In the first chapter of Genesis each of the six "days" of creation is divided into an “evening” and a “morning." The great seventh “day" of Jehovah may also be equally divided into an "evening" and a "morning." The central point of this great 7000-year day is the date Autumn 627 B.C., i.e., the end of the 49th year of the last typical cycle, and the beginning of the last typical jubilee year. This means that there were two rest-years, a Sabbath year and the last typical jubilee year, exactly in the center of the seven-thousand-year day of God's Rest. In all the "evening" period of 3500 years there was not a single antitype, only types and shadows. The "morning" period, on the other hand, is the era of antitypes. In the beginning of it there were still types, but the first antitype, namely, the great antitypical cycle of 50 x 50 years, began at the very commencement of this "morning" period.
The fact that the last pair of typical rest-years occur in the exact center of the whole 7000-year period, other symmetric chronological parallels are rendered possible. The two years of rest in the Garden of Eden are followed by the First Adam's 1000-year day, the day of condemnation for the world, the day of the loss of all things. Then, overlapping one year within the First Adam's day comes a large cycle of 2500 years. In the center there are two typical rest-years marked off. These are followed by a second large cycle of 2500 years which overlaps one year within the Last Adam's 1000-year "Day," the Day of Salvation for the world, when all that was lost in the First Adam's day of condemnation will be restored to mankind by the Second Adam.
We are reminded here of the words spoken by the prophet Habakkuk: "O Lord, revive thy work in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years make known; in wrath remember mercy" (Hab. 3:2). God's wrath or curse passed upon Adam and his descendants will not be removed until by the end of the seven thousand years the last enemy, the Adamic death, will be completely destroyed (1 Cor. 15:25, 26). At that time the restitution of man to perfection and to communion with God will be complete. In the exact center of this wrath period of 7000 years, God revived his work by instituting the "Morning" of antitypes, and so in wrath remembered mercy. In the midst of the wrath period, also, he caused his people Israel to observe the last pair of typical rest-years, and so made known to us his wondrous plan of providing two great antitypical rest-years at the end.
Not only, however, was the wonderful and merciful work of the two great antitypical rest-years at the end foreshadowed by the two typical rest-years in the center of the wrath period, but it was also typified by the two rest-years in the Garden of Eden. In the first of these years Adam was created perfect in mind and body. He had perfect faculties; but he would require learning how to use them properly. He would also require learning his environment, and thus gradually take possession of the dominion which God had given him (Gen. 1:26). Very soon, however, he began to feel a want; although the animals were obedient to Adam and useful in many ways, yet none of them was a companion meet for him (Gen. 2:20). God knew that this would be so, but he judged it best that Adam should learn his need by experience. Adam was sent into a deep sleep, and after a short season of trouble, God presented Eve to him. Though we can but faintly realize the mutual love of the perfect man and woman, still we can understand that while the first year was a time of peace and enjoyment to Adam, the second year must have been a time of much greater happiness. These two years typify certain aspects of the great rest-years at the end.
Let us now consider the two rest-years in the center of the 7000-year period. The first of these was a Sabbath year, being the 49th of the last typical cycle. During that year the Israelite's did no work on the land, and it was therefore a time of rest for the land and of rest and refreshment for the children of Abraham, the children of God (This took place every seventh year, here however they had reached the end of the 49th of these 7 year cycles, viz. 7 x 7 or 49 years). The following year, the 50th, was a jubilee, the time of the restitution of all things, and a time of great rejoicing, especially for the poor and oppressed, and latterly for all who were pure in heart. But at the beginning of that year there must have been a season of trouble. These two years foreshadow additional aspects of the great antitypical rest-years.
Continued with next post.
