like any other corporation, where the religious elite make millions off the people of God! That being said, the “temple of God” today is in much need of cleansing and rebuke.
So, we have defined our “time and times” in our illustration, “time” referring to the Lord’s coming to the Jews and the lost sheep of the house of Israel, and “times” referring to the “dispensation of the fullness of the times” which we are now moving through. This leaves our “half a time.” Let’s go to Daniel 7:25.
Daniel 7:25 (NKJV)
25 He shall speak pompous words against the Most High, shall persecute the saints of the Most High, and shall intend to change times and law. Then the saints shall be given into his hand for a time and times and half a time (dividing of time; KJV).
Our phrase “half a time” in the New King James is rendered “dividing of time” in the King James. The Strong’s Concordance defines “dividing” as, “A half,” taken from the word which corresponds to a root word which means, “To split.” When we view our illustration, we see this is the case because there is no space after the seventh and final branch. This being true, we have just the “twelve hours of the day” as represented by the seventh branch with no “night” following; see John 11:9. Our number “twelve” just happens to represent “divine government.”
As we have learned, “time” consists of day and night, therefore, when we speak of either day or night, we are speaking of just “half a time.” Such is the case in our illustration as we see the spiritual fulfillment of the Feast of Tabernacles ending in “day” or light.
Let me also remind you that “day” and “night” represent the manifestation of God’s Word and will in the earth as defined by our feasts, for the wisdom or Word of God is both living and active, relevant to both the darkness and the light. Think about it! Even in the night, the moon reflects the light of the sun. This being true, “night” typifies His living Word in our minds in the same way as a “seed” which is working beneath the surface of the ground, but the “day”? Ah, the “day” typifies His active Word, His operative and effectual Word, springing up out of the ground of our hearts to be seen or manifested through His people. So it is that when we arrive at the end of the book of the Revelation, we find the following.
Revelation 21:10-11, 23-25 (NKJV)
10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, 11 having the glory of God. Her light was like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal… 23 The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light. 24 And the nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it. 25 Its gates shall not be shut at all by day (there shall be no night there).
Do you see it? “There shall be no night there.” Beloved, when the Feast of Tabernacles has run its course, it will end in the light of the glory of God in Christ; there will be no more “night” or “darkness” for those who inherit His kingdom.
Finally, there is one other understanding to share with you concerning our “dividing of time.” Remember, it means “to split.” With this in mind, consider what the Lord taught in the Parable of the Sheep and Goats.
Matthew 25:31-34 (NKJV)
31 "When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. 32 All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. 33 And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. 34 Then the King will say to those on His right hand, 'Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world…
Beloved, two is the number of “division” and “witness,” and it’s here that we find both. “When the Son of Man comes in His glory,” He will gather all the nations before Him and “separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides His sheep from the goats.” In the same way that God “divided the light from the darkness” in Genesis 1:4, so too He divides the sheep from the goats, the five wise virgins from the five foolish, the “wheat” from the “tares,” the light from the darkness, and the “day” from the “night.” For those who are placed at His right hand, they “inherit the kingdom” which is their “adoption as sons,” just as Paul and the other apostles received theirs. So, after “three days,” He will raise up His temple as He has promised and bring to light the truth of the gospel of Christ to the world. No wonder Jesus said we must endure to the end.
Finally, our number 42 also confirms our perspective, for it is rendered as “forty and two” in the King James. “Forty” speaks of the present “trial” and “probation” of the body of Christ while “two” speaks of the “division” that occurs through this time, which agrees with our “dividing of time.”