Day: December 18, 2022

The Economy of God and the Mystery of the Transmission of the Divine Trinity, Chap 2, Section 2 of 5

Posted on in Corporate Reading, The Economy of God and the Mystery of the Transmission of the Divine Trinity

Then God began to restore the heavens and caused the sun, the moon, and the stars to appear (vv. 14-19). It is hard to say whether this was creation or restoration because verse 16 says, “And God made the two great light-bearers, the greater light-bearer to rule the day and the lesser light-bearer to rule the night.” Moreover, God created the fish, that is, the living creatures in the water. At the same time He also created the birds, that is, the living creatures in the air (vv. 20-23). Furthermore, He created the living creatures on the dry land, which consisted mainly of three categories—cattle, beasts, and creeping things (vv. 24-25). In this way living creatures were generated in the seas, on the land, and in the air. These records show that the re-creation which began from Genesis 1:2 includes both restoration and creation.

The most prominent thing in God’s re-creation is that He created man on the sixth day. Concerning the creation of man, the Bible uses three different terms—created, made, and formed. Verse 26 says, “And God said, Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness.” Here the word make is the same word used in the past tense in verses 7 and 16. Verse 27 says, “And God created man in His own image.” The word created here is also used in verse 21. Verse 7 of chapter 2 says, “Jehovah God formed man from the dust of the ground.” The word used here is formed. The Hebrew word for created [337] is bara. To create means to produce something out of nothing. The Hebrew word for made is asah. To make means to work upon an existing substance in order to produce something out of it. The Hebrew word for formed is yatsar. To form means to give shape to something in the same way that a potter molds clay into a form.

Man was not only created but also made and formed by God. This is because God used the dust of the ground (v. 7; 3:19), which already existed there, as material to make man a physical body. Therefore, God used an existing substance to make the final product—man’s physical body, and He also formed man in the same way that a potter molds a vessel. God used the dust to form man’s shape and then breathed into him the breath of life. This breath of life, which came out from God, became the spirit in man. Thus, man was enlivened and became a living soul with a spirit. Hence, man was made and formed by God. However, the spirit of man was created by God because it came from the breath of life, which came out of God.

Hence, God’s original creation (1:1), particularly the creation of the heavens and the earth, was in the age long before Adam. We have no way to count the number of years of this age. However, if we count from Adam until the millennial kingdom, it should be a little over, if not exactly, seven thousand years.

The Seventy Weeks

Another set of years in the Bible that deserves our study is the seventy weeks in Daniel 9. These seventy weeks are divided into seven weeks, sixty-two weeks, and one week, which is the last week (vv. 24-27). The first part, composed of seven weeks, is forty-nine years, beginning with the issuing of the decree to rebuild the holy city by King Artaxerxes. In this period the rebuilding of the holy city Jerusalem, with street and trench, was completed (v. 25). Then the second part, composed of sixty-two weeks, is four hundred thirty-four years following the first seven weeks and ending with the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus—the year when the anointed One, Messiah, was cut off (v. 26a). This means that four hundred years after the first seven weeks, the Lord Jesus was born. Thirty-three and a half years later, after the Lord’s human living and crucifixion, was exactly the very last year of the second part, the sixty-two weeks. The two parts added together (seven weeks plus sixty-two weeks) is a total of four hundred eighty-three years. This is very meaningful. [338]

The third part, the last part of the seventy weeks, is the last week, the “one week” (v. 27). This one week is the last seven years of this age, which will be divided into two halves. At the beginning of this one week, the seventh Caesar of the restored Roman Empire (Rev. 17:10) will make a firm covenant with Israel. In the middle of the week, this ruler, who is the Antichrist, will break this covenant. This will be the beginning of the great tribulation (Matt. 24:21, 15; Dan. 7:25; 12:7; Rev. 12:6; 13:5), which will end with the Lord’s second coming (Matt. 24:15-30; Dan. 9:27b). However, in between this last week and the preceding sixty-nine weeks, a period of mystery is inserted. The Lord Jesus said that the day of His coming back was not made known even to Him as the One who was God become man. He said, “No one knows, not even…the Son, but the Father only” (Matt. 24:36). For this reason, whether this period of mysteries will be two thousand years or more than two thousand years, no one knows.

