THE SEVEN MILLENNIAL DAYS OF HUMAN HISTORY
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FOUR
The Fourth Millennial Day
The Genesis creation account is dual. The first, second and third days form a pattern which the fourth, fifth and sixth days follow with artistic symmetry: light and darkness (first day) are the realms of the sun and moon (fourth day); waters and sky (second day) are the domains of fish and fowl (fifth day); land and vegetation (third day) support humans and animals (sixth day).
Thus, God divided light from darkness on the first day, and on the fourth day He created a "greater light to rule the day" and a "lesser light to rule the night." The theme of the Fourth Millennial Day is rulership.
Thus, God divided light from darkness on the first day, and on the fourth day He created a "greater light to rule the day" and a "lesser light to rule the night." The theme of the Fourth Millennial Day is rulership.
"Then God made two great lights: the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night. . . . God set them in the firmament of the heavens to give light on the earth, and to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness."
(Genesis 1:16-18)
It is important to note that God made the greater light first, before He made the lesser light, on the fourth day of creation.
OVERVIEW
The Fourth Day -- RULERS of Light and Darkness
At the beginning of the Fourth Millennial Day, God established the "greater light to rule the day" by making an eternal covenant with King David -- a man after His own heart (I Samuel 13:14; Acts 13:22) -- promising David that his throne and dynasty would continue forever (II Samuel 7:12-16; I Chronicles 17:11-14). After the glorious reign of King Solomon, the first son of David to sit on that throne, the united kingdom split into two separate nations. The northern kingdom (the House of Israel) forsook God completely. The southern kingdom (the House of Judah) continued to be governed by David's throne and dynasty. The biblical books of Kings and Chronicles detail the history of these two kingdoms during the first half of the Fourth Millennial Day.
David and Solomon ruled in the fear of the Lord (Psalms 1; 2; 72; II Samuel 23:1-4; Isaiah 1:21, 26) and were used by God to write significant portions of the Bible filled with inspiration and wisdom. Songs of David
The "lesser light to rule the night" appeared halfway through the Fourth Millennial Day -- the midpoint of God's 7,000-Year Plan -- when God caused a major historical transition to occur (Jeremiah 1:10; Daniel 2:21). Both Israel and Judah had totally forsaken God by this time (II Kings 17:18-20; Jeremiah 50:17; Ezekiel 5:5-9; Daniel 9:7-12), so God cast His people out of the Promised Land and gave dominion over the earth to Babylon the Great (Revelation 16:19; 17:5; 18:2), a succession of powerful Gentile kingdoms led by Satan the devil (Daniel 2; 7; 8; Revelation 13; 17; Revelation 13:2; Luke 4:5). Babylon changed God's times and laws (Daniel 7:25), ruled the dark half of the Fourth Millennial Day and continues to exert influence over the world to this day (Revelation 17:8-14). A World in Confusion
The highlight of the Fourth Millennial Day occurred at its close, when Jesus the Messiah -- the second member of the Godhead -- came down from heaven to live on earth as a human being (John 3:13; Ephesians 4:8-10). He was the Light of the world (Matthew 4:16; John 1:4-9; 3:19-21; 8:12; 12:35-36, 46), the Son of David destined to rule all nations from the throne of David forever (Isaiah 9:6-7; Daniel 7:14; Luke 1:31-33; Revelation 11:15). Jesus fulfilled some of the biblical prophecies at His first coming (Matthew 26:54-56; Luke 24:44-48; Acts 3:18; I Corinthians 15:3-4), and will fulfill the rest of the prophecies in conjunction with His second coming (Matthew 5:17-18; Luke 21:22; Acts 3:19-21; I Corinthians 15:24-28).
At the beginning of the Fourth Millennial Day, God established the "greater light to rule the day" by making an eternal covenant with King David -- a man after His own heart (I Samuel 13:14; Acts 13:22) -- promising David that his throne and dynasty would continue forever (II Samuel 7:12-16; I Chronicles 17:11-14). After the glorious reign of King Solomon, the first son of David to sit on that throne, the united kingdom split into two separate nations. The northern kingdom (the House of Israel) forsook God completely. The southern kingdom (the House of Judah) continued to be governed by David's throne and dynasty. The biblical books of Kings and Chronicles detail the history of these two kingdoms during the first half of the Fourth Millennial Day.
