We have been told there is a “World Week” and before creation there was no time, and this is called the “Olam Haba” or “World to Come.” Creation came in year one, beginning on Tishri 1 of the Jewish Civil calendar, which will become known as Rosh Ha Shannah or “Head of the Year.”
This begins a period called the “Olam Ha Zeh” or “This Present Age.” This period will last 6000 years (Year 1 to 6000). Then we come to a 1000 year reign of Messiah called the “Atid Lavo” meaning “The Future Age or Coming.” It goes from 6001 to year 7000. This is also called the Messianic Kingdom, the Millennium, the Sabbath of God or Day of the Lord. At the end of this time period, time is done away with and we are back in the Olam Haba. The way to think of this is in between the Olam Haba (eternity before time) and the Olam Haba (eternity after time) there is a “parenthesis” of 7000 years (the World Week).
The Olam Ha Zeh or “Present Age” is a time period of 6000 years (Matt 24) and it is divided into three 2000 year periods according to Jewish eschatology. The first category of 2000 years is called “Tohu” meaning “destruction or desolation.” It goes from year one to the year 2000. Remember that the world was “tohu” (desolate or void) in Gen 1.2. Then from year 2000 to year 4000 there is a time period is called “Torah” meaning “instruction. Then the third 2000 year period is called the “Yom’ot Mashiach” or “Days of the Messiah” and it goes from year 4000 to year 6000. This concept is very interesting because if we count the years from creation to the coming of Yeshua it is 4000 years. The last 2000 years are called the Days of the Messiah in Jewish eschatology, and that is literally what happened.
Spiritually, we go through the same process. We start out “void” and without understanding or “tohu” when we come into the world. Then we receive instruction (Torah) and that instruction should lead us to Yeshua as Messiah or “Yom’ot Mashiach” (Days of the Messiah-Rom 10.4). Then we wait on the promises to come, which is the Atid Lavo. So, let’s look at the Atid Lavo (future age or coming) in part, with more details later.
This last 1000 year period begins on a “Yom Ha Din” or “Day of Judgment” and goes for 1000 years. This day of judgment is Tishri 1 or Yom Teruah (Day of the Awakening Blast of the Shofar-Num 29.1) which is also known today as Rosh Ha Shannah (Head of the Year). This day applies to those on earth and in heaven.
In heaven, the Messianic Kingdom will begin with the coronation of Messiah (Dan 7.9-10, 13-14). The wedding of the Messiah will take place in heaven and this is called the “Shavuah L’Chupah” or “the Seven of the Chupah” (which in this case will be seven years). The resurrection of the righteous and the gathering of the righteous (Natzal) will take place then and will attend the coronation and the wedding (why the righteous will be raised).
This Yom Ha Din on Tishri 1 is also a “Day of Judgment” for the Rashim (wicked). Another Yom Ha Din will occur seven years later on Yom Kippur. Messiah Yeshua will return to earth after the seven year birth-pains (tribulation), and he will establish the Kingdom of God on earth, moving his throne from heaven (where he has been reigning for seven years) to the earth. In a picture of this, David moved his throne from Hebron (a type of Heaven) to Jerusalem after seven years in 2 Sam 5.5. The day Yeshua returns will be a Yom Kippur, year 6008 (Matt 24.29-31) and the False Messiah and the False Prophet will be judged and cast into the Lake of Fire (Rev 19.11-21). The Rashim (wicked) are slain and Satan is bound for the remainder of the 1000 years.
The birth-pains have concluded on earth. This period is called the “Chevlai Shell Mashiach” (Birth-pains of the Messiah) and it goes for seven years, just like the wedding in heaven is seven years. These two periods run concurrently. This period will include the destruction of Babylon (USA) and the rise of the False Messiah. At the conclusion of the seven years the Messiah begins his reign on earth after he returns.
