Tuesday, January 27, 2015

God Is Always On Time

Principal One: God Is Always On Time! God may not work in the same time restrictions as we. That knowledge has led to various interpretations as to the timing of creation and other events. However, concerning prophecy, God always gave man a timetable and what was to be expected. In EVERY case of prophecy, he was on time according to OUR method of timing. Without this accuracy, not only would scriptural credibility be challenged, but the signs and warnings to those who were told to wait for that period of time would be moot. Confusion would take over, and every generation would be caught up in believing they were the ones to fulfill the prophecy.

1. The Egypt Example

Prophecy: Ge 15:13 - Then the LORD said to Abram, "Know of a surety that your descendants will be sojourners in a land that is not theirs, and will be slaves there, and they will be oppressed for four hundred years; Fulfillment On Time!

Ex 12:40 - The time that the people of Israel dwelt in Egypt was four hundred and thirty years. *NOTE: Israel was not oppressed 430 years. For their first years they were at peace under Josephs rule. So this difference in years is not a contradiction.

2. Israel’s Babylonian Captivity

Prophecy: Jer 25:11 - This whole land shall become a ruin and a waste, and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years. Jer 25:12 - Then after seventy years are completed, I will punish the king of Babylon and that nation, the land of the Chalde'ans, for their iniquity, says the LORD, making the land an everlasting waste. Jer 29:10 - For thus says the LORD: When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will visit you, and I will fulfil to you my promise and bring you back to this place.

Fulfillment: Zech 1:7 On the twenty-fourth day of the eleventh month which is the month of Shebat, in the second year of Darius, the word of the LORD came to Zechari'ah the son of Berechi'ah, son of Iddo, the prophet; and Zechari'ah said…..11 And they answered the angel of the LORD who was standing among the myrtle trees, 'We have patrolled the earth, and behold, all the earth remains at rest.' 12 Then the angel of the LORD said, 'O LORD of hosts, how long wilt thou have no mercy on Jerusalem and the cities of Judah, against which thou hast had indignation these seventy years?' 13 And the LORD answered gracious and comforting words to the angel who talked with me. 14 So the angel who talked with me said to me, 'Cry out, Thus says the LORD of hosts: I am exceedingly jealous for Jerusalem and for Zion. 15 And I am very angry with the nations that are at ease; for while I was angry but a little they furthered the disaster. 16 Therefore, thus says the LORD, I have returned to Jerusalem with compassion; my house shall be built in it, says the LORD of hosts, and the measuring line shall be stretched out over Jerusalem. 17 Cry again, Thus says the LORD of hosts: My cities shall again overflow with prosperity, and the LORD will again comfort Zion and again choose Jerusalem.'" 3. Daniels 70 Weeks

I will not go into the specifics but as almost every single Christian agrees, Christ began His ministry exactly 483 years from the “going forth to rebuild the temple.” (Daniel 9:25). Again God was right on time, according to the “box” he put Himself in to fulfill His promise to send the Messiah. Things do not get obscured, fuzzy or mixed up after this. God remained on time in all the aspects of His prophecies. Christ followed suit. Without timeliness, there is confusion. But the Apostles DID NOT teach confusion, they taught imminence because God would once again be on time.

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