Resurrection on the Third Day

When Cometh That Thief in the Night - Directory
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The number three signifies resurrection. While it may be immediately apparent that our Lord Jesus Christ - Y'shua HaMashiach was raised from the dead on the third day, I suspect you will be as surprised as I had been to learn just how thoroughly the number three is associated with resurrection! The connection is so prominent in the Bible I can hardly believe it has been so overlooked! This feature is a testament to the Lord's wondrous ability to conceal and then reveal. As I began to investigate this phenomenon after seeing the first glimmer of the vast truth of it, it seemed like I was pulling a thread and watching the prophetic fabric of the scriptures unravel. I gained insight into many prophetic scenarios that had previously been hidden from my view. In some of these newly discovered cryptic scenarios, I found symbols I had learned in other studies, further validating their authenticity. In all I learned additional prophetic symbols, extending my vocabulary of code words, if you will. The consistency in application of this prophetic vocabulary affirms its function as a decryption key, a valuable means of deciphering the messages intended for our learning.

In this study you will discover that in most places, and, perhaps even all cases, a reference to the third day or to a third occurrence in a series exposes the theme of resurrection that exists on or below the surface of the text. An awareness of this link between resurrection and the number three is essential to understanding much of the revelation of the end times.

To begin, consider the following features.

• Three people raised from the dead in the Old Testament. (I Kings 17:21-22, II Kings 4:16-36 and 13:21)
• Three people Jesus raised from the dead during his earthly ministry ( Luke 7:15, 8:41-55, John 11:43-44)
• Three words spoken with the result of resurrection in John 11:43-44 - Three Greek words translated: "Lazarus, come out!"
• Three Feasts that are specifically harvest or resurrection feasts (Deuteronomy 16:16 * side bar)

Such as these are the rule. Consider the following examples.

Of course, the Lord could have had Elijah raise the widow's son without any repetition or mention of a number, but what is recorded is true and the wise receive its instruction. I make the same point about Eutychus' fall from the third story to his death and subsequent resurrection.

The Third Day of the Week

It seems appropriate to clarify from the outset what is meant by the word "day." Depending upon the context it can refer to a literal 24 hour day, and, figuratively, to a year, or even to a period of a thousand years. (Psalm 90:4, 2 Peter 3:8) The phrase "third day" thus has a variety of meanings. One or more of the following may apply.

• After the second day but before the fourth - the third day of the week
• The third year of a cycle like a Shemittah or Yobel (Sabbath or Jubilee)
• The third millennium - the years 2000-2999 from Adam

These specific units of time usually relate to the seven unit cycle we call a week.

Third Day Resurrection Scenarios

Every resurrection from the dead rests upon the resurrection of our Lord as its foundation, for without his victory over death no other could be rescued from its grasp. He established the pattern for every resurrection - including His rising on the third day. For this reason, I begin the body of this study with references to our Lord's resurrection on the third day.

Those passages were familiar, were they not? Now, let's consider a verse whose interpretation is understood by many to mean a day represents a thousand years. The resurrection theme should be obvious.

On the third day there will be a reviving - to life - resurrection! Most understand this third day is the seventh millennium. I will address this dual accounting of the third and seventh days later in this study.

In the following passage consider it first as it applied to our Lord himself and, then, in light of the end time symbolism present.

The Lord follows up His statement about the third day by directing us to the last days when the religious leaders of the Jews would see him again. The kind of day that He must have been talking about is a millennial day, accounted as beginning from that present time early in the fifth day of the millennial week. That day on which He reaches his goal is a resurrection day. Resurrection and what it will accomplish is His goal, and it is only by resurrection that they will see Him again. I have good news, folks! The first two days are now past and the third is upon us! As in Acts 12, Herod is a symbol of the lawless one. (This figure is referred to as a fox, so you can add this to your vocabulary of code words that refer to the lawless one.) This passage in Luke 13 is an example of the usage of "the third day" as a reference to the seventh year of the Watches in the Night. This particular end time scenario will be played out in the seventh year because by the beginning of this particular count to the third day, the fox will have already made his appearance. Note that during the first two years of this count (years five and six of the seven), "Herod" is trying to kill those following Y'shua. At that time, the activity taking place is the driving out of demons and healing people. See Revelation 13 for more insight. What a wonderful ministry to those suffering during that season of great tribulation!

