Third-Day Realities

Throughout the Bible, God employed the use of numbers to express spiritual truths, to mark and direct us to notable events on heaven’s trajectory of movement up to Jerusalem and the future reign of Christ. Certain numbers have been revealed to have great significance such as seven—representing completion of purposes; 40, representing times of judgment and 70, indicative of a generational shift into another spiritual dynamic. Another very significant number is three, used repeatedly to represent the sublime work of the cross that covers the spectrum of death to Resurrection realities. Recently, the Lord has begun to highlight the third day and third-day realities evidenced by the cross.

There are many powerful third-day scriptures and passages that have been endued with a prophetic view to future events, apart from their fulfillment in their time. One such passage is Exodus 19:11, where the Lord told Moses to consecrate the people to get them ready for the third day when He would come down to them.

“So on the third day, in the morning, there was thunder and lightning, and a thick cloud on the mountain, and the sound of an exceedingly loud trumpet. All the people who were in the camp trembled” (Ex. 19:16).

Similarly, in Joshua 1:11, the Lord told Joshua to tell the people to prepare and consecrate themselves, for in three days they would cross over into the promised land. After three days, the priesthood and the ark of the covenant led the way across the Jordan as the waters parted before them.

At another notable time, when the people of Israel faced a crisis of their annihilation, God raised up Esther as queen to make an appeal before the king. Despite the possibility of death, Esther prevailed. The king granted her favor to decree the destruction of the enemies of the people of God, and Israel was saved.

“On the third day, Esther put on her royal apparel and positioned herself in the king’s palace courtyard so that she would be directly in line with the part of the king’s throne room where the king sat facing the entrance of the room on his royal throne in the royal hall” (Esth. 5:1).

Again, at another notable time, when Israel sinned in disobedience to God’s ordinances and departed from His ways, judgment was decreed upon them. They were taken captive by their enemies and went into exile. Through Hosea the prophet, God brought a charge against the nation, declaring that there was no truth, mercy or knowledge in them, that they were destroyed for lack of knowledge (Hos. 4:6a). God decided to hide Himself, with the intention that in their affliction, they would earnestly seek Him (Hos. 5:15). The cry then came through Hosea:

“Come, let us return to the Lord, for He has torn, and He will heal us. He has struck, and He will bind us up. After two days He will revive us. On the third day He will raise us up, that we may live before Him. Let us know, let us press on to know the Lord. His appearance is as sure as the dawn. He will come to us like the rain; like the spring rains He will water the earth” (Hos. 6:1-3).

In Jesus’ time, He became very angry at what was taking place in His Father’s house, and He drove the money changers out of the temple. Because of this, the people demanded a sign as to the authority by which he could do such a thing, and Jesus answered them:

“Jesus answered them, ‘Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.’ Then the Jews said, ‘It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?’ But He was speaking concerning the temple of His body” (John 2:19-21).

Jesus was not only referring to His body that would be resurrected after His crucifixion, but He was also referring to the house of God that would be built in His name on the foundation of His life. Jesus was the firstfruit of many who would be fashioned and conformed in His image—a house of living stones built within three days.

“We heard Him say, ‘I will destroy this temple made with hands, and within three days I will build another not made with hands'” (Mark 14:58).

In the book of Peter, he taught that a thousand years were as one day to the Lord. Could it be we have arrived at the time of the morning of the third day after the Resurrection?

“But by the same word, the heavens and the earth that now exist are being reserved for fire, kept for the Day of Judgment and destruction of the ungodly. But, beloved, do not be ignorant of this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow concerning His promise, as some count slowness. But He is patient with us, because He does not want any to perish, but all to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat. The earth also and the works that are in it will be burned up” (2 Pet. 3:7-10).

Have we arrived at the most notable moment of history when, as with Moses on the third day after a time of consecration, God said He would come down? Or a time like Joshua when God told the people to consecrate themselves, and on the third day, they would cross over into the promised land—for us, the promised land of the millennial reign of Christ?

Are we in the time that Hosea prophesied of when God would revive Israel after two days and raise them up on the third day? A time when with the outpouring of the latter rain …Continue reading.

Listen to this episode of The Sound of the Trumpet on Charisma Podcast Network. {eoa}

Faith Marie Baczko is the president of Headstone Ministries International—a ministry that is rich and robust in the purposes and plans of God. She is a prophetic teacher and author, bringing significant revelation to mobilize, equip and strengthen the body of Christ for this momentous hour of history. Faith is an international speaker and has garnered enduring relationships with leaders united in passion for truth and enduring Revival. Faith is an author of several books, including A Rising Called For! and The Arising Army of God. Contact her or support her ministry at [email protected]. By supporting this work, you help this ministry to keep bringing you these timely messages.

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