The Type and Fulfillment 
of the Great Human Image in Daniel 2

Now we will go on to Daniel 2 to see the great human image seen by Nebuchadnezzar in his dream (vv. 1, 31-35). The head of the image was of fine gold, the breast and the arms were of silver, the abdomen and the thighs were of bronze, the legs were of iron, and the feet were partly of iron and partly of clay. Daniel said that the head of gold referred to Nebuchadnezzar (v. 38b). History proves that the Babylonian Empire with Nebuchadnezzar as king was indeed that head of gold. After the passing away of Babylon, a political situation emerged that was of two parts (7:5), typified by the silver breasts and arms. Its fulfillment in history was Medo-Persia—Medo (Media) being one nation, and Persia being another nation. These two nations shared equal power (cf. 5:31; 6:1) like the two shoulders of a person. After Medo-Persia ended, there were the abdomen and the thighs of bronze, signifying the Macedonian-Grecian Empire founded by Alexander. Daniel said that this kingdom would “rule over all the earth” (2:39). History tells us that Alexander won all the battles he fought. After crossing the Aegean Sea, he conquered Asia Minor and went on to attack the land of Palestine. At that time the Jews were a little indifferent toward him and did not supply him with provisions, so he was angry in his heart. However, as he was [339] entering into Jerusalem after arriving in the land of Judea, the Jewish priests acted wisely. They all came out and lined up to welcome him and thus allayed his anger. They also led him to the temple and read to him the book of Daniel. Understanding the words in the book concerning himself, he was exceedingly happy and dealt with the Jews favorably.

However, history tells us that Alexander died at the early age of thirty-three and that his kingdom was divided into four sections, which were ruled by his four generals (11:3-4). Once the abdomen and the thighs ended, the Roman Empire, typified by the iron legs, came. Later the Roman Empire was divided into two parts, the eastern part and the western part, signified by the two iron legs. The Roman Empire lasted for a long time until a few years after A.D. 470, when the western Roman Empire was terminated and only the eastern Roman Empire remained. History points out that after the passing away of the Roman Empire, democracy began to gain ground in the European countries. Thus, the monarchs gradually became symbolic leaders, and the real authority was turned over to the people. This is signified by the feet of half-iron and half-clay, because clay symbolizes the people.

 

The Economy of God and the Mystery of the Transmission of the Divine Trinity, Chap 2, Section 1 of 5

Posted on in Corporate Reading, The Economy of God and the Mystery of the Transmission of the Divine Trinity

CHAPTER TWO

CONCERNING THE ECONOMY OF GOD

Ephesians 1:10 says, “Unto the economy of the fullness of the times,” and 3:9 says, “To enlighten all that they may see what the economy of the mystery is, which throughout the ages has been hidden in God, who created all things.” In Greek, the word for economy is not hard to comprehend, but its usage in the New Testament is not so easy to understand. This word is used in the New Testament with this meaning only by the apostle Paul. In Luke 16 when the Lord Jesus spoke about the unrighteous steward, He used this word, which in these verses is translated “stewardship” (vv. 2-4). A form of this word is also used in 1 Peter 4:10, where it is translated as “stewards.” However, in these two portions of the Scriptures this word does not bear much significance. Therefore, in the New Testament Paul is the only one who uses this term from the viewpoint of God’s New Testament economy. He used it three times—twice in Ephesians (1:10; 3:9) and once in 1 Timothy (1:4)—with direct reference to God’s New Testament economy.

Although Paul refers to God’s New Testament economy in 1 Timothy, it was still in relation to the church in Ephesus. In 1 Timothy 1:3-4 Paul says to Timothy, “I exhorted you…to remain in Ephesus in order that you might charge certain ones not to teach different things…rather than God’s economy, which is in faith.” Therefore, we can see that the three times Paul uses this word in direct reference to God’s New Testament economy are all concerning the church in Ephesus. He uses it twice in Ephesians, speaking directly to the church in Ephesus, and once in 1 Timothy, speaking in relation to the church in Ephesus. In other words, God’s speaking in the New Testament concerning His New Testament economy is altogether directed to the church in Ephesus. This is very meaningful.

