A New Book Opened
Joseph Herrin

I am writing this on the first day of the Feast of Tabernacles, also called the Feast of Ingathering. This seems appropriate since it deals with God gathering His elect, His remnant together to their respective places of association. We are entering a new time. We have been in the fiery furnace of affliction, as those things that have bound us have been burned away, and now we are being brought out of the furnace and promotion will be ours even as it was for Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah (Shadrack, Meshack, and Abednego).

Many of God’s saints have been going through the most difficult trials of their lives and they have wondered when it will ever end. These same sons and daughters have had many precious promises spoken to them from God. Yet, rather than seeing the promises fulfilled, it seems their lives have taken an opposite turn where it would seem that they are cut-off, forsaken, despised, little cared for, and far removed from the promises and blessings of God. This has always been God’s pattern for promotion and for blessing.

Joseph as a young man was given dreams of his future calling. He then spent years where it seems that everything conspired to cause him to doubt that such a calling would ever be realized. Yet he remained faithful to God throughout all his dark days.

David similarly had his calling made known as a youth when Samuel poured the oil over his head and declared him to be the Lord’s anointed. He then spent years in exile, fleeing for his life and despised and rejected even by his own family. He too remained faithful in his trials.

In these last days God has need of many sons and daughters to walk in tremendous kingdom authority, having His glory revealed in and through them. This place of honor is given to those who prove themselves faithful. God has therefore been taking many through trials at this time. God has been proving them, refining them, molding them, and making them fit vessels as they undergo His crucible of testing.

Where are we in this process? God has spoken to me that we are at the same point that David was at right before coming into the position of ruling that had been revealed to him so many years earlier. We are leaving Ziklag and heading to Hebron. Listen to God’s revelation through the life of David.

David typifies those whom God is bringing forth in this hour perhaps more than any other Biblical character. In Revelation 12 it speaks of a man child that is born and is caught up to the throne of God. This symbolism typifies ruling and reigning with God. David was also God’s appointed ruler and he was faithful before God. David’s darkest hour came right before he received the kingdom authority promised him. In similar manner, we are told in Revelation 12 that the great dragon waited to devour the man child that was being birthed, but God delivered the man child from his jaws. The greatest threat is right before kingdom authority is given.

David’s darkest moment was at Ziklag. The story is recorded in I Samuel chapters 29 and 30. David had been fleeing from Saul for years and eventually he had to leave his own country and live in the land of the Philistines. He and the 600 men who joined themselves to him lived in Ziklag with their wives, children and possessions. At this time war arose between Israel and Philistia and David and his men went to join themselves to the armies of the Philistines, but they were rebuffed and rejected for the Philistines were afraid David and his men would turn on them and fight against them. David and his men were sent back to their home in Ziklag.

When they arrived they found that Ziklag had been raided and their town had been burned and their families and possessions had been taken captive. We are told that David and his men wept until they could weep no more. This was David’s darkest day. His men blamed him and some even spoke of stoning him. Years after he had received the promise of kingdom authority he found himself rejected by his own people, living as an exile, distrusted by the inhabitants of the land he lived among, and now all that he had and held dear was taken from him.

Many questioned David and asked him where was the God whom he trusted in. Many mocked his faith in a loving and faithful God. Where was his God now? Why hadn’t his God protected his wife and children and possessions while he was gone? If God was for him, why did it look like he was the world’s greatest loser and victim?

Many of God’s children are in a similar position today. They have hoped and trusted in God and it seems that one evil thing after another has befallen them. Hope has been crushed and great darkness has entered their lives and souls. Yet in all of this they have not let go of their trust in God. As Peter said, "Where else shall we go? You alone have the words of eternal life."

We read that David strengthened himself in the Lord and then put on the priestly ephod and inquired of God as to whether they should pursue and get back their families and possessions. God answered that they would surely recover all. David’s men were already weary from their trip. Added to this was the weakness from the deep emotions they experienced at finding their city burned and all they had to be captured. A third of David’s men could not go to the battle to recover their families and possessions. Despair and fatigue had so overcome them. David told them to stay and watch the baggage for them. When all was recovered David declared that these who stayed with the baggage would share equally with those who went to the battle.

