Chapter 9 – The Biblical Blueprint of Time
It’s time in this chapter to get more detail as to how the blueprint is structured. After our last chapter, who among us would believe that God is arbitrary and not capable of dealing succinctly with the problem of sin? Is it possible that He would not follow-through and complete His plan within a structured blueprint of time, God is a God of perfect order, (Ps 40:5) also One who knows the end from the beginning.
“For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry” (Hab. 2:3).
Scripture reveals that at certain specified times various parts of this plan outlined above to save humanity would commence; at their appointed times.
At just the time specified Messiah would make His appearance in Bethlehem, (Gal. 4:4) He would live a righteous life and at age 30 be initiated into priestly ministry at His baptism (Heb. 5:4-5), only
to have His life seemingly prematurely cut short (or just at the appointed time), as the Scriptures indicated, “in the midst of the week”, (just 1260 days of ministry – perhaps in mercy to those living at the end as satan would likely also demand equal personal time to persuade humanity), “in the midst of the week, He shall cause the sacrifice and oblation to cease.” (Dan. 9:27)
Year one extending to the —— 4th Millennium – Messiah comes —— after 7th millennium – saints inherit new earth, which is the start of the 8th millennium. Messiah’s 1st coming and sacrifice was indeed in the midst of the great prophetic week of time.
We have already discussed the Sanctuary model and its’ display of the four specific answers to the sin problem, these God would need to address; so would it surprise us to discover that His plan of Salvation to save us (His blueprint), is divided into 4 segments or dispensations of time? We mentioned three earlier now let’s get more specific. When we think of our Bibles today it is from an Old/New Testament perspective. However, from God’s perspective, it is framed in four specific dispensations of time when including the Millennium. The Sanctuary service is the foundation; the framing is the measured time in which the plan is to be implemented. The 144,000 living saints revealed in the final book of Scripture are the finishing detail of the plan. These four dispensations frame-up the Plan of Salvation.
Some Bible students suggest that humanity is capable of altering God’s appointed times or to state it differently to hasten His soon return. No human being or even a nation of them will decide when probation is going to close; this is God’s prerogative ALONE!
Some are considering this option from a human perspective and faulty logic. God is Omniscience, knowing the end from the beginning; He is quite capable of knowing exactly when humanity would be prepared for His return. The precise detail, the exact “when” has NOT been left up for us to decide! We can certainly work hard in anticipation of His decision to close probation but our hard work will not be the sole criteria for His declaration, that time is no more.
Just as with any construction project, it is from the Architectural blueprint that the timing of the project is established. Also, the framing in any construction project is an extension of the foundation and truly defines just what the building will look like. Framing like the foundation work involves measurements; which are recorded by the use of numbers typically.
We have been talking about the power of numbers and how they set parameters; the blueprint for Salvation seems to have been established in an expressed form of a 6:1 ratio, this would translate in a general sense to six thousand years of human probation, then one thousand years of millennial auditing and rest, (Rev.20). This establishes the plan over a 7,000 year window of what we call time.
Not many realize that this millennial period of 1,000 years are actually Shemitah years; years where the land is to be at rest. The millennium then; would actually be the Sabbath rest of the Earth following the 7,000 year cycle God designed. Not many catch the fact that if we have 1,000 Shemitah years for the Millennium, this verifies and mandates a 7,000 year duration for the plan of Salvation from a Biblical perspective. And this cycle is established in a 6:1 ratio format.
It’s as if God simply allowed one of His weeks to handle the problem of sin, His day is as a thousand years, “But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day” (2 Pe. 3:8).
There are a number of indicators that bring us to this conclusion. It can be demonstrated that the six thousand years of human probation are broken down into three equal dispensations of time (2,000 yrs. each), plus the 4th remaining one, of 1,000 Shemitah years. This adds up to 3 x 2,000 = 6,000 + 1,000 = a 7,000 year cycle.