David and Solomon ruled in the fear of the Lord (Psalms 1; 2; 72; II Samuel 23:1-4; Isaiah 1:21, 26) and were used by God to write significant portions of the Bible filled with inspiration and wisdom. Songs of David
The "lesser light to rule the night" appeared halfway through the Fourth Millennial Day -- the midpoint of God's 7,000-Year Plan -- when God caused a major historical transition to occur (Jeremiah 1:10; Daniel 2:21). Both Israel and Judah had totally forsaken God by this time (II Kings 17:18-20; Jeremiah 50:17; Ezekiel 5:5-9; Daniel 9:7-12), so God cast His people out of the Promised Land and gave dominion over the earth to Babylon the Great (Revelation 16:19; 17:5; 18:2), a succession of powerful Gentile kingdoms led by Satan the devil (Daniel 2; 7; 8; Revelation 13; 17; Revelation 13:2; Luke 4:5). Babylon changed God's times and laws (Daniel 7:25), ruled the dark half of the Fourth Millennial Day and continues to exert influence over the world to this day (Revelation 17:8-14). A World in Confusion
The highlight of the Fourth Millennial Day occurred at its close, when Jesus the Messiah -- the second member of the Godhead -- came down from heaven to live on earth as a human being (John 3:13; Ephesians 4:8-10). He was the Light of the world (Matthew 4:16; John 1:4-9; 3:19-21; 8:12; 12:35-36, 46), the Son of David destined to rule all nations from the throne of David forever (Isaiah 9:6-7; Daniel 7:14; Luke 1:31-33; Revelation 11:15). Jesus fulfilled some of the biblical prophecies at His first coming (Matthew 26:54-56; Luke 24:44-48; Acts 3:18; I Corinthians 15:3-4), and will fulfill the rest of the prophecies in conjunction with His second coming (Matthew 5:17-18; Luke 21:22; Acts 3:19-21; I Corinthians 15:24-28).
IN GREATER DETAIL
The Davidic Covenant
The original King of Israel was God (I Samuel 12:12), but Israel rejected God's rulership during the latter half of the Third Millennial Day (judges period). "In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes" (Judges 21:25; 17:6; 18:1; 19:1). Having rejected God as their king, the people desired a human king in order to be like all other nations (I Samuel 8:5-7). On the Fourth Millennial Day God laid a solid foundation to re-establish His government over Israel (and all nations) through King David and through Jesus the Messiah, the Son of David (Isaiah 1:21, 26; 2:1-4; 28:16; Matthew 1:1; 2:1-6; 22:41-45; Luke 1:31-33; John 18:33, 36-37; I Peter 2:6).
Saul was Israel's first human king. He failed to administer God's government properly, so God rejected him as king (I Samuel 15:10-23) and chose David to replace him (I Samuel 16:1-13). David was a man after God's own heart (I Samuel 13:14; Acts 13:22). The story of Saul's gradual decline and David's simultaneous rise is prophetic of future events to occur at the end of this age. After firmly establishing David's kingship, God made him the following astounding promise:
The original King of Israel was God (I Samuel 12:12), but Israel rejected God's rulership during the latter half of the Third Millennial Day (judges period). "In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes" (Judges 21:25; 17:6; 18:1; 19:1). Having rejected God as their king, the people desired a human king in order to be like all other nations (I Samuel 8:5-7). On the Fourth Millennial Day God laid a solid foundation to re-establish His government over Israel (and all nations) through King David and through Jesus the Messiah, the Son of David (Isaiah 1:21, 26; 2:1-4; 28:16; Matthew 1:1; 2:1-6; 22:41-45; Luke 1:31-33; John 18:33, 36-37; I Peter 2:6).
Saul was Israel's first human king. He failed to administer God's government properly, so God rejected him as king (I Samuel 15:10-23) and chose David to replace him (I Samuel 16:1-13). David was a man after God's own heart (I Samuel 13:14; Acts 13:22). The story of Saul's gradual decline and David's simultaneous rise is prophetic of future events to occur at the end of this age. After firmly establishing David's kingship, God made him the following astounding promise:
"I took you from the sheepfold, from following the sheep, to be ruler over My people, over Israel. And I have been with you wherever you have gone, and have cut off all your enemies from before you, and have made you a great name, like the name of the great men who are on the earth. . . .
