| In its prophetic sense,
the word "hour" is used when speaking of the four prophetic watches of
Israel’s day and night. To understand Israel’s day and night, we must
first understand her watches. Although the O.T. Hebrews had their own method of measuring
the day and night, most authorities agree that by the time of Christ, they had adopted the
Roman system. Consequently, Israel’s day and night were divided into 4 watches
of 3 hours each. We also need to keep in mind that Biblical words like year, day,
time, times, hour, etc., have several different meanings in the Greek and the Hebrew which
will vary with how they are used in their context. This is part of the mysterious covering
of prophecy. A case in point is the parable of the laborers in Matthew 20:1-16. Before we
examine this passage, let's look at the watches of Israel's day as used in New Testament
Times. (There is a question in my mind as to if "the third hour,"
"the sixth," and "the ninth" in this text are referring to the
"watches" of the day, but to the actual hour. I say this because the
writer used "the eleventh hour" when referring to the fourth watch. Either
way, the whole of Israel's existence down through the ages is represented in this
passage.) ______________________________ The New Testament DAY WATCHES of IsraelThe Natural Day was from sun-rise to sun-set The Natural Night was from sun-set to sun-rise. The Civil Day was from sun-set one evening to sun-set the next. The first watch, the Third Hour, would be from 6 to 9 A.M.our time. The second watch, the Sixth Hour, would be from 9 to 12 noon our time. The third watch, the Ninth Hour, would from 12 to 3 P.M.our time. The fourth watch, the Twelfth Hour, would be from 3 to 6 P.M.our time (Keep in mind that if something takes place at the end of the sixth prophetic hour of the second watch, using the equivalent in our day, we would say that it took place 12 O:Clock Noon. However, we could also say about something that took place at the first hour of the third watch, that it also took place at 12 O:Clock Noon or the sixth prophetic hour. ) __________________________________
When we read this parable prophetically, we see how the hours of the day refer to the four ages of Israel’s existence; i.e., The Age of Promise, The Age of the Law, The Age of Grace, and The Kingdom Age. Also, when we consider the "hours" mentioned by Jesus, we can discern that He is talking about the last part of the ages. However, the times of Israel’s "night watches" are not the same. (To refresh your memories on the four watches of Israel’s night, click here and go to booklet seven, chapter 28 of The CLOCK OF THE AGES.) There are two basic differences between Israel's day watches and their night watches. First, spiritually speaking, the Bible speaks of those with a living faith in God as being "of the day ," while it refers to the self righteous of the nation as being "of the night." (I Thes. 5:5-8) 4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. 5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. 6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. 7 For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. Second, their day watches cover the whole of the nation's existences over the span of four ages while their night watches are limited to the four times that Christ will visit the earth but be rejected by this nation that sprang from Abraham’s loins. (Some might argue that during their dispersion, because the nation steadfastly rejects Christ, there can be no Jews "of the day." However, though we hear little about them, I'm satisfied that every generation of Jews since Christ has had those who have embraced Christ, even though it has often mean banishment from their families. Remember, the first members of the N.T. Church, as well as its founders, were Jewish.) As we explained in chapter 28 of THE CLOCK OF THE AGES, the times of their four night watches are limited to four periods of approximately 3 years each. The Prophetic night watches of Israel (6 P.M. to 9 P.M.)--i.e., Their Visitation when Christ came to the earth to seek and to save the lost sheep of Israel and to die on the cross for the sin of the world 2. The Midnight Hour (9 P.M.to 12 A.M)--i.e., The Tribulation Period which will end when Jesus comes in the clouds to take His Church up to be with Him 3. The Cockcrowing (12 A.M.to 3 A.M.)--i.e., The 1st ½ of Daniel’s 70th Week (This is the same as the 1st ½ of the Day of the Lord, or the 1st ½ of the Day of God’s Wrath.) which will be brought to a close by the Lord’s return from heaven to set up His Kingdom for the Kingdom Age-- also known as the 1,000 Years of Peace 4. The Morning Watch (3 A.M to 6 A.M.)--i.e., The 2nd ½ of Daniel’s 70th Week at the end of the Kingdom Age Illustration: The Prophetic Watches of Israel's Night and Day
