GOD'S DIVINE TIME MEASURES

By

Pastor James PS Templeton.

"Nothing that happens in this world happens by chance. God is a God of order. Everything is arranged upon definite principles and never at random". Henry Drummond

INTRODUCTION

This article has been written and prepared to illustrate the National Historicist Prophetic View of Prophecy. The Bible is the Revelation of God to mankind, and in His Word it has pleased God to give us a series of Divine Time Measures which involve great historical and spiritual issues in relation to the Church, the nation of Israel, and to mankind in general. In the preparation I have freely made use of articles by the late, David Campbell and W. Edmund Filmer, and Dr. Grattan Guinness. It is possible that others not mentioned have also said the same things.

The interpretation and fulfilment of all these Time Measures are based upon the following Divine principle. The prophet received instructions regarding Israel and Judah - Ezekiel 4:4-6,

"Lie thou also upon thy left side, and lay the iniquity of the house of Israel upon it: [according] to the number of the days that thou shalt lie upon it thou shalt bear their iniquity. For I have laid upon thee the years of their iniquity, according to the number of the days, three hundred and ninety days: so shalt thou bear the iniquity of the house of Israel. And when thou hast accomplished them, lie again on thy right side, and thou shalt bear the iniquity of the house of Judah forty days: I have appointed thee each day for a year."

This is the God’s Key given to understanding prophetic time periods, "I have appointed thee each day for a year"

God has thus spoken and we should be sufficiently humble to recognise His voice, and say like young Samuel in I Samuel 3:9-10,

"Therefore Eli said unto Samuel, Go, lie down: and it shall be, if he call thee, that thou shalt say, Speak, LORD; for thy servant heareth. So Samuel went and lay down in his place. And the LORD came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth."

Divine truth is revealed so that it may be accepted, obeyed, and acted upon. Moreover it is revealed for our enlightenment and benefit, as are all God's laws, and we are told in I John 5:3,

"For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous."

Therefore let us determine in our hearts that "whatsoever the Lord sayeth" we shall receive and act upon, so that this wonderful treasure of truth may be found in earthen vessels. This is further emphasised in Numbers 14:34,

"After the number of the days in which ye searched the land, [even] forty days, each day for a year, shall ye bear your iniquities, [even] forty years, and ye shall know my breach of promise."

Remember the Lord has said "I have appointed thee each day for a year."

In this article never let anyone say that this is the last word on this subject. Some of those reading it may be able to fill in events which have taken place in those years left blank. The purpose is for creative discussion and a willingness to learn from those who have different views on the subject. Prophecy is ongoing and requires constant revision. This is an endeavour to constructively consider Terminal Dates in God’s Divine Time Measures. We can all benefit from this study, and add to it, especially where time scale periods long past have been left blank.

We do not accept that any one person or church has all the truth, a fact which is borne out experimentally by Church History especially in relation to the Church of Rome which is Apostate. Paul writes in Galatians 6:6

"Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things."

The Psalmist wrote in Psalm 119:105,

"Thy word [is] a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path."

Peter who witnessed the transfiguration wrote in II Peter 1:19-21,

"We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake [as they were] moved by the Holy Ghost."