Sabbath 2/10/41/120

Dear Friends,

We really need to look at the future ahead of us and the expectations of the church over the last six thousand years or so.  Adam and Eve were expelled from the Garden after they had spent thirty years there from their creation in 4004 BCE.  When Adam was thirty he became of age for judgment and the Garden of Eden was closed. It was understood by the faith that Satan was given rule of the earth and the Calendar began in 3974 BCE and his rule was to last for 6000 years represented by the six working days of the week. The end of Satan’s rule is expected to occur by 2027 CE.  The Sabbath rest of the Messiah is expected to occur in 2028 CE and last for one thousand years as we are told in Revelation 20:1-8.

Revelation 20:1-8 Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding in his hand the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain. [2] And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, [3] and threw him into the pit, and shut it and sealed it over him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years were ended. After that he must be loosed for a little while. [4] Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom judgment was committed. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their testimony to Jesus and for the word of God, and who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life, and reigned with Christ a thousand years. [5] The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection. [6] Blessed and holy is he who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and they shall reign with him a thousand years. [7] And when the thousand years are ended, Satan will be loosed from his prison [8] and will come out to deceive the nations which are at the four corners of the earth, that is, Gog and Magog, to gather them for battle; their number is like the sand of the sea. 

If this sequence is not correct then we have no idea when it is to occur but the millennial rule is clear and specific.  Also Peter tells us that a day is but a thousand years unto the Lord and a thousand years is but a day (2Peter 3:8), which is the key the church has always held to the time frame of this age. The text then goes on to say that the Lord is not slow in his promise as some count slowness but is forbearing so that we all might not perish but achieve repentance (v. 9).  The time frame is in the Outline Timetable of the Age (No. 272).

So we should all look forward to salvation, each in our own time in accordance with the divine omniscience of God over the age, or this aeon.

We are almost at the end of the age and there is only a short time ahead of us. Each of us should treat our time ahead with joy and anticipation. We do not know in what resurrection we will find ourselves consigned, but we run the race so as to partake of the First Resurrection termed by Paul as the “out” resurrection. For in that we are selected and removed from the prospect of facing the Second Death which is held as the final punishment for the rebellious. All of those who are dead over the entire age and not in the First Resurrection (No. 143A) will go to the Second Resurrection for re-education under the Great White Throne Judgment (No. 143B). So also will those that are selected to live through into the millennial system under Messiah also last through into the Second Resurrection after falling asleep under that system.

Even those that are sent to the Second Resurrection from the millennial system are also able to be translated as part of the later body of Christ.  So, none should despair of the salvation of God. It is God’s Will that no flesh should perish and thus none will as God’s Will is to be done and our meat is to do the will of Him who sent us and to finish His work (Jn. 4:34).

Each of us should be caught up in the anticipation of what is before us and even though some may see the tribulation through past error, we will by faith be spared under the hand of God through repentance in fear and trembling. We are to bear the Mark of God on us and it is to that end that we work. Each of us is to bear the seal of the Commandments of God and the faith and Testimony of Jesus Christ (Rev, 12:17; 14:12).

Encourage all in good works and, as James says, by works we show our faith.  Love one another so that we may demonstrate that we love God.

We are saved by grace in the faith but it is by works that we demonstrate the faith (cf. Commentary on James (F059).

Wade Cox
Coordinator General