Part 1
KerryAnn: Hello Everyone and Welcome to Part 1 of the bible study of Day 4 of the Story of Creation. I am your host Kerry-Ann Greenland and with me, I have my husband Kerrol Greenland. Although this is intended to be a bible study, not all the bible texts referenced will be read, or highlighted on screen. At these points we encourage you to pause the video and read these verses, so you can have a good understanding of the discussion, as we move along.
If this is your first time here, it is strongly recommended that you first watch part one about creation day 1 before you proceed with this video.
Some of the definitions, terms, and arguments mentioned in this video may seem confusing unless you are equipped with the foundational information mentioned in the first set of videos. So once again to prevent any possible confusion, it is strongly advised to watch the previous videos before watching this one.
Before we open the word, let us first pray.
Kerrol: In our previous video we concluded the study of Day 3. We looked at some of the types present in that day and we made the point that scripture often highlights types and symbols in the stories which are mentioned.
By no means are these questions exhaustive of what could be asked of the scripture. I can only share with you what has been revealed to me. I am sure there are way more things that could be uncovered, but we would need to ask the Lord to show us.
We will now attempt to do this for Day 4 of creation documented in .Gen 1: 14-19. Care to read it for me?
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Kerry-Ann: 14And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years: 15And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth: and it was so.
16And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also.
17And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth, 18And to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness: and God saw that it was good.
19And the evening and the morning were the fourth day.
Kerrol: As is customary we try to highlight what is said about the day, then we go into making applications
Kerry-Ann: So what is the summary
Kerrol: You read it, so you summarize
Kerry-Ann: Ok lets see. On the 4th day of creation God spoke the word and lights appeared in heaven (the upper firmament). He goes on to distinguish between the great light and the lesser light, and the stars. Did I miss anything?
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Kerrol: As always before we can begin to make applications, we must first clearly understand the interpretation of these verses, i.e. what is the scripture physically and literally describing.
It is noteworthy that the scripture makes mention of stars, as a medium of light and not by name. The bible simply would not have enough space if the stars’ names were to be listed. I think that the omission of this little detail is just to let us know that they are too many for us to understand. It is higher than any man can compute.
Kerry-Ann: Does God have a name/number for each star?
Kerrol: Surely He does (gen15:5) tells us so.
Kerry-Ann: Gen 15:5 And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.
Kerrol: Although the light lesson was already introduced to us on day 1, the Lord revisits the subject/lesson by creating differing types/media for light. He then goes on to declare two of them rulers for different parts of the day.
We did say that Christ represented the first light on day one, I do not think any different now. I think that our lesson is just being deepened. I think the lesson here is that everything points to Christ; the animals, the trees, yes even man himself also points to Christ, who then points back to God the Father.
But I am jumping ahead of myself here. Let us start this study by trying to answer some of the questions I asked the scripture. In order to make meaningful applications, we must ask the right questions. Some of the questions I came up with are as follows:
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Questions
1. Why were they to give light upon the Earth?
2. Why were the lights in heaven?
3. What is the purpose of these lights
4. What is the significance of the two great lights?
5. What is the significance of them determining:
· the day and the night (specific),
· signs and seasons
· days and years
6. Why did God choose the fourth day to create lights in the firmament?
Application-1
I am going to start with what I think are the easy questions first, and then move on to the harder questions.
Question 1
Kerry-Ann: What is the purpose of these lights?
Kerrol: We don’t have to go too far in order to get this answer, as it is in our text.
Our reading says that the lights were:
1. to divide the day from the night;
2. for signs, and for seasons,
3. for days, and years:
4. to give light in the firmament of the heaven
5. to give light upon the earth:
As we had determined in our study of day 2, before there was time, there was timelessness. Time as we know it was not measured in any way shape or form as we know it here on Earth. Although the first 3 days were made up of 24 hours; it was not until day 4 that God puts in the clock (i.e. the second hand, minute hand and hour hand) so that we can know exactly what time of the day it is. It is because of the lights put in heaven, that we know exactly what day it is, (sabbath) we know the year (2023-gregorian calendar) (we know the month-September) etc.
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Kerry-Ann: O.K. I can see that. I know this question may sound redundant, but can you say why the lights were placed in heaven?
Kerrol: As stated before in our study of day 2. Whatsoever is in heaven 1 & 2 can be seen by man and therefore man can both comment and learn from whatever he observes. This is the reason that the lights were placed in heaven. If every man were to learn from it, what better place could it be placed so that all men could see it.
Kerry-Ann: In the very first part of this study we made the application that light can mean “to give someone understanding.” Is it possible that that statement “to be in the dark” means to be ignorant and lack understanding?
Kerrol: This is an accurate depiction. This would mean that the light being shun on the Earth from heaven would mean that all men were to be made to understand.