The first two-thousand years run from Adam (the first man) through to Noah, these ten generations of time correspond to what we have already identified as the Adamic dispensation, 3,967 BC to 1,967 BC. This would place the flood event at around 2,318 BC or 1,649 years after Adam and Eve left their garden home (some have calculated this specifically at 1,656). Noah lives 350 years after the great flood, which lasted for a Jewish long year and needed to go this distance to meet and possibly mentor his replacement, Abram. When adding these segments of time, we can see easily how this corresponds to the first 1/3 of earth’s human probation; 1649 + 1 + 350 = 2,000 years. (1 is the year of the flood)
There is one significant amount of time listed in this first dispensation that is both literal and highly symbolic, the one-hundred and twenty year period of extra probationary time provided to the antediluvians (those living before the great flood), (Genesis 6:3). The reason for this particular amount of time would become more obvious in the next dispensation; this is no arbitrary or insignificant number in God’s word, however, for now, let’s just mention the 120 years was the literal amount of special probationary time afforded to Noah and his mission in preparing the Ark.
The other event worth mentioning is the flood itself, why did God use a flood to destroy the world when so many other options were available? We mentioned this earlier but it is worth adding one additional perspective here. This is not the place to provide an extensive explanation; there are other written sources available that accomplish this, however, the protective canopy established at creation, (Gen. 1:6-7) needed to be eliminated, accelerating the deterioration of the planet. This would keep God’s pre-determined blueprint (7,000 years) on schedule. God’s biosphere world was made so perfect, that even after the entrance of transgression to God’s law, little effect was noticed on the planet itself. For sin to run its course in a predetermined amount of time (6,000 years of human probation), God would need to change the dynamic and vitality of the planet itself.
“And God said, let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters. And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament; and it was so.” (Gen. 1:6-7)
The firmament is what we today call our atmosphere. So there was a canopy or section of water (ice) above the atmosphere, which provided numerous benefits for the planet, it created a terrarium effect. This aspect alone is most telling as the deterioration of the Canopy (during the flood, 40 days/nights of rain) would dramatically increase the wearing out of the planet itself, Scripture had predicted that the planet would eventually “wax old as a garment” (Is. 51:6). It would expedite things in accordance with God’s blueprint. This is a solid revelation that God had established a specified amount of time in which sin would be allowed to run its course and to complete His plan to save us, a 7,000 year cycle.
The canopy was more than likely destroyed from a meteor shower. The Earth’s crust displays numerous various sized impact creators all over the world (the moon’s surface is even more obvious). A meteor storm would not only destroy the canopy but fracture the earth’s tectonic plates. The deterioration of the canopy would result in a dramatic decrease in atmospheric pressure, thus facilitating the underground water sleeve that regulated atmospheric temperature, to flood to the surface through the fractured plates, which the Scripture’s identify as the source of most all the surface water today. This reversal of the ecology of the planet (land/water ratio), would dramatically change the environment and establish several limiting factors for life. The average human age pre-flood is recorded at 912 years, today in this post-flood ravaged world the average is about 80. Humanity today reflects just 10% of what God initiated with Adam; concerning body mass, intellect and longevity. Scripture reveals this dramatic change by recording the age of many of the Patriarch’s. Noah died at 950 years old, while Abram, who was alive at the same time, lived to be only 175. Noah was born pre-flood, while Abram hundreds of years after the event. The only reason for this dramatic difference is the great flood recorded in the bible that dramatically changed our ecology.
The next dispensation is the Jewish and starts with Abram. He was nearly 60 when Noah passes to his rest and had been called of God to carry the mantle of the Covenant relationship into the second dispensation. This second dispensation of time began in 1,967 BC with Abram, who would later be called Abraham (Gen. 17), the father of the Jewish and Arab nations, with both developing into twelve tribes of peoples. (Gen. 25:16) This explains one of the reasons for all the tension between the Jews and Arabs (Muslim faith), Abraham was eventually the father of not just 12 tribes, but 24 through Ishmael and Isaac, two of his 9 sons. The Israeli/Arab conflict is the result of a continued sibling rivalry as described in Scripture, which will continue to the end of time, as each proclaims to be the inheritor of the son of promise.
This second dispensation of time would end in 34 AD with the martyr’s death of Deacon Stephen. It is near the end of this second dispensation that major prophetic events would occur, the birth, anointing, death and resurrection of the Messiah, plus, the end of the Jewish dispensation resulting from the rejection of Christ by the Sanhedrin as the Messiah. These events are highlighted in Daniel’s 2300 day/year prophecy found in Dan 8:14, with the second half of chapter 9 bringing into focus the first 490 years allotted to the Jews and their city. It is the angel Gabriel that presents to Daniel the vision concerning the future coming of the Messiah, plus clues pointing to the ultimate events, concerning the very end of time.