Let's go now to the fifteenth chapter of Mark and apply the prophetic day and the night watches of Israel to that passage. The passages speaks of the crucifixion of Christ. As we read, let's keep in mind that although this was done in the sun, it was the very darkest of Israel's night. (Authorities cannot agree upon the application of the various hours mentioned in the following passage. Do the "hours" indicate the "watches" or are they referring to the actual hours of the prophetic day? For example, does the "third hour" mean the first watch of the day or the third hour of the first watch which would be equivalent to our 9 A.M.? When applying the prophetic language of Scripture to this passage, the actual prophetic hour of the day should be considered.) [DAY: third hour: the first watch of Israel's "day," the Age of Promise, By the third prophetic hour of this watch, most everyone in Israel were doing what was right in their own eyes; and in their hearts, they had already begun crucifying the Lord of Glory. NIGHT: third hour: the last part of His Visitation (the first watch of Israel’s night) This was when the Pharisees and Saducees actually had their Messiah nailed to the Cross.], 26 And the superscription of his accusation was written over, THE KING OF THE JEWS. 27 And with him they crucify two thieves; the one on his right hand, and the other on his left. 28 And the scripture was fulfilled, which saith, And he was numbered with the transgressors. 29 And they that passed by railed on him, wagging their heads, and saying, Ah, thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, 30 Save thyself, and come down from the cross. 31 Likewise also the chief priests mocking said among themselves with the scribes, He saved others; himself he cannot save. 32 Let Christ the King of Israel descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe. And they that were crucified with him reviled him. 33 And when the sixth hour was come,... [DAY: the sixth hour: This was Israel's second watch of the day: i.e., the Age of the Law. For a while, there was some light in Israel, but about two-thirds of the way through the age (i.e., the 6th hour of their prophetic day), the majority of them went whoring after other gods and they were taken into captivity as a consequence. The age ended with the descendants of Abraham through Isaac doing what was right in their own eyes; and their hearts being far from God. (The last generation of this age was the one that demanded that the Roman soldiers crucify their Messiah.) The Jew's refusal to accept their Christ resulted in their destruction as a nation and their dispersion among the Gentiles. NIGHT: the sixth hour: During the Tribulation Period at the end of our age (i.e., in her second night watch, the Midnight Hour) in the 6th hour of the second prophetic watch (which is equivalent to our 12 A.M. hour), spiritual darkness will fall upon the whole world when Christ takes up His Church, the light of the world, and the Holy Spirit goes up with them (II Thes. 2:7). However, except for the Jews who accepted Christ, there was never any light in Israel during this time, for like her ancestors, she refused to recognize her Messiah.] ...there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour [DAY: until the ninth hour: Except for the born-again Jews, the Grace-Age Jews have also been in spiritual darkness throughout the third watch of their prophetic day because they continue to reject Christ. However, their spiritual darkness will end at the end of our age, but not before they know despair. Too late, Israel will see something in the Church at the end of our age that will make them realize that the New Testament Church is of God (See Mt. 25:1-12). This will be confirmed when they hear the trump blow at the time of the Rapture of the Church. However, they will still be without Christ, the Light of the World, until He returns with His Church at the end of the 1st ½ of Daniel’s 70th Week.] NIGHT: until the ninth hour: The ninth hour of Israel's prophetic night will see an end of its third watch, the 1st ½ of Daniel’s 70th Week, and an end of its spiritual darkness. Although Israel will have been left on the earth to "flee into the wilderness" because she realized too late that Christ Jesus was her Messiah-- nevertheless, she will see the Lord Jesus returning from glory with his glorified saints at the end of this period. Christ will then set up His kingdom in Jerusalem and the Hebrews will be "guests of the state" as the LORD OF GLORY rules the world sitting upon the throne once occupied by King David. 34 And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? (cf. Mt.27:46-47 & Luke 23:44) [DAY: at the ninth hour: Because God cannot look upon sin, He had to turn His back upon Jesus as He hang upon the Cross with the sin of the world. This took place at the ninth hour of the day Jesus was crucified. The symbolism is that the awful feelings that Jesus felt when he was separated from His Father, the Giver of life, will be the lot of the end-time Jews who will go through the horrible time in the wilderness at the ninth hour of their day (i.e., at the end of the Age of Grace). Even though God will preserve a number of Abraham's seed to bring into the Kingdom Age, two-thirds of them will be killed (See the 8th set of our study of Revelation.) and they will be wondering why God has forsaken them even though they have finally accepted the fact that Christ Jesus was their Messiah. NIGHT: The ninth prophetic hour of Israel's third night watch, the cockcrowing, will be the final hour of the first 1/2 of Daniel's 70th Week. Again, after what they will go through during this time, they will surely be thinking that the God of Abraham has forgotten and forsaken them. That there is no mentioning of the fourth watch of the day (i.e, the Kingdom Age) or of the night ( the 2nd ½ of Daniel’s 70th Week) is very significant; for as we've already mentioned, Christ Jesus, the WORD and THE PROPHET, will be on the earth at the time. Consequently, because He will be on the earth, He will give any Word or prophecy from God that needs to be given. |