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Kerry-Ann: Why were the lights to give light upon the Earth? Vs 15
Kerrol: As we established in our day one study Earth, was to be the place of the great show. Remember what was said in 1 Cor 4:9. What this verse tells us is that the Earth would be where God would point to as His lesson book, i.e. where all creation would look and learn.
You will remember that it was Earth that was placed in the place of darkness; consequently it was this Earth which needed illumination. It was this earth that needed light.
Kerry-Ann: What is the significance of the two great lights? Verse 16
He made the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also.
Kerrol: Virtually every detail in the bible is part of a highly skillful integrated design. In fact, every word, every place named, every little detail was apparently placed there as part of an overall intricate plan. The placement of numbers in scripture is no different. Usually, they are mentioned deliberately to convey a very special message.
Kerry-Ann: I have some additional questions
Kerrol:I don’t believe we have time for more, let's continue this in our next video.
Kerry-Ann: O.K. We have come to the end of part 1 of Day 4. We invite
you to jot down your comments and questions below.
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If you like this video and would like to complete the series please click on the link to be taken to part 3.
You can also click on the blog link below if you would like to read through the entire series.
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Don’t forget to click the notification button and subscribe so that you can be notified as soon as the other videos are posted. See you in the next video.
Part 2
KerryAnn: Hello Everyone and Welcome to Part 2 of the bible study of Day 4 of the Story of Creation. I am your host Kerry-Ann Greenland and with me, I have my husband Kerrol Greenland. Although this is intended to be a bible study, not all the bible texts referenced will be read, or highlighted on screen. At these points we encourage you to pause the video and read these verses, so you can have a good understanding of the discussion, as we move along.
If this is your first time here, it is strongly recommended that you first watch part one about creation day 1 before you proceed with this video.
Some of the definitions, terms, and arguments mentioned in this video may seem confusing unless you are equipped with the foundational information mentioned in the first set of videos. So once again to prevent any possible confusion, it is strongly advised to watch the previous videos before watching this one.
Before we open the word, let us first pray.
In our last video we were about to go into some additional questions before we ran out of time.
My first question is “What message should we be getting here that the number two is used to refer to the great lights? Could it be that these two lights refer to the old and new testament or the prophets of old and Jesus?
Kerrol: Wow! That is a mind blowing questions. However there is some truth to it. Note that scripture records that the evening of a day precedes its morning. You’ll remember…
And the evening and the morning were the 1st day…
And the evening and the morning were the 2nd day …
And the evening and the morning were the 3rd day …
etc.
This is so significant, and I do not need to make the case with you. We as 7th day Adventists know and celebrate the eve of Sabbath from Friday till the eve of Saturday according to Lev 23:32. This is something that has been since creation, this concept is not new to us, however it goes a little deeper.
Since the eve is the beginning of a day, it follows that there is a period called night which also comes before the brighter part of the day.
So if we are to understand this correctly, the time of the Lesser light (the night) precedes the time of the greater light.
Kerry-Ann: Why is this important to understand?
Kerrol: It becomes significant as we consider Heb 1:1-2
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Kerry-Ann: 1:1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,
1:2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by [his] Son,
Kerry-Ann: I don’t see the connection.What does that have to do with the evening and the morning?
Kerrol: Bear with me as I try to make the case. Read for me Malachi 4:2
Kerry-Ann: But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.
Kerrol: Who is this Sun of righteousness?
Kerry-Ann: I would assume it is Jesus
Kerrol: So if Jesus is the sun of righteousness, who was the Moon of righteousness and the stars? Let us read Heb 1:1-2 again
Kerry-Ann: 1:1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,
1:2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by [his] Son,
Kerrol: Is it beginning to dawn on you who these were? Let us now read a text that I think we all know, and allude to as a representation of the church. Please read Rev 12:1
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Kerry-Ann: 12:1 And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars:
Kerrol: In this context we are to understand that the lesser lights (the moon and stars) represent the prophets of Old and such as (Micah, Nahum Habakkuk so forth) and the sun represents the greatest prophet of all Jesus Christ.
Also we know that the last book was written by the beloved disciple John. The 1st 2nd and 3rd epistles were written AD 96, but Revelation was written AD 98. Do you think it coincidental that the last the book, Revelation, begins the way it does? Read Rev 1:1
Kerry-Ann: The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to show unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified [it] by his angel unto his servant John:
Kerrol: In this sense we can understand what Hebrews was saying.
God spoke in times past by the prophets, but now has spoken unto us by his son. God has given us a special message for the last days through his son. Afterall What is the greatest and last letter written to the churches? Is it not Revelation?
The book of Revelation is the revelation of Jesus Christ, and it speaks to the conclusion of the whole matter. What shall come to pass in the last days i.e in the last 2000 years of earth’s history. Can you read Gen 1:16 again
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Kerry-Ann: Verse 16 The greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night
Kerrol: The part where the prophets of old spoke is gone, and the time where Jesus speaks is now. This is rightly introduced on the 4th day of the week. We call this day hump day because it marks the middle of the week. But it is also the the mark of the transition from old testament to new testament.