Also the Lord tells you that He will make you a house" [dynasty]. "When your days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers, I will set up your seed after you, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be his father, and he shall be My son. . . .
And your house and your kingdom shall be established forever before you. Your throne shall be established forever."
(II Samuel 7:8-9, 11-14, 16)
Light Half of the Fourth Millennial Day
King David reigned at the beginning of the Fourth Millennial Day. His son Solomon succeeded him on the throne of the kingdom of the Lord (I Chronicles 28:4-5; 29:23). The reign of Solomon was the most glorious era of Israel's history (I Kings 4:20-25; Ecclesiastes 1:16; 2:9, 12), typifying the Seventh Millennial Day when Christ's kingdom will usher in utopian conditions of peace and prosperity on earth. God gave Solomon unparalleled wisdom and understanding (I Kings 3:5-28; 4:29-34; 10:4-9).
Near the end of his life, however, Solomon made some great mistakes and was chastened severely by God for them (II Samuel 7:14; I Kings 11:14-39; Nehemiah 13:26; Proverbs 3:11-12). God took away ten tribes from his son; Israel became divided into two separate states -- the House of Israel and the House of Judah.
God warned Israel He would chasten them if they turned away from His commandments and followed other gods (Leviticus 26; Deuteronomy 28; I Kings 9:1-9). He said if Israel forsook Him, then He would forsake Israel as well (Deuteronomy 31:16-17; Isaiah 1:4). God raised up prophets to warn Israel and Judah of impending calamity (II Kings 17:13-15; II Chronicles 36:15-16). The writings of Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and the twelve minor prophets (Hosea through Malachi) are filled with such warnings.
The curses pronounced by God through Moses and the prophets came upon Israel and Judah near the midpoint of the Fourth Millennial Day, approximately 2,500 years ago. The book of Daniel was written after the great calamities had occurred (Daniel 9:7, 11-13).
The first half of the Fourth Millennial Day was characterized by "the greater light to rule the day." Solomon's glorious temple, which represented God's presence on earth, remained in the tribe of Judah; Judah continued to be ruled by David's dynasty; God had not yet cast His people out of His sight (Hosea 1:9-10; Romans 9:25-26).
As mentioned earlier, the books of Kings and Chronicles cover this period of history.
Dark Half of the Fourth Millennial Day
God caused great destruction to fall upon Israel and Judah (Jeremiah 50:17). He deported them from the Promised Land after warning them repeatedly through His prophets. First the northern kingdom of Israel was taken captive by Assyria (II Kings 17). Then the southern kingdom of Judah -- including its capital city of Jerusalem and God's temple -- was destroyed by Babylon (II Kings 25; II Chronicles 36; Jeremiah 39; 52).
This is one of the most remarkable periods of history. God used the prophet Jeremiah to warn all nations that they would have to submit to the king of Babylon, who would have dominion over them (Jeremiah 1:10; chapter 25). God said,
"I have made the earth . . . and have given it to whom it seemed proper to Me. And now I have given all these lands into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, My servant. . . . So all nations shall serve him. . . . And it shall be, that the nation and kingdom which will not serve Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, . . . that nation I will punish . . . by his hand."
(Jeremiah 27:5-8)
God was using Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, as the "lesser light to rule the night." Nebuchadnezzar's destruction of the temple in Jerusalem symbolized God's presence being removed from the earth. God was allowing a period of darkness to come on the world (Matthew 4:16; John 1:4-11). He used the prophet Daniel to teach Nebuchadnezzar that his rulership over the nations was ordained by God (Daniel 2:37-38; 4:17, 25, 32). God was "changing the times and seasons, removing kings and setting up kings" (Daniel 2:21) -- causing a new era of history to appear. Babylon was to be the first in a succession of four world-ruling empires covering the dark half of the Fourth Millennial Day -- the period between the Old and New Testaments (Daniel 2; 7; 8).
From God's perspective, the four world-ruling empires were all one system. God caused Nebuchadnezzar to dream a dream in which he saw a great statue whose top reached to the sky, which toppled and perished as a stone sent by God struck its base (Daniel 2:31-45). The stone then became a great mountain which filled the whole earth (verses 34-35). The interpretation was clear (verses 44-45): the kingdom of God will cause Great Babylon to fall (Revelation 16:19; 18:2; 19:19-21; Daniel 7:11), just as David had slain Goliath with a stone.