The Moses Consecration

In the following third day scenario, the resurrection theme can be noted in various ways. Perhaps most obviously, the people are led out of the camp (temporary earthly encampment) to meet with God by Moses, a type of Y'shua as the deliverer whose name means, "drawing out." A mountain symbolizes a kingdom. (* side bar) The mount Sinai represents the eternal heavenly kingdom. The blowing of the trumpet is a vivid symbol of a resurrection announcement. (* side bar) Notice that the people who will be ready to go to meet with God on the third day are told how to be prepared.

1. Consecration by Moses
2. Clean garments
3. Not going near a woman

I'm going to expand upon the symbols here, symbols of wonderful truths provided for your salvation and mine!

This is the requirement model. To be consecrated by Moses is to be set apart as sacred by the work of Y'shua and those He appoints the task. In the prophetic application today, Moses is pictured in Luke 12:42-44 as "the faithful and sensible steward, whom his master will put in charge of his servants to give them their rations at the proper time." The consecration of the people is being done after the pattern of Moses where those who have received the message then go "down from the mountain to the people." The ministration of consecration is the washing of water by the Word that is the subject of the great mystery presented in Ephesians 5.

This cleansing process is the first requirement for a holy and blameless Bride to be in a state of readiness for the third day. Earlier, I had separated the requirements into three but they are really one. The clean garment is the result of the consecration. It is symbolic of a state of righteousness - of readiness for being joined with the Bridegroom.

A similar symbol is pictured in Revelation 7:14 as white robe.

To go near a woman in such a way that it prevents a "clean garment" status has a spiritual application that extends beyond the physical. A woman is a symbol of a church. Such a woman that would cause the saint being consecrated to become unrighteous is the topic of Revelation 18, who is a harlot Babylon church. You see, if there is a washing of water with the word that makes the Bride spotless, holy and blameless there is also a washing of impure water with the corrupted word that causes contamination. This pertains to both doctrine and practice. There is a matter of deception that is paramount when it comes to the state of readiness for the third day. Of the Harlot church, Revelation 18:23 reveals that "all the nations were deceived by your sorcery". It may be rightly inferred from Matthew 24:24 that all but the chosen, the elect, will absolutely be deceived. Consecration is a setting apart for the Lord in holiness, and this means that those consecrated are set apart from among those in the Babylon church. "Come out from her, my people" is the call of Revelation 18:4.

In a similar fashion, it is the woman church Babylon that is referred to regarding the 144k of Israel in Revelation 14.

The wedding at Cana on the third day pictures a third day resurrection where a Bridegroom and a Bride are joined!

And too, Mary, His mother will be there! Glory!

This next third day scenario pictures Esther as the royal bride, coming into the King's presence. This is a prophetic snapshot of The Royal Bride of Christ coming into the Bridegroom King's presence at the Bride Theft resurrection! (* side bar)

In the following scenario, the resurrection theme is displayed like as in the Iron Gate scenario by their release from prison. The prison is the bondage of this present world, being in a body of flesh and therein bound by the law of sin and death. Resurrection is seen in the words, "you will live" and that release from prison does take place on the third day! These words were spoken by Joseph, a type of Y'shua who was sent to provide the salvation for his people that is evidenced in resurrection.

Next, the resurrection theme is seen in connection with the feast for all Pharaoh's officials. (* side bar)

It is no secret that a feast or banquet accompanies a resurrection, and so does judgment. The execution of judicial decisions is seen here as one man is restored and the other is hanged. Resurrection is further pictured in the cupbearer's and chief baker's release from prison.