If you will indulge me a bit lets go back to Rom 1:20
Kerry-Ann: 20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
Kerrol: Although the classroom is set in Heaven (where God dwells) the educational benefit is both for Heaven and the Earth. As we established in our day 2 study, the firmament is not just the sky, but the sky plus the entire starry universe.
Kerry-Ann: Beyond what you said previously, is there any other deeper application as to why God placed these lights in heaven?
Kerrol: Yes there is a rather deep significance about the functions of these lights. Initially, we said that time is calculated by using the sun, moon and stars. We understand for the most part, night and day and years, but what does signs and seasons mean?
Kerry-Ann: Surely this has the interpretation of summer, winter, spring and fall; is there any other possible meaning?
Kerrol: Yes it has that meaning but we can go a little deeper with our application. Is it possible that there were specific time events that these lights were to point to?
Kerry-Ann: what do yo mean?
Kerrol: It becomes clearer as we look at other uses of the same phrase. Let us read
Dan 2:19-23
You will remember that King Nebuchadnezzar had a dream, and no wise man in Babylon could reveal it. Then Daniel prayed to God after he is to be killed along with the other “Wisemen” of Babylon, and the dream and its interpretation is revealed.
Now some very interesting phrases are used in the explanation of the dream, but one is directly associated with what we are studying here, see if you can pick it up. Focus on verse 21
Kerry-Ann: 19 Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a night vision. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven.
20 Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his:
21 And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding:
22 He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him.
23 I thank thee, and praise thee, O thou God of my fathers, who hast given me wisdom and might, and hast made known unto me now what we desired of thee: for thou hast now made known unto us the king's matter.
Kerrol: Did you see the phrase in verse 21?
Kerry-Ann: yes I did
Kerrol: According to the reading, who is the “he” that changeth the times and the seasons?
Kerry-Ann: God!
Kerrol: o.k. good. - Now lets read Dan7:25
Kerry-Ann: And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.
Kerrol:So this power is here coveting the place of God, exercising the prerogatives of God by wanting to change laws and times. In Dan 2:21 we also read that God “removeth kings, and setteth up kings”
Ok in chapter 2 we remember Nebuchadnezzar’s dream and the interpretation that Daniel given him by Daniel; i.e. there shall follow 5 more kingdoms after him.
However in chapter 3 we find Nebuchadnezzar building an image of complete gold. What do you suppose Nebuchadnezzar was saying by building the entire image of Gold?
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He was saying that there will be no other kingdom after his. In other words he is saying that he rejects the calendar of events given to him by God. Since he rejects the time table given to him, he institutes his own and makes it a law that all should acknowledge his image or face death.
Kerry-Ann: This sounds similar to what is going to happen in the end time.
Kerrol: Well you have a point. This event becomes a prophecy, referenced in Rev14:9..“If any man worship the beast and his image”
Nebuchadnezzar - the beast
His idol - the image
Since we have a lot to cover I only hope that you can realize the typology of what time change we are talking about here, and why it was so important that God himself had to intervene for the 3 Hebrew boys. Azariah, Mishaal & Hananiah also known as Shadrach Meshack and Abednego.
We often say that the Hebrews were just refusing to worship the idol; however, there is a deeper application here. If the Hebrew boys had decided to bow to Nebuchadnezzar’s image, they would not only be guilty of idol worship, but also guilty of acknowledging Nebuchadnezzar’s calendar. If they had compromised, their actions would have been in direct defiance to the calendar that God had set up.
Because they knew that God is in charge of times and seasons they could not bow.
Kerry-Ann: I’m not sure that this is clear, do you have another example from scripture about the meaning of the times and seasons.
Kerrol: This was a very common saying in bible times referring to prophecy, but lets take this up in the next video.
Kerry-Ann: O.K. We have come to the end of part 2 of Day 4. We invite
you to jot down your comments and questions below.
Slide
If you like this video and would like to complete the series please click on the link to be taken to part 3.
You can also click on the blog link below if you would like to read through the entire series.
Slide
Don’t forget to click the notification button and subscribe so that you can be notified as soon as the other videos are posted. See you in the next video.
Part 3
KerryAnn: Hello Everyone and Welcome to Part 3 of the bible study of Day 4 of the Story of Creation. I am your host Kerry-Ann Greenland and with me, I have my husband Kerrol Greenland. Although this is intended to be a bible study, not all the bible texts referenced will be read, or highlighted on screen. At these points we encourage you to pause the video and read these verses, so you can have a good understanding of the discussion, as we move along.
If this is your first time here, it is strongly recommended that you first watch part one about creation day 1 before you proceed with this video.