At the end of the Atid Lavo (1000 years) Satan is released for a short time and he is defeated for all time. The wicked dead experience a final judgment, which will be a Yom Ha Din (day of Judgment), and it is called the Second Death. They are cast into the Lake of Fire where the False Messiah and the False Prophet have been. After this comes the Olam Haba (the World to Come) and the last “new heaven and new earth” (there have been several as we shall see). Time and death will not exist any longer.
Isa 65.17-20 describes the Atid Lavo (Messianic Kingdom) where we have sin and death. However, Rev 21.1-4 tells us about the Olam Haba where the former things (sin and death) have passed away. Notice that both of these periods are described as a “new heaven and a new earth” but they are two different time periods in the Jewish concept of eschatology. That brings us to the different phases of the “new heavens and earth.” So, let’s look at that concept. We have the first heavens and earth that went from Tishri 1, year 1, to the fall of Adam (not very long). Man and creation changed after that and that’s why both need to be redeemed. Then after Adam sinned to the flood of Noah we have the second heavens and earth. The third heavens and earth is what we have today. It goes from the flood of Noah to the beginning of the Atid Lavo. The fourth heavens and earth goes through the Atid Lavo (beginning on Tishri 1, year 6001 to the end of the Atid Lavo or Messianic Kingdom (Isa 65.17-20). At the end of that period we have the fifth heavens and earth at the beginning of the Olam Haba when all creation is restored (1 Cor 15.24-28, Rev 21.1-4) beginning on Tishri 1, year 7001. We are traveling in a giant circle which has different phases (forward to the past).
So, we have a concept of time that covers 6000 years and then a 1000 year period called the “Day of the Lord” (2 Pet 3.8-10). We see this in the first verse in Genesis 1.1. There are seven words in that verse, and the fourth and sixth word is a word that alludes to the Messiah. This alludes to the Messiah coming in year 4000 and year 6000. If we count from the beginning of creation we will have the coming of Yeshua around the year 4000 (four days). He will come again at the end of the 6000 years (six days). The last 1000 year period is the Day of the Lord which is also called the Atid Lavo, the Millennium, the Messianic Kingdom, the Seventh Day or “Sabbath of God.”
Remember, the sun was placed in the heavens on the fourth day (Gen 1.14-19) and the Messiah is seen in Scripture as the “sun” (a metaphor) in Psa 19.4-5; Mal 4.2 and Isa 30.26. Here are some other pictures of “four” in the Scriptures. There was 40 days of rain but Noah was safe in the Ark. Israel spent 40 years in the wilderness and were safe. Moses spent 40 days on Sinai several times in a supernatural environment. Elijah went 40 days without food in 1 Kings 19.8. Yeshua fasted for 40 days in the wilderness. There are 400 “silent years” between the last of the prophets to Yeshua. Isaac was 40 when he married Rebecca. Judah (tribe of Yeshua) is the fourth son of Leah, and we could go on and on. We need to watch for the number four in Scripture to see what is being communicated.
Here are some pictures of the number six. Isaac was 60 when Jacob was born. Noah was 600 when the flood came. Zebulon (to dwell) was the sixth son of Leah. There were six steps to the throne of Solomon (2 Chr 9.18-19). This alludes to the 6000 years and then the throne of Yeshua. Slaves served six years then set free (Exo 21.2). Leah had six sons (Gen 29.31 to 30.21). There were six days and then a wedding in Cana (John 1.19 to 2.1), which is another picture of the 6000 years and then a wedding in heaven. Yeshua waited six days then raises Lazarus (John 11.6, 39). This also alludes to the 6000 years and then a resurrection. 600,000 leave Egypt, and there are 600,000 letters in the Torah. Nebuchadnezzar’s image was 60 x 6 x 6. These are just a few examples of the concept of four and six. These are all in relation to the number seven or completion.
In Part 7, we will pick up with the eschatological pictures of the number seven. As we move on, keep all the concepts in mind as we develop the concept of the Natzal (Rapture).
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