In the following third day scenario, the resurrection is in view as Hezekiah receives the promise that, on the third day, he will go up to the house of the Lord.

Hezekiah's healing compares to the healing that is the subject of Hosea 6:1-2. The healing of the corrupt flesh nature comes by means of resurrection!

The occasion for a resurrection can be seen in the remedy for Hezekiah's near-fatal affliction. (* side bar)

It's worth noting a couple other items in the context that relate to the times of resurrection in the last days: Babylon - Revelation 17-18, etc., and, "Peace and security" - I Thessalonians 5:3.

In the following scenario, Abraham's looking up and seeing the place in the distance signifies his view of a distant future resurrection.

Abraham himself is associated directly with resurrection in numerous passages in the gospels, one of which is Luke 16:19-31, the story of the rich man and Lazarus the beggar. The mention of his looking up occurs here and in two other places in the Bible, the total of three being the resurrection number. As with this mention, the others reveal a view of what lay beyond the lifting veil in the spiritual realm. (* side bar)

The crossing of the Jordan pictures baptism and is a resurrection scenario similar to the crossing of the Red Sea at the Exodus. Again, the three days marks it for our attention.

Jonah!

Consider some very dramatic testimony about three as a resurrection number from the book of Jonah. This first example was referenced by Y'shua as being a pattern for his death, burial and resurrection, as The Sign of Jonah.

This is an excerpt from Jonah's prophetic prayer while inside the belly/grave describing death and resurrection

Now, here is the coming out of the grave in resurrection at the conclusion of the three days and three nights, with the very common resurrection reference to the dry ground.

After Jonah had been through that experience, he obeyed the Lord's command to go to Nineveh and declare judgment. The reference to three days is here associated with the city of Nineveh.

Indeed, Jonah arose! Resurrection! But, notice, again, that the three days is connected to the city of Nineveh. There is in this an amazing reference to resurrection! Jonah's proclamation to the city, "Yet forty days and Nineveh will be overthrown" was not only a message of impending destruction, but also of resurrection! Occasions of judgment, as I wrote earlier about what happened on Pharaoh's birthday, are accompanied by a resurrection. The Nineveh judgment relates to the judgment on the church and the corresponding resurrection known as The Bride Theft.

Resurrection - skip: 187
Spanning Jonah 2:5 - 3:9 - intersecting 3:3
The other word you see marked out is a Hebrew word (chaim) meaning "life."

Now, I want to point out a notable feature from the book of Jonah. Both of the verses in Jonah that reference three days are numbered in a way that adds special emphasis to this message. They both exhibit what I call nested thirds, a doubled application of thirds. (See The Numbers Seventeen and One Hundred Fifty-Three) Consider the image showing three weeks of days. I've highlighted the third week, and within that third week I've highlighted the third day, so I've doubled the application by selecting the third of a series, twice. The count of that nested third is 17. If you scroll up to see the first reference to three days you will see it is Jonah 1:17, the seventeenth verse of the book of Jonah! Isn't that amazing! The Author does not want us to miss this lesson, and the deeper prophetic meaning of the messages about resurrection from the book of Jonah! In the "doubled third" numbering of the verse together with the three days it references we have a threefold identification! In the other verse referencing three days we have another threefold identification! The "three days' walk" is recorded in the third chapter and in the third verse! Simply amazing!

Yet another feature is the fact there are in total three occurrences of the word "three" in the book; two in Jonah 1:17 and one in Jonah 3:3. Amazing! Jonah is a resurrection prophet!

As a matter of curiosity, I played with my ELS code application and found Jonah 3:3 has another very interesting feature. The book of Jonah has two occurrences of a particular Hebrew word for resurrection, both with a yod landing in Jonah 3:3, so they "land on" and intersect in that verse to mark it with a kind of "X marks the spot." The two images show these occurrences with a green outline indicating Jonah 3:3.