The Son of David
The prophets predicted a time when Israel will be restored to glory, when it begins to seek God wholeheartedly after it has been punished for its sins (Leviticus 26:40-42; Deuteronomy 30:1-10; Jeremiah 30:22; 31:10). This ultimate restoration (Acts 1:6-7; James 1:1; Zechariah 1:12) will occur after the great tribulation and Christ's second coming (Acts 3:19-21; Daniel 9:24; 12:1; Zechariah 13:8-9; 14:1-4, 9; Matthew 24:21-22; Isaiah 65:8-25). The Days of Trumpets and Atonement, The Feast of Tabernacles and Last Great Day
The prophets said the coming restoration of Israel would bring world peace to all nations (Isaiah 2:1-5; Micah 4:1-7) under the government of a Son of David -- the Messiah or Christ (Matthew 2:1-6; John 18:33-37):
"For unto us a Child is born,
Unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder. . . .
Of the increase of His government and peace
There will be no end,
Upon the throne of David and over his kingdom,
To order it and establish it with judgment and justice
From that time forward, even forever.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this."
(Isaiah 9:6-7)
"'Behold, the days are coming,' says the Lord,
'That I will raise to David a Branch of righteousness;
A King shall reign and prosper,
And execute judgment and righteousness in the earth.
In His days Judah will be saved,
And Israel will dwell safely. . . .'"
(Jeremiah 23:5-6)
Jesus, the Messiah, appeared at the end of the Fourth Millennial Day. He will inherit the throne of David, as the angel Gabriel said to His mother Mary:
"'Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His Kingdom there will be no end.'"
(Luke 1:30-33)
The New Testament declares that Jesus Christ is the Son of David whom the prophets foretold (Matthew 1:1; John 1:45; 4:25-26; Acts 2:25-36; 13:30-37; Romans 1:1-4). Through Him God will fulfill His promises to David, made at the beginning of the Fourth Millennial Day (Acts 1:6-7; 3:18-21). The twelve apostles will govern the twelve tribes of Israel (Matthew 19:28; Luke 22:30; Revelation 21:12, 14). Members of the true Church have been, and are now being trained for positions of service as kings and priests (administrators and teachers) in The World Tomorrow (Luke 19:11-19; I Corinthians 6:2; Hebrews 2:5; Revelation 1:6; 2:26-27; 5:10; 19:16; 20:4-6). The Basic Questions
Jesus Christ is the Great Light to Rule the Day:
"I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life."
(John 8:12)
All Prophecy Will Be Fulfilled
Christianity does not oppose Judaism. Jews are correct in believing the Hebrew Scriptures and all which they stand for, including the prophecies of a restored kingdom of Israel with all twelve tribes governed by a Son of David (Ezekiel 37:15-28). Christians are also correct in believing the New Testament which portrays Jesus of Nazareth, born in Bethlehem, as the prophesied Messiah of Israel (Matthew 2). However, both groups tend to see only half of the picture. It is by putting Old and New Testaments together that we see how God is working out a different phase of His Master Plan on each millennial day of history.
The New Testament never claimed to witness total fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy. Rather, the book of Revelation confirms the message of God's prophets and points to the time of future fulfillment. As Jesus said,
"Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say unto you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled."
(Matthew 5:17-18)
Notice that Jesus Upheld the Law and came to fulfill Bible prophecy.
The New Testament teaches that Jesus has fulfilled only part of Bible prophecy thus far, and that the rest will be fulfilled at His second coming:
"But those things, which God foretold by the mouth of all His prophets, that the Christ would suffer" [e.g., Isaiah 53:3-8; Psalm 22; Daniel 9:26; Acts 8:30-35] "He has thus fulfilled. Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that He may send Jesus Christ . . . whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began."
(Acts 3:18-21)
Let us follow the life and teachings of Jesus Christ, the Great Light to Rule the Day, and come out of the darkness of this world, which is still under the influence of Babylon the Great and heading for a mighty fall (Revelation 18:2-4).
© Copyright 1974, 1993, 2013 Matthew Kalliman