Some of the definitions, terms, and arguments mentioned in this video may seem confusing unless you are equipped with the foundational information mentioned in the first set of videos. So once again to prevent any possible confusion, it is strongly advised to watch the previous videos before watching this one.
Before we open the word, let us first pray.
In our last video we looked at the meaning of times and seasons, and we were about to make another reference for the understanding of that phrase.
Kerrol: As I said before there was a common understanding of this phrase when it was used in bible times. I shall look at two more occurrences to make my point. Will you read for me Acts1:6-8 and note how our phrase is used in verse 7
Kerry-Ann: 1:6 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?
1:7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.
1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
Kerrol: This is a prophetic question. Asking when the prophetic event of the Kingdom being restored to Israel should take place. Look at the way at which Christ answers them in verse 7. He says that it is not for them to know prophetic time lines that God has in His calendar.
This text makes it clear as to what are the times and seasons
Kerry-Ann: Summarize for me
Kerrol: Times and seasons have to do with events that are in God’s calendar. Let us look
1Thes 5:1 & 2
Kerry-Ann: 5:1 But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.
5:2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.
Kerrol: What is being spoken of here?
Kerry-Ann: The second coming of Christ, the close of probation and the end of the world.
Kerrol: Which are prophetic events. It seems safe to conclude that Times and season refer to specific prophetic events that occur in God's calendar. More specifically as it has to do with the coming of Christ. Whether the first, second, or third.
This is therefore the reason that the lights created on the 4th day of creation were to tell times and seasons. Do you get it?
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Have you ever wondered how it was that Enoch, who was fourth from Adam was able to see not just the first coming of Christ, but his second coming as well?
Kerry-Ann: Is it because of his contemplation of the events revealed in the creation week?
Kerrol: Most assuredly this is the answer. Remember they did not have the written word back then, nature was their teacher and lesson book..
Kerry-Ann: In light of what you said about the transition from old to new testament, I guess I can say I understand Why God chose the fourth day to create lights in the firmament.
Kerrol: What do you understand?
Kerry-Ann: When Christ came to the world as a prophet, the human race had endured 4000 years of sin. This is common knowledge throughout all of Christendom. So a day for a thousand years means that the Christ was to appear on the 4th day.
Kerrol: This is exactly right. I go a little deeper into this application on day 6 and 7 of this series.
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Let me add some meat to your understanding. After Adam had accepted the lamb slain, at the foundation of the Earth as the replacement for his sin. He knew that the seed of the woman, a man-child, would come and redeem him.
What he did not know was that it was going to be 4000 years before it would be fulfilled.
Kerry-Ann: How do we know that Adam did not understand initially?
Kerrol: Let’s Read it in Gen 4:1
Kerry-Ann: And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the Lord
.
Kerrol: Some commentators see Eve's response at Cain's birth as something positive. Upon Cain's birth Eve said, I have gotten a man from the Lord. She saw this as part of the fulfillment of the promise of God that her seed would crush the serpent's head. But it was explained that t was to be fulfilled much later. $00 years to be exact. As a result Adam started the calendar 4000 BC and counted backwards to the fulfillment of the promise. You will remember that B.C means before Christ. And A.D. means after death.
Kerry-Ann: in this context can we understand that Moses was also a type of Christ?
Kerrol: What do you mean?
Kerry-Ann: The children of Israel were in bondage for 400 years before their deliverer came. If a day represents 100 years, Moses also delivered them on the 4th day.
Kerrol: that is indeed a great way of looking a that. I think Dan 9:27 also strengthens the point about Christ coming in the middle of the week.
Kerry-Ann:
Dan 9:27
27 And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.
Kerrol: The bible has been pointing us to this truth for so long.
Although this is a different topic it does strengthen the point that we are trying to make that Christ was here on day 4, in the midst of the week.
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It is my hope that after my presentation this evening your hope and faith will be strengthened, and you will walk henceforth with the consciousness of just how true the word of God is and how close the second coming of the Lord really is. I also hope that this will empower you to go out and warn all your friends/neighbors even your very enemies of the impending danger that is up ahead.
Kerry-Ann: Why do I use the word danger? One of the most severe warnings ever to be found in Scripture is found Rev14 as a part of the 3 angel’s message. The wrath of God poured out without mixture. We can scarcely begin to comprehend his love for us. Do you think we can comprehend his wrath, poured out without the mixture of mercy? Rev 14:10
Kerry-Ann: O.K. We have come to the end of part 2 of Day 3. We invite
you to jot down your comments and questions below.
Slide
If you like this video and would like to complete the series please click on the link to be taken to part 3.
You can also click on the blog link below if you would like to read through the entire series.
Slide
Don’t forget to click the notification button and subscribe so that you can be notified as soon as the other videos are posted. See you in the next video.
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