The first 490 years (70 weeks or seventy-sevens) which starts with Artaxerxes decree to restore and build Jerusalem in the year (Dan. 9:25, Ezra 7) 457 BC, and ends in 34 AD (remember there is no zero year). “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 (49 days/prophetic years) and threescore (60 weeks- 420 days/prophetic years) and two weeks (14 days/prophetic years) : the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times” (Dan. 9:25).
This is a total of 483 Days/prophetic years. Starting at 457 BC and coming forward 483 years brings us to 27 AD and the anointing of the Messiah (Jesus), to priestly ministry. This leaves just 7 years or the remaining last prophetic week for the events of the death, burial and resurrection of Christ (that occurred in the midst of the 7 years or 31 AD) and the stoning of Stephen at the end of the remaining 3 1/2 years in 34 AD. These last 7 years become then symbolic of the entire 7,000 year redemptive plan, as sacrifice and oblation cease in their midst.
This total of 490 years of time is used to emphasize the real issue at hand, God is a God of forgiveness and would send His Son to pay the price for human sin, He would forgive not just 7 times but 70 x 7, (Matt. 18:21-22) Four-hundred ninety is the number of forgiveness, during this period of time God demonstrates the extensive reality of forgiveness with the offering and sacrifice of His Own Son (Eph. 5:2).
Also, this segment of time is related to the Shemitah cycle. God had allowed judgment on the nation of Israel due to their neglect of the Shemitah year. Seventy Shemitah’s had been violated, which involved a 490-year period of time. God removed the people from the land by using the Babylonian general Nebuchadnezzar, to take the city captive and bring the captives to Babylon. Daniel records his observation of the captivity earlier in the chapter, and then proceeds to offer a prayer of repentance for himself and the nation. (Dan. 9)
God then provides the 490 years (Dan. 9:24) as the final opportunity for the Jewish nation to accomplish its’ calling. However, they reject the Messiah and His ministry, are instrumental in His crucifixion and then the last straw, a martyr’s death of Deacon Stephen. What is interesting is the Shemitah connection to these events. The Shemitah year was the 7th or last year in the cycle when the land was to rest or be released from normal activity. It was also called the year of the Lord’s release because the final day (Elul 29) of the Shemitah year nullified all personal debt and credit.
A parallel to this is also found in the weekly cycle, the Sabbath, with the 7th day being the final day of this cycle and a release from regular work activities. God would use this same concept in the 70 week cycle; the 70th or last week (7 years) was the week the Messiah would lay down His life for humanity. This was the ultimate Lord’s release (Shemitah principle), the release of the condemnation of sin, because of the supreme sacrifice of Christ and it occurred in the last week presented.
“And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.” (2 Corinth. 5:18-19)
Just as contractor’s drawings contain keys, which provide directives and specifications, the prophecy of Daniel is the numerical key that establishes not only the specific time of the birth, anointing and death of the Messiah, but the end of the Jewish dispensation. Jesus stated, “He left unto them their house desolate”, (Matt.23:38) however, a new dispensation would begin.
“And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: But ye (new testament believers) are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light: whereunto also they were APPOINTED.” (1 Pe. 2:8-9)
This change in the promotion of God’s truth and the advancement of His kingdom has been appointed; the change would be one in thinking, purpose, direction and fulfillment. A new dispensation would begin, one that would emphasize the Messiah’s re-appearance and His mission to save.
There are many scholars that contend the remaining 1810 years of Daniel’s 2300 day/year prophecy would begin at this change in dispensations and extend to the year 1844, which would initiate a change in Christ’s heavenly ministry, in preparation for His 2nd coming.
This last week of the 70 weeks’ prophetic time covers a 7-year period, from the time of Christ’s anointing (27 AD at His baptism) to 34 AD, this is described as the 70th week (490 years) of verse 27 of Daniel 9. This first 490 years is the portion of time determined for the Jewish nation, “Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city” (Dan. 9:24). If the Jewish leadership had recognized and accepted the 6 aspects of the Messiah’s ministry listed in verse 24, perhaps their history as a nation would have developed quite differently. This is also an example of the 6:1 ratio displayed concerning Salvation.
There are six particulars listed that Christ would accomplish. But Omniscience is fully aware that the Messiah is going to be rejected by the Jewish leadership and so their time, their probation as a nation, will end in 34 AD just as the blueprint indicated.
