The Messianic prophecy in Genesis
Genesis 1 covers the six days of creation, and Genesis 2:1–3 covers the origin of the Sabbath day.
The first sentence contains seven Hebrew words. Some say each day of creation represents 1,000 years of human history.
The Hebrew of the first sentence begins with the word בְּרֵאשִׁית beresheet (“in the beginning”). It starts with the letter ב bet instead of א aleph, which typically represents God. Here are combinations of letters from beresheet:
- בר: son: בַּר bar (H1248)
- א: El (God): אֱלֹהִים Elohim/elohim
- ראש: head: רֹאשׁ rosh (H7218)
- שי: “gift offered as homage”1: שַׁי shayi
- שית: thorn bush2: שַׁיִת shayit (H7898)
- ת: a mark3: Hebrew letter tav in Proto-Sinaitic/Phoenician script: 𐤕
The first Hebrew word of Genesis may contain words that convey a hidden message about the Messiah: “Son of God with thorns on his head, hanging on a tree, with a winning cross-mark.”
Deuteronomy 21:22-23 points to the significance of being hung on a tree as a curse by God.
John 3:16 emphasizes the New Covenant and the gift of eternal life through Yeshua the Messiah (Jesus the Christ).
Views on human history and the Jewish calendar
Some believers considering the Earth to be 6,000 years old, and others consider it billions of years old.
The Jewish calendar began in 3761 BCE, marking the start of Anno Mundi, years from the creation of the world, according to Jewish tradition.
The creation year is calculated by summing the biblical lengths of the lives of the patriarchs and other age figures in the Bible. That would place creation in 5501–3836 B.C.4
Some key biblical events align historically with this second age, but does not promote one view over the other for the message.
1st millennial day: Light and darkness
Genesis 1:1-5 describes the creation of light, separation of light from darkness — the first day.
Adam was created as a being of light, and Isaiah 46:10-11 is referenced to emphasize God’s purpose.
Genesis 2:17 highlights that Adam was told he would die if he ate of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Bad, but he did not die immediately.
The darkness of the first day could be seen as prophetically pointing to man’s first sin, and the light of the first day is seen through the rise of Enoch, who brought light into the world.
2nd millennial day: Water and the Flood
Genesis 1:6-8 describes the creation of the expanse, separation of waters, and the second day.
Genesis 7:11 could be seen as the Flood starting during the second millennial “day.”
The only day in the creation account where God did not say it was good is the second day.
The hidden prophecy in the second millennial “day” involves water and the Flood.
3rd millennial day: Dry land and vegetation
Genesis 1:9-13 describes the creation of dry land, separation of waters, and the third day. Dry land can represent the wilderness, and vegetation food.
Israel’s Exodus from Egypt occurred in the middle of the third millennial “day.”
John 6:47-51 notes that Yeshua is the “bread of life,” and the manna in the wilderness is a type of food to be desired.
4th millennial day: Lights in the heavens
Genesis 1:14-18 describes the creation of lights in the heavens and the fourth day. The lights in the heavens may represent the first light (King David) and the second light (Messiah).
In Genesis 22:17, God notes Abraham’s offspring would be as numerous as the stars.
There is prophetic significance of the lights in the heavens, with the stars showing the signs of Messiah’s first and second coming.
5th millennial day: Water creatures and birds
Genesis 1:20-23 describes the creation of water creatures and birds and the fifth day.
The Earth’s population grew abundantly on the fifth millennial “day.” Yeshua was anointed with the Holy Spirit on the fifth millennial “day” (Matthew 3:16-17).
The fish was a symbol of believers in the Messiah’s day, and the Holy Spirit came into Yeshua’ followers on the fifth “day.”
6th millennial day: Living creatures and man
Genesis 1:24-31 describes the creation of living creatures, man in God’s image, and the sixth day.
Mankind has been seen prophetically in the Bible as both beasts and a bride, depending on the relationship with God.
The creation account of day 6 is a symbol of the union of man and wife, and the seventh day is the Sabbath day. Revelation foretells of the choice between being recreated in God’s image as a pure bride or taking the mark of the beast.
7th millennial day: Rest and sanctification
Genesis 2:1-3 describes the completion of creation and the sanctification of the seventh day. Those who respect God’s setting aside of the seventh day will be set apart as holy people.
The millennial Sabbath will be a time of rest and peace, with Satan bound and no distractions. God will recreate man through love during the millennial Sabbath, and the Messiah will return to usher in this period.
References
- Hamilton, Victor P. Harris, R. Laird, Gleason L. Archer, and Bruce K. Waltke, eds. Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament. Accordance electronic edition, version 2.8. Chicago: Moody Press, 1980.
↩︎ - Brown, Francis, S. R. Driver, and Charles A. Briggs, eds. The Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew and English Lexicon. Accordance electronic edition, version 4.5. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1906. ↩︎
- “Phoenician/Canaanite,” Omniglot. Accessed October 27, 2024. ↩︎
- Hodge, Bodie. “How Old Is the Earth?” New Answers Book 2. Master Books, a division of New Leaf Press (Green Forest, Arkansas). May 30, 2007. ↩︎
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