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LATTER DAYS, LAST DAYS, FULLNESS OF TIME, FULLNESS OF TIMES
God would not have us ignorant of the times that we live in. If we are
intelligent enough to know that a red sky is a warning in the natural, we also
should be spiritual enough to read the signs of the times. We must see and
understand that we are not children of the night, and that HE will not appear
without us knowing it.
Let us quote 1 Thessalonians 5:1-4 "Concerning the times and
seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write you, for you yourselves
know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night...But
you, brethren, ARE NOT IN THE DARKNESS, so that this day should overtake you as
a thief." (NKJV)
Contrary to popular opinion or theological thought and teaching, the
Christian should be aware and knowing the GENERAL time, but not the specific
moment, for we are to be looking for His appearing. LATTER DAYS
Daniel begins the interpretation of the King's dream in chapter 2:28. He
tells the King of Babylon what this golden head, silver shouldered, bronze
breasted, iron legged, clay and iron toed monstrosity is. It is a kingdom of
worldly ways (economically, politically, socially, religiously). Yet, it is even
more corrupt than we can express.
As we read verse 28 we note the words: "LATTER DAYS". Daniel
told the king that this statue would USHER IN the LATTER DAYS. In other words,
the king, Nebuchadnezzar, and his empire (golden head) were the beginning of the
LATTER DAYS. The kingdom of Nebuchadnezzar began approximately in 604 B. C. So,
we can see that the end of all things started almost 2,600 years ago! From that
point on it was a descending of world power. In other words, any evil
power coming to the foreground would have LESS power than what Nebuchadnezzar
had.
The greatest power of the antichrist system was in its BEGINNING. Yet,
the church system teaches that there will be one world order which will EXCEED
that of Nebuchadnezzar. Something is wrong. Not only that the church system
teaches that the Common Market of Europe is the "ten toes" of the
vision of Daniel but that there are more members than 10. The 1992 Eurpoean Confederation (as of this date - 1/91) has 12 members.
The church system fails in its personal interpretation of the Scriptures
in Daniel - forgetting to see that the large idol Daniel described was a
continuous one. His body was not
separated from his feet by 2600 years! The church system agrees that the Gold
head represents Babylon. They agree that Medo-Persia represents the silver. They
agree that the bronze represents Greece and the iron Rome. But the clay and iron
toes has to wait for 2600 years to be fulfilled. God does not break up his
prophecies in such a manner. Private interpretation will destroy truth. The toes
were represented by the Popes who held together a coalition after the fall of
Rome - a political system (some even say Charlemagne kingdom fulfilled it).
The church system has not only misinterpreted the Bible but also has
assumed that in the LATTER TIMES the last system (their idea of the common
market) would be MORE powerful than the head - which is totally unscriptural. We
can rejoice that we do not wrestle against principalities and powers that are as
formidable as Babylon! THE LATTER DAYS HAVE BEEN WITH US SINCE 604 B. C. - ALMOST 2,600 YEARS!
We also find in Daniel that the kingdom of God was also founded at that
time. Daniel 2:44 states: And the days of these kings (Babylon, Medo-Persia
etc.) the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed;
and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; it shall break in pieces and
consume all these kingdoms and it shall stand forever."
Now, some would say that "in the days of these kings" refers
not to the beginning of the worldly kingdoms but DURING one of these kingdoms,
God's kingdom would be set up. In other words, some would teach that when Jesus
came during the Roman times (the iron kingdom), it is when the kingdom of God
would be set up. There is no doubt a truth to that.
But, based on what Paul said in Acts 28:23..."...to whom he (Paul)
explained and solemnly testified of the kingdom of God persuading them
concerning Jesus from BOTH the Law and the prophets, from morning until
night." We can see that the prophets knew of the kingdom. Many places in
the Old Testament do confirm such, too numerous to mention here.
There are two kingdoms in this world. Daniel helped to start the one even
as Nebuchadnezzar started the other. One kingdom has been decreasing since then.
But the INCREASE OF HIS GOVERNMENT shall never end (Isaiah 9:7). Some church
system teachers teach that there is an antichrist worldly system coming together
- the BIBLE teaches it is falling apart and will never exceed the power of the
toes!
The kingdom of God has been increasing. It grew in a few men of faith
(Hebrews 11) and was made manifest completely in Jesus (Romans 16:24-26), who
will bring and gather all creation (1 Corinthians 15:22, 28, 1 Timothy 4:10,
John 3:17) into Himself. A remnant has seen it from afar off, embraced it as
their own, and wait for the fulness of its appearing (Hebrews 11:38-40).