Resurrection - skip: 455
Spanning Jonah 4:8 - 1:10 - intersecting 3:3

Other Thirds in Series

In the third year, Elijah, the one who was taken up in a whirlwind by the Lord, is told to go and present himself to Ahab, a type of the lawless one who plays a major role in the time of resurrection. The resurrection is pictured in the sending of rain on the land. Rain on the land after a draught causes new life to spring up. This chapter (which contains two other references to thirds) is addressed at length in the study called Elijah's God Answers by Fire.

In the context of Deuteronomy 26, the third year is known as the year of the tithe.

In harvest symbolism, the produce of the land represents God's people. This resurrection type depicts the receiving of the firstfruits of the harvest of God's people in the third year.

Many things happen three times or more in the Bible. The third in a series signals a resurrection theme. Earlier I gave the examples of the widow's son raised when Elijah stretched himself over the boy three times, and, when Eutychus fell three stories to his death before Paul stretched himself on him and he came to life. Here are some more examples.

Speaking of releasing him from the death penalty, what is that, really, but a reference to resurrection? And of course, Y'shua had to be released; as it is written:

The following needs little commentary, especially if you're familiar with the prophetic subject of the whole of this remarkable twenty-first chapter of John.

In the remarkable scenario of Peter's vision of the Gentile era in Acts 10, the resurrection is evidenced as the large sheet containing the previously unclean animals representing the largely Gentile church was pulled up to heaven the third time. Note also that the number of men sent to Peter is the resurrection number. Many additional trios are mentioned in the study called Peter's Vision of the Gentile Age

The Third Verses of the Thirteenth Chapters of Revelation and John

There is a baptism coming that is after the pattern of the genuine baptism of Y'shua the genuine Mashiach, but it will be a counterfeit. Baptism is a death and resurrection symbol (See Baptism - The Prophecy and The Sign for the Bride - Part 1) In the following passage of scripture, we see a view of this counterfeit baptism in verse one as the beast is seen coming up out of the sea, and, in keeping with the theme of this study we find the more direct reference to the resurrection implicit in baptism in the third verse!

The whole earth was amazed and followed after the beast because this event that is also a sign to the world and worldly will come forth in an exhibition of supernatural power. It won't be a genuine resurrection event, as we see the head appointed for this aspect of the sign is seen "as if it had been slain," which is to say it was not actually slain and therefore in reality dead. The event is a faking and masquerading, yes, accompanied by signs and wonders, but lying signs and wonders, plenty convincing enough for most folks to take the flashy bait and swallow the barbed hook.

The companion chapter to Revelation 13 exhibits a similar phenomenon in the third verse. John 13 shows the last supper with a central theme being the revealing of Judas as the betrayer. This is a vivid and electrifying prophetic scenario detailing the revealing of the lawless one. This is exactly what is pictured above in the "sister" chapter Revelation 13 as the beast coming out of the sea. Both books are attributed to John "the Revelator," as given by the Lord Y'shua.

The Seventh Day is a Third Day

There are two different points for beginning the count of weekdays. The obvious place to start is at the very beginning of a week, but yet we find many of the passages that refer to the third day indicate that the third is also the seventh day. Thus, a second point at which to begin counting must be acknowledged. This other starting point is at the division between the fourth and fifth days. In this alternate perspective, the seventh day is truly another third day. This overlapping count feature is similar to how the first day and the eighth day (weekly cycle) and the first and forty-ninth or fiftieth days (Yobel) are considered as one and the same.

I will show that by example shortly, but to establish the validity of the second start point I will point out something quite remarkable. If you consider where the second starting point fell in the millennial week you will see the significance of this remarkable model, as the history of the world pivots about that very point! At the very close of the fourth millennium from the first man Adam, another Adam appeared; Y'shua. It is from the appearance of this latter Adam (1 Corinthians 15:45-47) that the count of days began anew. Our Gregorian calendar acknowledges that very time in history as its focal point, pivoting about it by counting forward from it with the notation A. D. (Anno domini - In the year of the Lord) and backwards from it with the notation B.C.! (Before Christ) Yes - truly, there are two points from which to begin counting in a week!

