 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
| DAY = 1000 year Theory |
|
|
|
|
||
|
2Peter 3:8 There is a theory that
the 7 days of creation are a pattern for 7000 years of human history. That is
one day = 1000 years. And that just as there were 6 days of “work” and 1 day
of rest, so likewise with man’s history there will be 6 days of - what?
work? preparation? Judgment? . . . and then one day of rest which would be
the millennium.
However, according to proper chronological measurement . . . we are already at the year 6048 Ano Hominis – so we are already almost 50 years into the millennium. Furthermore, there is no
place in scripture that teaches it. Peter is writing this to
indicate that God does not measure time as man does. God is eternal and to
Him, 1 day in man’s history is like a day in His sight – it’s just a drop in
the bucket. Or a thousand years of man’s history is simply like a day to God.
This is not stated in order to equate He probably has in mind Psalm 90:4, “For a thousand years in your sight is like yesterday when it passes by, or as a watch in the night.” Now, no biblical interpretation is established either by the church fathers or by various commentaries, but by Scripture alone. The theory was suggested by
two of the church fathers, but that in itself does not validate or invalidate
a theory. However, Irenaeus fails to quote the second part, “a day is as a thousand years,” and that totally invalidates the theory.
And the epistle of Barnabas:
And he also fails to quote the second part of
the couplet.
The theory also finds support from several
Jewish sources, but interpretations by rabbinical writers do not validate the
theory.
Commentaries that reject the theory: Matthew Henry COMMENTS ON ADAM'S DAY
It has been suggested that when Adam dies "in that day," that it refers to
his physical death WITHIN the first 1000 years of man's history,
suggesting the validity of the "one-day = 1000 years" theory.
1. It is more reasonable to view Adam's death as occurring on the literal day that he ate, and to view it as his loss of relationship with God - his spiritual death. There is a reason why the Hebrew uses the very strong verbal construction, "dying you shall die," instead of simply saying, "you shall die." The emphasis is because the more important issue is his spiritual death.
And they did in fact DIE to God in that very instant on that very day.
In addition, Satan’s answer to Eve’s hesitation focuses, “on the day that
you eat your eyes will be opened.”
And then, after they ate, their eyes were opened ON THAT DAY. And when God came walking in the garden in the “cool of the day,” it should certainly be viewed as the very same day. 2. While Adam died in 930 AH, many of the other antediluvian descendants died well after the 1000 year mark." The "antediluvian descendants" are the ones who were born before the flood and many died AFTER that "1000 year mark." For example, Seth died in 1042 AH and Enosh died in 1140 AH. And of course everyone except Noah plus 7 died in 1656 AH. --------- IN THE BOOK OF DANIEL There is no conflict within the book of Daniel with regard to the time issues involved. In Daniel 9:24-27, there is no day/year formula presented. It literally says, “70 SEVENS have been decreed.” That is, 70 UNITS of seven. It is simply a method to describe the time span that is in view to accomplish the 6 things mentioned. There is no mention of DAYS. When it is analyzed, it is discovered that each unit of 7 is a period of SEVEN years. The first division of 7 “weeks” (units/sevens) = 49 years. This is rendered in this way because the new temple is completed 46 years after the decree of Cyrus. That falls within the 49 years of 7 sevens. After the completion of the new temple, there will be a period of 62 “weeks” (units/sevens), or 434 years until the OFFICIAL arrival of the Messiah in the year of the crucifixion. Next, there is a ONE “seven” period, which is a period of 7 years. This 7-year unit is clearly broken down into two halves. The first half is a time of the covenant, which is 3 ½ years long. The second half is a time of the broken covenant, when the abomination is set up. And it is to be logically assumed that this time of the abomination is likewise, 3 ½ years long. This is perfectly consistent with the additional information that is provided in chapter 12. The duration of the time that “the king” (Dan. 11:36) will have authority is stated to be “a time, times and half a time.” When correlated with chapter 9, this can ONLY refer to the 3 ½ year period of the 2nd half of the last 7-year “unit” of time. In Daniel 9, the focus has been on YEARS. In chapter 12, the focus is narrowed down because the vision is dealing now with just the last 7-year period. Thus, now, DAYS are in view. It has been revealed that “the king” will reign for 3 ½ years. When rendered in 30 day months, that is 1260 days. So, it is expected that the reign of “the king” will be over in 1260 days. However, Daniel 12:11, reveals that there is an additional 30 days (1290) before the abomination will be removed. And then verse 12, an additional 45 days to reach the full blessing of the Messiah’s kingdom. There is no mystery here. It is logical and clear in normal human language, which is what God uses to communicate to His people. He is not playing games or trying to confuse us. IN THE BOOK OF REVELATION Thus, when we get to the days of Revelation, it is likewise to be understood logically and literally when we are told that the reign of the beast will be 42 months (which is 1260 days). If the intent were to establish some kind of day/year measurement, then MONTHS would not be used to refer to the same period of time – the length of the beast’s reign. And since the beast begins his persecution of Israel at the start of his reign, Israel needs to be protected in the wilderness during the duration, which is 1260 days. And the ministry of the 2 witnesses will be a specific time of 1260 days because it corresponds with the reign of the beast. And the 3 ½ days after the 2 witnesses are killed is perfectly consistent with the fact that there is an additional 30 days that follows the end of the beast’s OFFICIAL reign. Thus, the beast’s reign is over at the end of that last 7-year unit of time, but God uses an additional 30 days to judge his kingdom (the bowls) and reverse the DAMAGE he has done (the abomination). All this will be completed after Armageddon. Throughout the book of Revelation, it is perfectly consistent and logically necessary that months and days be taken as LITERAL months and days. | ||
|
|
|
|||
|
©Ron Wallace, http://www.biblefragrances.com.
Anyone is free to reproduce this material and distribute it, |
||||
 |
 |
|||