Just for clarification, the Jewish people still have as much opportunity for Salvation as any other on an individual basis, God calls them to repentance like any other, however, as a nation, their God ordained calling to take the Gospel to the world ended in 34 AD as prophesied.
It is in this segment of history that the number, one-hundred twenty is again brought to view. Chapter 34 of the book of Deuteronomy was written we believe by Joshua, since Moses had been called to the mountain, his probation about to end. Verse 7 is quite revealing as it indicates that Moses dies on his birthday at exactly 120 years of age. Moses himself like the ship Noah built, became very much associated with the plan of Salvation and the law of God specifically; both became symbolic of that very law. Notice what Joshua indicates in verse 7; “And Moses was an hundred and twenty years old when he died, his eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated”.
This verse is quite revealing for just a few words; Joshua is indicating that there was no good reason for Moses to die, except it was God’s timing and to fulfill His purpose. Why would God bring His faithful servant’s probation to an end, seemingly prematurely and just before entering the Promised Land? I believe this is another literal and symbolic period of time indicating not only the literal close of a probation (Moses himself), but symbolic of closings for each of the dispensations of probationary time.
During this second dispensation, another concept dealing with time developed called the Jubilee. I believe this was also part of the 1st dispensation though there is no record of its relevance recorded. This time cycle was also associated with the Shemitah. This implemented a possible reversion of ownership of property during the 50th year, called the year of Jubilee. After 49 years (7 Shemitah cycles) of possible miss-management and loss, property would revert back to the original owner.
God’s stewardship program for His people was amazing; no one family would ever lose their inheritance. Even if a family mismanaged their assets, it would come back to the family at the Jubilee. This premise is I believe at work for the entire planet as a whole. After 120 of these Jubilee cycles, the land reverts back to its original owner, God Himself. This cycle of time (50 years), was a reminder and symbolized the coming of the ultimate Jubilee which occurs after Christ returns, during the Millennium (1,000 years), when the land, the earth will be at rest, when the process of restoration of the land will be returned to its original owner.
The year of Jubilee was also God’s way of preventing extended family poverty. Could it be that God was indicating by these examples that there would be just 120 Jubilee cycles or a total of six-thousand years of human probation? (120 Jubilee cycles of 50 years each equals 6,000 years)
Consider for just a moment how the life of Moses breaks down; the 1st forty years he is being groomed as a military leader, trained in all the wisdom of Egypt and the technical aspects of the office of Pharaoh. This training would be a fitting symbol of the technical aspects of those that lived before the great flood and the first dispensation, with both being cut short by tragedy, (the flood itself and Moses’ flight to Midian after killing the Egyptian). (Exodus chapter two)
The 2nd forty years Moses is off to the wilderness herding sheep, God’s re-education program if you will. Moses must unlearn all that has infected his mind through Egyptian culture and idolatry to become an instrument in God’s hand. This learning process would be a fitting representation of the 2nd dispensation of time when God’s people Israel, would be called by God to prepare to take a message of hope to the entire world. (Is. 42:6-7) They must grow and mature and learn to trust the one whom has not only set them free but endeavors to prepare them for service.
Moses spends the last forty years leading God’s people not only to the Promised Land, but educating them according to the will of God through the Sanctuary Service and His law, a fitting representation of the 3rd (Christian) dispensation of time. For it is this last dispensation that the Holy Spirit is poured out in fullness empowering those willing to receive it, to reflect the character of Christ and His law during a great time of trouble. Each group was, and in our case, is on a journey to the Promised Land, we just happen to be the last generation(s) alive when the reality of the promise takes place.