This second starting point is identified as the 4/3 split in the study: The Threefold Model of great Sevens.

The Purification Ritual

I'd like to show you how the third and the seventh days are very specially bound together in the context of resurrection. A close look at the purification ritual will afford us some rare insight.

The above mentioned purifying water is a symbol of resurrection. Since the problem has to do with dead bodies, the purification ritual's "resurrection" solution makes a lot of sense! This water was actually mixed with special ashes, made in accordance with the following verse. Each of the seven items distinctly listed as being burned are shadows of The One who was the ultimate burnt sacrifice, sacrificed to cleanse us wholly.

Ashes are what remains after something has been entirely burned, and, like dust, represent the sum and substance of the flesh. Consider the following verses in this regard. (See also Jeremiah 17:13 and John 4:10)

As a general symbol then, ashes represent the humble status of the flesh, wherein dwells no "real" life. The ashes require water as a symbol of resurrection just as the dry bones of Israel in Ezekiel 37 require "breath" ("ruwach") to come to life. The addition of fresh water to the ashes of the burnt sacrifice is a symbol of the resurrection of Y'shua.

This is the "water" that must be applied to others, serving to identify them with Y'shua in his death and resurrection - a matter very similar to baptism.

Now, make note that this symbolic resurrection ritual must be done for the unclean person on both the third and seventh days. So, in this purification ritual we have a clear correlation between resurrection and the third and seventh days!

But, there's another interesting link I'd like to present in the specific context of the famine week. There is an allusion to the purification ritual found in Haggai 2. In the following passage, notice that the priests' knowledge about the matter of contact with a dead body is tested. This refers them back to Numbers 19 and the purification ritual.

Haggai's prophecies pertain to the period immediately following The Bride Theft in the third day of the Night Watches week. The problems with Israel's defiled sacrifice will be brought to the Priests' attention. Reference to the matter of contact with a dead body directs them automatically to the Torah's solution to the problem, which is the purification ritual in Numbers 19. When they consider the solution for the dead (* side bar) problem at the "sod" level of rabbinic interpretation (the level of types and symbols) the priests will be confronted with the resurrection of Y'shua. On the basis of this recognition, those of Israel symbolized by the fig tree, pomegranate and the olive tree will begin to bear fruit where they had previously suffered loss from blight, mildew and hail. Notice how emphatically the priests are directed to consider the day when the foundation of the Lord's temple was laid in verse 18: "give careful thought to the day when the foundation of the Lord's temple was laid." Give careful thought... When they have done so they will see the resurrection of Y'shua, the very cornerstone of the foundation of the Lord's temple.

Where you find in the Bible phrases like "third day" or "third time," or find the third in a series being brought to your attention, a resurrection scenario is in view. This insight opens the door to other insights that would otherwise be missed. Remember that a day may be either mean a twenty-four hour day, a year or a millennium, and, that the seventh day is also a third day. The floodgates of insight into the fundamentals of prophecy are opening at last! Praise the Lord who reveals his wonders to his servants who seek it with their whole hearts!

In numerous other studies, I have built a case for the Bride theft being appointed for the third day of the famine week. (at the point marking two and a half sevenths, which is in the middle of the third "day") This study of the connection between resurrection and the number three illuminates the scriptural bedrock upon which that relative positioning of the Bride theft is predicated.

There are two other numbers associated with resurrection that are appropriate to mention here; the numbers 17 and 153. My attention to the number 17 came through my study of the number 153 in John 21 and later through my study of the timing of the Bride theft. These numbers 3, 17 and 153 are mathematically related to each other. For more information, see this study called The Numbers Seventeen and One Hundred Fifty-Three