David had learned compassion by experiencing the extreme depths of sorrow and despair that he had gone through. He had pity on those who could go on no further. In similar way, God has been teaching us compassion through the things we have been enduring. We can understand the despair and hopelessness of others as we have endured our own darkness. Those who are granted kingdom authority must know compassion for the weaknesses of others. Even when God must judge mankind, His mercy and love are always present. God will use those who are being raised up today to proclaim the judgment of God upon the household of God and upon the world, but they must not forget mercy and compassion in doing so.

As God has taken His children through the fires of affliction and testing some have reached a point of not being able to continue further. Let these have hope. Those who stay with the baggage will receive the same reward as those who have gone to the battle.

I know that my own Ziklag experience is not unusual. Many are going through similar trials. For many of us it seems as if our homes have been burned and we have nothing left there. The place we had been dwelling and living has been taken from us. For many this speaks of the church they had been a part of. For some it speaks of relationships with family and friends. For some it speaks of the physical place they had been dwelling. God has allowed our Ziklag’s to be burned. There is no remaining there. There is nothing to go back to but a charred ruin. But, like David, God is using this to cause us to inquire of God where He would have us go next.

II Samuel 2:1

Then it came about afterwards that David inquired of the LORD, saying, "Shall I go up to one of the cities of Judah?" And the LORD said to him, "Go up." So David said, "Where shall I go up?" And He said, "To Hebron."

(NAS)

It has been prophesied that the year 2000 would be a year of tremendous separation, as well as a year of joining together. Sometimes God brings a separation through means as traumatic as David experienced at Ziklag. For many it seems that the life they have had has gone up in smoke. There is nothing left of it. But God is not leaving us there. He will take us to the place where we will be joined together according to His wisdom and design. For those who have been in exile and have experienced separation from brothers and sisters, family and friends, this should come as welcome news.

While in my Ziklag experience, God told me to study the name of the place David went next. He was instructed to go to Hebron. Hebron comes from the Hebrew word "Chebron" which is Strongs’ word 2275. The word means "seat of association."

This Hebrew word is further derived from "Cheber" (Strongs’ 2267) which means "a society, a company" and it is closely related to "Chebar (Strongs 2269) meaning "an associate, a companion, a fellow."

After all the rending of separation this past year (and longer for some) God has a place of association for His children. God desires that we be joined together in a society of companions and fellow saints whom He has appointed for us. As David did at Ziklag, we are to inquire of God as to where He would join us. Rest assured that as He answered David with a specific destination, so will He do for us.

This is where we are at. Our Ziklags have gone up in smoke. There is no remaining in these places. God would have us to inquire where we are to go now. He will speak and He will show us clearly who our companions and associates are to be. He will guide us to our Hebron, our place of association.

A final thought that God gave me on this is that the burning of Ziklag and the dark days that attended this are recorded at the end of I Samuel. However, David’s inquiry of where to go next and his ascension to the throne are recorded at the beginning of II Samuel. A division occurs in David’s experience and it is marked by a new book being opened.

In the same way God is closing one book in the lives of His children and He is opening a new book. This new book will be one of kingdom authority. The former book was the story of the preparation for this authority. If David’s life ended with the close of I Samuel he would have been to be pitied. For many of God’s saints, if our lives closed now there would seem to be cause for great pity. But a new book is being opened. God is turning the page and eye has not seen nor ear heard what God has in store for those who love Him.

Be encouraged.

The Third Day and the Seventh Day
Joseph Herrin

bherrin@hotmail.com

(3-13-2000)
We are entering a new day, the third day since Christ and the seventh day since Adam. Peter speaks of each thousand years of man being as a day in God’s timetable in the following verse.

II Peter 3:8
But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. (NAS)

David also speaks of this correlation in the Psalms.