Mammon decreases. The kingdom of God increases. THE LAST DAYS
Hebrews 1:1-2 states: "God who at various times and in different
ways spoke in times past to the fathers by prophets, has in these LAST DAYS
spoken to us by His Son."
The LAST DAYS are a PART OF THE LARGER TIME PERIOD OF THE LATTER DAYS.
The LAST DAYS were ushered in with the physical appearance of Jesus Christ and
his ministry of three and one-half years.
Now, Jesus appeared during the Roman Empire and this would correspond to
the waist of IRON. Each leg would
represent the divided Roman empire (East
and West). The LAST DAYS were ushered in by Jesus. Jesus also clearly
established the kingdom - "Now Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in
their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom."(Matthew 4:23). The LATTER DAYS began the kingdom, but the LAST
DAYS began the MANIFESTATION of
the kingdom. What many had seen from afar, embraced with their
heart, Jesus did manifest and show that it was possible to live. As we are part
of the LAST DAYS, we shall reveal the very same truth. The church age lasts but
for 2,000 years/two days. But the kingdom of God last eons. THE FULLNESS OF TIME
Galatians 4:4 states: "But when the FULLNESS OF TIME had come God
sent forth His Son...". The phrase "fullness of time" means a
time of bearing. A woman's birth time is a fullness of time. It is a time
appointed; a certain period that calls forth a specific action. THE BIRTH OF
CHRIST ON THIS EARTH BEGAN THE FULLNESS OF TIME.
So, we see that there are two things going
on at the same time. The birth of Christ ushers in the FULLNESS OF TIME and also
begins the LAST DAYS. We do find in other locations of Scripture that various
events overlap too. In the trumpets in Revelation one blows and another is still
blowing. Eventually all seven are blowing at the same time.
It is the LAST DAYS because the end of the world system should come
shortly, and the FULLNESS OF TIME shows that it is the Christ-nature that will
accomplish the end of all man made kingdoms. But there is a far greater meaning
to the FULLNESS OF TIME.
While Galatians shows that the FULLNESS OF TIME refers to the birth of
Jesus on the natural side, there is also a spiritual side to this. The LAST DAYS
began with Jesus because he has called a many-membered body to be conformed to
His Image. This group of believers, conformed to His image (Romans 8:19-20),
will deliver creation from the bondage of corruption. So, in the LAST DAYS and
in the FULLNESS OF TIME there will come forth a spiritual birth of a
many-membered son company. Jesus even spoke about the same when He stated: "Go tell that old fox, 'Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures, today and tomorrow, and on the third day I shall be perfected.'"(Luke 13:31) As we all know, Jesus was perfect, so He was NOT talking about Himself. What He was expressing was the thought that a many-membered body would come to perfection and the end of two prophetic days. Peter states that a day is as a thousand years.
The FULLNESS OF TIME came with the natural birth of the Lord Jesus
Christ. But there is yet to be a spiritual birth which is spoken of in
Revelation 12 which comes forth out of the woman (church order). This child
carried by the church, but not of the church (even as Jesus was not of Mary but
carried by her) is in the birth canal now. Darkness surrounds this spiritual
child as it is now coming forth, pain encompasses it as the child comes.
Those that are being birthed in these LAST DAYS, have to have the LIFE
before they come forth - or they will be still-born. Jesus conquered the cross
in the Garden, not on the cross. He won the battle before the event. Thus, He
could raise Himself from the dead because of the LIFE in Him. THE
FULLNESS OF TIMES
Ephesians 1:10 states: "in regard to the administration of the
FULLNESS OF TIMES to reunite all things under one head, even the Anointed One; -
the things in the heavens, and the things on the earth - under Him (Wilson's
Emphatic Diaglott). The FULLNESS OF TIME is different from the FULLNESS OF TIMES. It is the birth of the sons of God, who shall do greater works than the Lord. It will be the sons who will bring all creation into subjection unto the Lord. The FULLNESS OF TIME ends with the revealing or the manifestation of the sons of God. But the FULLNESS OF TIMES just begins when the sons are manifested. It is this time period which will take eons of time to be fulfilled.
Our booklet, THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES, shows that this time period will
take about 7,000 years before all things are gathered together in Christ Jesus.
The FULLNESS OF TIMES takes in ALL other time periods. It is, in one sense an
all inclusive circle and within it lie the other smaller time periods.
In fact, the FULLNESS OF TIMES sums up all things in Christ - 1
Corinthians 15:28. This summing up of things covers everything in death (from
Adam) into life (Jesus). |
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