THE DEFINITION OF THE WORD ECONOMY

The Greek word for economy is composed of two words. The [334] first word oikos means “house” or “home,” denoting a household or a dwelling place; the second word nomos means “law.” When these two words are combined together, it means “household law,” and it may be explained further to mean “household administration.” Hence, the word economy means “household law,” “household management,” or “household administration.” Since it is a household administration, it implies an arrangement or a plan. Since the household administration is to enforce the household rules, naturally it has an arrangement with a plan. Since it is an arrangement or a plan, there must also be a purpose.

The Usage of Dispensation 
(“Age” or “Arrangement”) in Theology

When there is an arrangement or a plan, there is a purpose, and this arrangement or plan with a purpose constitutes a household administration. The arrangement of a household administration is mainly for distributing. What does it distribute? It distributes the riches of the family for the family’s use. This word was used in relation to the big families in ancient times, which were similar to big Chinese households composed of a whole clan living together. When a big clan lives together, surely there are household laws and regulations, and surely there is the arrangement of the household administration. This arrangement is mainly to distribute the riches of the family for the living of the family members. This kind of distribution is a dispensing. From the word dispensing comes another word—dispensation, denoting the dispensation of economy. But when this word is used in theology to explain theological doctrines, it is usually understood as “age” or “period.”

The Four Ages (Dispensations) in the Bible

Why is it that in theology the term dispensation is understood as “age”? It is because the dispensation of every period is actually the period itself. According to the record of the Bible, the dispensation of God’s economy can be divided into four great periods. The first period is the dispensation of the patriarchs, the second period is the dispensation of law, the third period is the dispensation of grace, and the fourth period is the dispensation of righteousness executed in the kingdom. In other words, God’s dispensation in the first period was concerning the patriarchs, and it can be called the [335] dispensation of the patriarchs. This age, which was from Adam to Moses, lasted approximately two thousand five hundred years. God’s dispensation in the second period was concerning His dealing with men by the law, and it can be called the dispensation of the law. This age, which was from the decree of the law by Moses to Christ’s incarnation, lasted for about one thousand five hundred years. God’s dispensation in the third period is concerning the application of the grace of Christ, and it can be called the dispensation of grace. This age, which is from the Lord Jesus’ first coming to His second coming, should last for about two thousand years. God’s dispensation in the fourth period is concerning God’s execution of everything according to His righteousness, and it can be called the dispensation of righteousness. This will be the millennial kingdom, which will be from the Lord Jesus’ second coming to the judgment at the great white throne, and will last for one thousand years.

In the old creation God has these four dispensations: the arrangement for the patriarchs, the administration by law, the supply by grace, and finally the execution according to righteousness. The patriarchs, the law, grace, and righteousness are God’s four dispensations (arrangements). Consequently, these four dispensations (arrangements) spontaneously form four ages: the age of the patriarchs, the age of the law, the age of grace, and the age of the kingdom. First was the age of the patriarchs. After the age of the patriarchs was the age of the law. After the age of law is the age of grace. After the age of grace will be the age of righteousness, the age of the kingdom. These ages will last for a total of approximately seven thousand years.

The Bible Revealing the Years of Creation

It is difficult to calculate the number of years since the creation of the heavens and the earth. This is because before the creation of Adam there was another world, the preadamic world. According to the study of geologists, no one knows how many millions of years that world lasted. In fact, it is very hard to have an accurate calculation since the calculations by astronomers also vary. Hence, it is hard to say how many years the world before the creation of Adam lasted.

In the record of the entire book of Genesis, only verse 1 of chapter 1 refers to the preadamic world. This verse says, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” No one knows how long ago this “beginning” was. Verse 2a goes on to say, “But the earth [336] became waste and emptiness, and darkness was on the surface of the deep.” This indicates that the world at that time was in chaos and had been terminated. No one knows how much time elapsed after the earth had been covered with darkness under deep water before God came in to do the work of re-creation, not creation. Verse 2b says, “And the Spirit of God was brooding upon the surface of the waters.” At this time the Spirit of God was moving and brooding upon the surface of the waters to begin His work of re-creation. God first divided the light from the darkness; then He separated the waters which were under the expanse from the waters which were above the expanse (vv. 3-8). This was still not creation but only restoration. After this, God gathered together the waters under the heavens into one place to form the sea, and He let the dry land appear from underneath the water (vv. 9-10). This also was not creation but only a restoration. After the dry land had appeared, God caused the earth to grow plants. This, however, was not restoration but creation. Thus, God created the plants (vv. 11-13).