Psalms 90:4
For a thousand years in Thy sight are like yesterday when it passes by, or as a watch in the night. (NAS)

It has been 6,000 years since Adam and 2,000 years since Christ first appeared on the earth. Therefore, six days and two days have transpired. We are now entering the 7th day since Adam and the 3rd day since Christ. The scriptures say much about the 3rd and 7th days, and those who would discern the times should study well these passages.

In the scriptures those who have discerning of the times are praised and those who have failed in discerning the times are derided. God tells us to be wise and discern the times.

I Chronicles 12:32

And of the sons of Issachar, men who understood the times, with knowledge of what Israel should do... (NAS)

Esther 1:13

Then the king said to the wise men who understood the times... (NAS)

Matthew 16:2_3

2 But He answered and said to them, "When it is evening, you say, 'It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.'

3 "And in the morning, 'There will be a storm today, for the sky is red and threatening. 'Do you know how to discern the appearance of the sky, but cannot discern the signs of the times? (NAS)

It is wise men who will discern the times and who will then know if it is time for fair weather, or for a storm. So what are some of the things that are spoken of for the 3rd and the 7th days that are now upon us?

Genesis 1:9_13

9 Then God said, "Let the waters below the heavens be gathered into one place, and let the dry land appear"; and it was so.

10 And God called the dry land earth, and the gathering of the waters He called seas; and God saw that it was good.

11 Then God said, "Let the earth sprout vegetation, plants yielding seed, and fruit trees bearing fruit after their kind, with seed in them, on the earth"; and it was so.

12 And the earth brought forth vegetation, plants yielding seed after their kind, and trees bearing fruit, with seed in them, after their kind; and God saw that it was good.

13 And there was evening and there was morning, a third day. (NAS)

The third day is a day of gathering and of unveiling and resurrection. It is also a time of harvest. As the waters were gathered together into one place, so will this day be a day of great gathering together. Both those who are evil and those who are righteous will be gathered together to their own groups. A distinction will be made between them even as was made between the water and the dry land, as between the Egyptians and the Israelites who lived in the land of Goshen.

As the dry land emerged out of the water and stood above it, so shall a resurrection once again take place on the third day. This is further signified in Hosea.

Hosea 6:1_2

1 "Come, let us return to the LORD. For He has torn us, but He will heal us; He has wounded us, but He will bandage us.

2 "He will revive us after two days; He will raise us up on the third day That we may live before Him. (NAS)

From the first advent of Christ mankind has been torn. As the Holy Spirit came and brought forth new life and many were born again of the Spirit, being quickened in their own spirit, a tearing took place. Mankind is comprised of spirit, soul, and a fleshly body. We are told that "in our flesh dwells no good thing" (Romans 7:18), but that "the inner man (spirit man) joyfully concurs with the rule of God" (Romans 7:22).

Paul makes an excellent case in both Romans 7 and Galatians 5 that, since being born again spiritually ("that which is born of the Spirit is spirit"), mankind has entered into a fractured existence where endless war is waged in our members.

Romans 7:21_24

21 I find then the principle that evil is present in me, the one who wishes to do good.

22 For I joyfully concur with the law of God in the inner man,

23 but I see a different law in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind, and making me a prisoner of the law of sin which is in my members.

24 Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death? (NAS)

Galatians 5:17

For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please. (NAS)

For two thousand years man has been in this fractured and torn state of being. For two days in God’s timetable man has known the struggle between the spirit and the flesh and the war has raged in the soul of man. The flesh has desired to rule and reign and to gain the upper hand in man’s soul, and the spirit too has sought to have ascendancy. Those who have walked according to the spirit have had to keep the soul in subjection and have had to rule over the passions of the flesh. The struggle has been relentless, but we are told that after two days of being torn, on the third day we will be revived, healed, bandaged, and we will live in His sight (Hosea 6:1, 2).

This hope is expressed in many places in scripture.

Romans 8:19_23

19 For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God.

20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope

21 that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God.