As the law of God is exalted, so is Christ the living law, and it calls all men in this dispensation to follow just as the children of Israel followed the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night. (Exodus 13:21-22)
Moses was not the one to lead Israel into the Promised Land, Joshua became his successor. Joshua was a type of Christ, Yahuwah – the one providing safe passage. It would be a combination of two things that would facilitate the entrance, Joshua (or Jesus) who represented the shed and applied blood and God’s law, written by His own hand and placed inside the Ark of the Covenant. It has always been the marriage of these two covenant components that is pictured as providing Salvation for humanity. The example of this marriage occurred for 1500 years on every Yom-Kappor celebration in the Jewish dispensation. (Day of Atonement)
The ultimate Joshua (Yahuwah – Jesus) of the 3rd dispensation is Christ Himself and He will lead us into eternity and the New Jerusalem. The children of Israel had not only Joshua, (who was a type of Christ), but they still had the law of God housed in the Ark, as they entered the Promised Land with both. God wanted them to understand that both components were necessary for entrance into the Promised Land. These were a representation of the law and the blood, the real components of the Atonement. We in this 3rd dispensation will see the reality of Christ’s coming and will also be ushered in with both; the real law, and the real blood, God’s two witnesses; these are represented by the olive trees before the God of the earth. (Zech. 4, Rev.11)
Let’s explore more fully this 3rd dispensation of time, which is more relevant for us today. It is called the Christian dispensation (or also the Spiritual Jewish dispensation) and if we are to be consistent with our model and consistent in Christ’s blueprint, it will as well run for 2,000 years, from 34 AD to 2,034 AD. This is how we come to this specific year for the scheduled close of human probation. This insight would not be alarming to someone living in the 1st century or even 200 years ago; they would understand that they would not be around to see end-time events take place. However, billions are alive today who will experience all that Eschatology has to offer. This consistency of each dispensation of 2,000 years might seem at this point like a mere guess, however, once the 6:1 ratio is included the probability takes on much greater certainty.
Due to the “secret rapture” doctrine there have been numerous predictions over the last century of just when Christ would come and this has caused a lack of concern for any serious attempt to reveal a more Biblical blueprint. In fact, a blueprint concept has never been explored as far as I am aware; this idea necessitates the use of the 6:1 framing, this is an important clue. The blueprint concept does not specify an exact day or hour of probations close, God’s intent is to however, provide a clear revelation that this special time is at hand. Only the Father knows the exact moment when probations last hours will close, only He could know. (Matt. 24:36)
Many Christians reading this or hearing of any prediction that involves Christ’s coming with a specific year attached might automatically discount such, quoting Matt. 24:36 “But of the day and hour knoweth no man, no not the angels in heaven, but my Father only”. There are two important considerations worth mentioning here; the context of the verses clearly maintains the focus on the close of human probation, not the 2nd coming, which does follow shortly thereafter. Both events are portrayed as such paralleling the story of Noah’s time before the flood. Just as we cannot know the exact day and hour, Noah as well could not close the door of the Ark either, only God. The same is true today, only God will close human probation, so it makes perfect sense that only He knows the exact moment.
Also, note that it mentions the day and hour, this is a bit more specific than the year. A yearly marker only gets us close. One thing to note is that Scripture never disallows a more generalized date, in fact this is what was supplied for the Messiah’s first coming, a specified year (Dan. 9), so on the contrary, Scripture has set the president to establish one. Let’s also be right up front and clearly state that even knowing the blueprint does not guarantee probation will not be closed before that designation, my own personal thinking is that it will occur before the year 2034. The reason for this is Scriptural;
“For he (Christ) will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness: because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth, (Rom. 9:8), and Matt. 24:22 And except those days should be shortened (probationary days), there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened”.
So, it seems certain that probationary time will close before the blueprint deadline of 2,034 AD.
The shortening of those days I believe is due to Revelations comments in chapter 12; the devil is enraged because he knows he has a short time.
How does he know? He knows because obviously, he can count also and knows that probations hours are fast ticking off the established time allowed to handle the sin problem. He’s an intelligent being, remember he was in Heaven, one of the covering Cherubs right at God’s throne, he knows how organized and Holy God is and that He is not arbitrary and would not let this problem of sin drag out for eons. He has this one last chance to deceive the entire world. Remember, the great controversy that started in Heaven, is still playing out , but with the end in sight.
In the construction industry, there is a form submitted when desired, that could be used to change specifics on blueprints called a “change order”, because of those text above and others, I believe God will put in a change order and the event longed hoped for by Christians will occur before the year 2,034. Remember this 2,034 date is the pre-scheduled time allotted for the close of probation; God has every right and full authority to cut it short as He sees fit as the texts indicate.
In the first two dispensations the number 120 has become a significant number with probationary closings, we find again another possible link in the final dispensation by adding the total number of generations. In the Bible all those boring, ’begots” come into play; in the first dispensation the average age was 912 years but only represented 10 generations over that 2,000 year period of time; from Adam (the first man), to Noah who built the Ark.
