'Time' was provided for man's understanding

     ‘Time’ is a dimension that God provided to enable man to understand His plan for those created in His image.  Time had a beginning and, after running its course, will cease to be.

     Time is a linear function from beginning to end with two aspects, i.e. a point on the linear span called ‘when’ and a period of time called ‘how long’ defined as a period occurring between two points on the span.

     God displayed His unfathomable sovereign power in creation prior to the advent of time, which He provided just prior to the creation of Adam.

     Paul confirmed that God’s plan for His chosen was devised before time began.  God would reveal His plan and its components in exact order and in exact timing for man to be able to comprehend what He was doing.

     “…God…has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began.”  2 Timothy 1:9

     Thus God’s plan for man was determined long before the dimension of time was established.

     The writer of Genesis provides details on the origin of time.  Time was provided on the 4^th ‘day’ of creation.

     “Then God said, ‘Let there be lights in the firmament of the heavens to divide the day from the night, and let them be for signs and seasons, and for days and years…’”  Genesis 1:14

     The Hebrew for ‘seasons’ means ‘appointment’ which, among other things, would signal the timing of the future Jewish feast days to be revealed in God’s time.

     The Hebrew for ‘days’ does in fact mean ‘time,’ either between two points on the linear time span or a specific point of time on that span as previously defined.  ‘Years’ means a ‘revolution of time,’ or ‘to return,’ and/or ‘repeat.’  Such describes the earth’s annual journey around the sun.

     Notice that there would be lights, i.e. plural, meaning luminous bodies.  Light in the singular had been provided earlier.

      “The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep.  And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.  Then God said, ‘Let there be light;’ and there was light.”  Genesis 1:2-3

     ‘Light’ in this case means ‘illumination’ or ‘enlightenment.’  Such light defines the presence of God and His glory.

     Time was provided for man’s benefit.  God is not limited to the time dimension; thus, days and years are not binding on God and His works.

     “For a thousand years in Your sight are like yesterday when it is past, and like a watch in the night.”  Psalm 90:4

     The Hebrew for ‘thousand’ is the quantity of years as we know it today; however, related synonyms include ‘extreme’ and ‘innumerable.’  

     Yesterday does indicate a day as we know it and a ‘watch in the night’ is from the Hebrew defining a four hour time period.

     The Apostle Peter reiterated that God’s days and years were not limited to the same finite dimensions as He provided to man.

     “But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as a day.”  2 Peter 3:8

     The Greek word for thousand also has several meanings similar to the Hebrew including a literal finite thousand or ‘innumerable.’ 

     The same Greek word for thousand (chilioi) is found in the following:

     “Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus…and they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.  But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished.”  Revelation 20:4b-5

     Pre-millennialism regards the thousand year period as strictly literal.

     The relevance of time becomes more intriguing when considering the present church age defines the time gap between Daniel’s 69^th and 70^th prophetic weeks.  A ‘week’ in the Hebrew is seven, therefore, seventy weeks equates to 490 years.  The 70^th week of seven years defines the quickly approaching tribulation.

     We’ll examine other aspects of Biblical time in the next few weeks.

    

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