22 For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now.

23 And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body. (NAS)

Paul spoke of anxiously awaiting the redemption of our body. There is a groaning inside of us as we have desired to walk in a manner pleasing to the Father, but always realizing that we are robed in sinful flesh that always sets its desires on evil and wickedness. This is the futility spoken of that has entered creation. There has seemed to be no end to this struggle, but even as there was an initial salvation that caused new life to appear within us in the inner man of our spirit, so there is a further salvation promised that will put an end to our futility and will heal the breach that has arisen within mankind. No longer will he be torn, but he will be healed and made whole. This is the salvation spoken of in Hebrews 9:28.

Hebrews 9:28
so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, shall appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him. (NAS)

Yes, the very One who appeared the first time for salvation, a salvation that left us divided and torn, will appear a second time for salvation, and this time we will be made whole. The entire creation groans as it awaits these "whole" sons of God to be revealed. When will this take place? It will be on the 7th day for the 7th day is a day of rest. This rest will mark the end of striving within man’s being. As Paul says in the book of Hebrews:

Hebrews 4:1_12

1 Therefore, let us fear lest, while a promise remains of entering His rest, any one of you should seem to have come short of it.

2 For indeed we have had good news preached to us, just as they also; but the word they heard did not profit them, because it was not united by faith in those who heard.

3 For we who have believed enter that rest, just as He has said, "As I swore in My wrath, they shall not enter My rest," although His works were finished from the foundation of the world.

4 For He has thus said somewhere concerning the seventh day "And God rested on the seventh day from all His works";

5 and again in this passage "They shall not enter My rest."

6 Since therefore it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly had good news preached to them failed to enter because of disobedience,

7 He again fixes a certain day, "Today," saying through David after so long a time just as has been said before, "Today if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts."

8 For if Joshua had given them rest, He would not have spoken of another day after that.

9 There remains therefore a Sabbath rest for the people of God.

10 For the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His.

11 Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall through following the same example of disobedience.

12 For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two_edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit... (NAS)

There remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God. This Sabbath is described as resting, or ceasing, from our own works. However, as with the Israelites of old, not everyone is guaranteed to enter into this rest. Some because of disobedience and unbelief will be disqualified. Paul tells his readers to "be diligent", to "strive" to enter into this rest. It is not a gimme. It is not automatic to all those who have been born of the Spirit of God. What is this sabbath rest that some will fall short of?

We know that all things in the Old Testament were written for us as examples that we might be instructed. Because of unbelief most of those who came out of the bondage of Egypt did not enter into the promised land of their inheritance. They failed to become possessors of that which was promised to them. Instead, they lived out their existence in a wilderness and never partook of all that was available to them.

In the same way, many of the saints of God have been delivered from the bondage of sin through the blood of Jesus Christ. Even as the death angel passed over those who had the blood of the lamb applied to their doors, so too all those who have trusted in the blood sacrifice of Jesus Christ have been spared from the penalty of their sins. However, these have not yet entered into the promise that has been set forth before them. The promise to Israel was a land flowing with milk and honey. What is the promise to the saint of God today?

David describes our promised inheritance in this way:

Psalms 16:5_6
5 The LORD is the portion of my inheritance and my cup; Thou dost support my lot.

6 The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places; indeed, my heritage is beautiful to me. (NAS)

When Joshua led the Israelites into their inheritance the people first surveyed the land and marked out its boundaries. They then cast lots to see who would get what portion of the land. David, in a beautiful poetic analogy, says that when it came time for the lot to be cast for him and for his portion of the inheritance to be revealed that God supported him. The boundary lines of his portion fell in the most pleasant of places and he was given a beautiful heritage. What was this heritage? In verse 5 he says that his portion and inheritance was the LORD Himself.

In the same way all those who come out of the bondage of sin are invited to enter into their inheritance and fully possess it. This inheritance is Jesus Himself. Even as boundary lines described the land of promise to the Israelites, the names of God describe the inheritance that awaits the saints. Multitudes know Jesus as Savior. They have participated in Passover and have applied the blood to the door of their hearts. But do they know Him fully as He offers Himself to them?

Jesus is also Jehovah Shalom - God our Peace. Have they striven to enter in and possess this portion of their inheritance? Jesus is Jehovah Jireh - God our Provider. Have they driven the enemies out of the land to possess this portion of the inheritance? Jesus is Jehovah Rapha - God our Healer. He is Jehovah Nissi - God our Banner. He is Jehovah Makkodesh - God our Sanctifier. And on and on His names describe the land of our inheritance.