Abram takes the mantle when Noah passes to his rest at the start of the second dispensation and when calculating the total generations, from Abram to Christ, there is some confusion as to the correct historical number. Matthew chapter one lists only 42, breaking them down into 3 sections. (Matt. 1:17). Note – At first glance the Scripture seems to indicate 42 generations, as the calculation is made in 3 sections of 14. However, Matthew overlaps two generations, counting a generation twice, accounting for the apparent extra one. You can count them yourself in Matt. chapter one. Some scholars, however, would be quick to point out that Matthew’s accounting of the genealogy is not accurate, historically there were more than just 41 or 42 generations over those centuries of time. It is true that Matthew’s count is not historically accurate and though he recorded three sections of 14 (David’s numerical number is 14) his accounting is for another specific purpose. Luke on the other hand lists 76 generations from Adam to Jesus (Luke chapter 3). If we remove the 10 from the 1st dispensation, that still leaves us with 66 generations from Abram to Christ. One of the theories offered up for the discrepancy is that Matthew was only counting the righteous generations, those in line with the thinking and commitment to God.
Note – for a more detailed look at Matthew’s 42 generations, get the book entitled “The Ark Secret”
In this last dispensation or 2,000 years of probationary time the average age per generation would vary, however, it is quite possible that there would only be 120 total generations (of the righteous) over the 6,000 years of probationary time. The all important question we should be asking is; would God want to provide His church with a blueprint that displays so many numerical markers, thus providing the approximate closing of human probation? Does He really want us to be ready for such an hour? Is this idea in keeping with Biblical president?
“And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed” (Rom. 13:11). It would seem so!
Later Paul mentions that we are the children of light not darkness (1 Thes. 5:1-8) “but of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. For they that sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation”.
The last 2,000-year dispensation of time would complete the total six-thousand years of human probation and with the millennial period being a one thousand year period, this would establish the blueprint based on a 6:1 ratio. This ratio has been displayed in Scripture numerous times and in various ways. It is as if God left us several hints along the way to help His end-time people especially become wise as to the limited amount of time we were left to work with, as Paul stated, “we would not be in darkness”.
Remember, there is a biblical president that Scripture reveals. God provided Noah with insight concerning the exact amount of probationary time he had left, (120 years) for those living before the great flood, (Gen. 6:3 – 1st dispensation) and He provided insight to Daniel with the amount of probation left for the Jewish nation, (Dan. 9:24 – 2nd dispensation – their last 490 years), why would He not do the same for us? Why would He not provide us a heads-up also?
We can sight here several of these 6:1 markers; the Ark of Noah for example was a fitting symbol of Salvation and was constructed at God’s direction, 300 cubits long – 50 cubits wide, a 6:1 ratio. Within the Sanctuary model we find the 6:1 ratio, the Menorah is a 7-branched candlestick, one main stem representing Christ; the light to all the world and then six connected branches. Six is mankind’s number, the Menorah demonstrates the necessity of humanity being connected or grafted into the vine in order to be a successful witness.
The Covenant relationship established with Adam was passed along to five other Patriarchs; Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, then “Christ”, a 6:1 ratio extending to the reality. Around God’s throne in heaven are 24 elders and 4 living creatures a 6:1 ratio. Right from the start of our world God attempts to remind us of this ratio, Christ as the creator made our world in six literal days, then rested on His Sabbath, the 7th day; the weekly cycle is a 6:1 ratio.
God being omniscience would handle the sin problem in an expedient and timely fashion, represented as just one of His weeks, for one day is as a thousand years to Him, (2 Pe. 3:8). It seems that by design God would allow sin, six-thousand years (six of His days) of probationary time to run its course, the planet would labor under the curse of sin, then the one-thousand year millennial period would function as the Sabbath rest of the world. If you do the math, a 7,000-year total time period would contain 1,000 Shemitah years, the Millennium is the Sabbath rest of the Earth’s probation and the end to God’s redemptive week. The pattern seems to have always been the same; a 7-day weekly cycle – a 7-month sacred Jewish calendar – a 7 year Shemitah cycle – and finally a 7,000-year millennial cycle, all corresponding to a 6:1 ratio.
The world seems ripe for Christ’s soon return, the tares have come to the full, the wheat must follow; probationary time is running out!