THE EIGHTH DAY
ETERNAL LIFE OFFERED TO ALL
Part fourteen of fourteen in Commanded Holy Days Importance Today series
Leviticus 23:39: “So beginning with the fifteenth day of the seventh month, after you have gathered the crops of the land, celebrate the festival to the LORD for seven days [feast of Tabernacles]; the first day is a day of rest, and the eighth day is also a day of rest.”
October 12, 2017, is the current date for The Eighth Day.
Acts 4:12 is clear: “Salvation is found in no-one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men [Jesus Christ of Nazareth] by which we must be saved.”
When we point to millions of people who died without hearing the name “Jesus”, the conclusion might be that God must be a liar and Jesus failed. What is those peoples’ fate? After all, 1 Timothy 2:4 insists that God “wants all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth.”
2 Peter 3:9 adds that God is not wanting “anyone to perish but everyone to come to repentance.”
So, what’s the deal? John 7:37 gives Jesus’ speech on the last and greatest day of the Feast of Tabernacles. “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. Whoever believes in Me as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.”
This living water of God’s Holy Spirit will be available to all on the Eighth Day, the last of God’s commanded annual festivals. Jesus described a time in Matthew 11:21-34 when long-dead people from ancient cities will be raised back to life.
Within six months of that speech, Jewish leaders would pressure the Roman authorities to execute Him. People still hunger and thirst for the bread of life and living water. When will we all be refreshed by the life-giving power of God’s Spirit?
Take Home Nugget
Ezekiel 37 shows a physical resurrection of bones which the lesson linked below covers. Verses 12, 14 say, “Behold, O My people, I will open your graves…I will put My Spirit in you, and you shall live.” God will make His Spirit freely available, the life-giving Spiritual water of His Holy Spirit.
Those have never had a chance to drink of God’s Living Waters will at last be able to do so (Romans 9:22-26). John says that the first resurrection which leads to eternal life would come at Jesus’ second coming (Revelation 20:4, 6).
The second resurrection comes at the end of Christ’s millennial reign. This resurrection raises people to physical flesh and blood, but does not lead to eternal life. John covers the great white throne judgment in Revelation 20:11-13 which judges works done while people were alive.
God won’t give up on anyone! Those from by-gone generations and ancient civilizations will be raised to life and taught God’s ways. From the least to the greatest, all will know Christ and learn from whom their salvation comes (Hebrews 8:11).
God’s plan of salvation for the world, a time of love and unsearchable mercy, will flow with life-giving waters of His Holy Spirit. Those billions who died without knowing the Son of God will be raised from the dead and given an opportunity for eternal life as spirit beings in God’s kingdom.
God will see this marvelous plan through, bringing many sons to glory (Hebrews 2:10). How wonderful these Biblical Festivals are that reveal His plan to us!
Come soon, Lord Jesus!
Adapted from God’s Holy Day Plan, The Promise of Hope for All Mankind. ©1966, 1998, 2001, 2010, 2013 by the United Church of Christ. Ohio. Pgs. 46-51.
J.D. Griffith
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