Sadly, many Christians are content to view their inheritance from a distance. They do not want to face the giants and overcome the walled cities required to go in and possess their inheritance. They are content with manna in the wilderness when they could have the land of milk and honey.

The seventh day is the day marked for entering into the Sabbath rest of God which describes our inheritance. How many saints today will enter in? When Christ returns will He find faith on the earth? It is said that many are called, but few are chosen. Yes, this will be a day of great separation as God makes a distinction between those who please Him and those who don’t. Without faith it is impossible to please God.

As we enter this 3rd and 7th day we will find multitudes in the valley of decision. God will purify the church. Some will offer themselves willingly as a freewill offering and they will be offered as incense, a sweet savor arising to the nostrils of God. But many more will be purified against their will. These will not be offered as incense to God. There will be nothing pleasing in their aroma before God. These will also suffer great loss of reward and they will even be restricted from the presence of God and of His most holy things (See the book "The Remnant Bride" on my website for a further explanation of these things).

The 3rd and the 7th days are both symbolic of cleansing and purifying as is indicated in the following scriptures.

Numbers 19:11_12, 19-20

11 'The one who touches the corpse of any person shall be unclean for seven days.

12 'That one shall purify himself from uncleanness with the water on the third day and on the seventh day, and then he shall be clean; but if he does not purify himself on the third day and on the seventh day, he shall not be clean...

19 'Then the clean person shall sprinkle on the unclean on the third day and on the seventh day; and on the seventh day he shall purify him from uncleanness, and he shall wash his clothes and bathe himself in water and shall be clean by evening.

20 'But the man who is unclean and does not purify himself from uncleanness, that person shall be cut off from the midst of the assembly, because he has defiled the sanctuary of the LORD; the water for impurity has not been sprinkled on him, he is unclean. (NAS)

We are entering both the 3rd and the 7th day and it will be doubly a day of cleansing. The tribulation period is at the door and it is described as the day of the Lord’s wrath. It is not the day of Satan’s wrath, nor is it the day of man’s wrath. It is the day of God’s wrath.

Malachi 3:2_3

2 "But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner's fire and like fullers' soap.

3 "And He will sit as a smelter and purifier of silver, and He will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, so that they may present to the LORD offerings in righteousness. (NAS)

There are those who have freely offered themselves to God. There is a remnant today that have responded to God’s invitation and have allowed Him to purify and refine them and they have gone through the furnace of affliction and great grace has been theirs because they freely responded to the invitation to be refined. God has been with them and has upheld them and strengthened them as He has led them through trials and great difficulties. These will soon know the wisdom of their decision. It is better to fall on the rock than to have the rock fall on you.

Matthew 21:44

"And he who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; but on whomever it falls, it will scatter him like dust." (NAS)

Jesus has been standing in the fiery lake of refining with His arms outstretched asking if any will come and join Him. Multitudes have stood in the distance and splashed around in the cool, clear streams coming down from the mountains. They have frolicked and laughed and spoken of prosperity and blessing, but few have been willing to leave the cool streams and join the Lord in the fiery lake. Would you not rather be with the Lord, even if He is leading you through the furnace of cleansing, than to be in a blessed land where He is not there? The hour of freely responding to His invitation is nearly over. Soon all will be cleansed, but the opportunity to come freely will have passed by.

Much is at stake in this day and hour. Jesus is calling forth His bride to respond to His summons, but like Vashti in the book of Esther she is refusing the summons. Vashti’s fate will also be the fate of much of the church. She will lose the honor of being the bride of the king and she will be banned from appearing in His presence. Another who is more worthy will then be sought out.

As a Christian are you enjoying the honor and privilege of being betrothed to the King, but are you failing in obedience when He calls? Let those who are wise and who discern the times know that the hour is already passed for such disregard of the Lordship of Christ. Multitudes, multitudes are in the valley of decision.

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