Senin, 07 Desember 2009

Kolom Opini: "Mengais Nurani Hukum"

MENGAIS NURANI HUKUM
Oleh: Pan Mohamad Faiz, M.C.L.

Sumber: Kolom Opini Duta Masyarakat – Selasa, 8 Desember 2009.

Perasaan kecewa seorang Mahfud MD. yang pernah dialaminya seperempat abad yang lalu nampaknya kini terulang dan hinggap kembali di dada para lulusan muda sarjana hukum. Pasalnya, idealisme kesempurnaan hukum yang dipelajari semasa duduk di bangku kuliah dengan cita penegakkan hukum berkeadilan justru bertolak belakang dengan praktik riil di lapangan. Justicia seringkali terekam tengah bertekuk lutut dan berakhir pada meja rolet milik sang penguasa ataupun pemilik modal.

Syahdan, bagi sebagian kalangan masyarakat, perilaku koruptif, praktik mafia peradilan, dan “vonis dadu”, tetap menjadi tontonan keseharian, bahkan kini justru menunjukkan jejak kaki yang lebih tegas dan terang benderang.

Dalam beberapa bulan terakhir ini, kita semua dibuat tercengang dengan penampilan akrobatik para penegak hukum. Kasus Bibit-Chandra digadang menjadi simbol karut-marut dan amburadulnya sistem penegakkan hukum kita, disusul dengan skandal Bank Century dan puluhan kasus korupsi lainnya yang tak berhujung pangkal.

Sementara itu, secara berturut-turut mulai dari kasus “judi koin” Raju bersama sembilan bocah lainnya, kasus “curhat medik” Prita Mulyasari, kasus “3 biji kakao” nenek Minah, hingga kasus “petaka semangka” Basar dan Kholil, menjadi pemandangan kontras betapa dewi keadilan dengan mudahnya menebas hak-hak kaum plebeius secara serampangan.

Akibatnya, masyarakat menilai secara tidak langsung bahwa pengadilan bukan lagi menjadi bastion of justice, melainkan bassinet of justice yang mudah dininabobokan dan diayun sesuai kehendak oknum penegak hukum bersama dengan pihak yang berperkara.

Moral dan Nurani Hukum

Terungkapnya hasil penyadapan terhadap kejanggalan perilaku dari oknum penegak hukum memperlihatkan bahwa mafia hukum bukan lagi sekedar isapan jempol, namun telah mendedahkan wujud aslinya di hadapan kita semua.

Dengan berlindung pada tirai-tirai KUHP, sebagian advokat begitu asyik membela kliennya mati-matian tanpa memperhitungkan tuntutan rasa keadilan masyarakat. Setali tiga uang, oknum hakim, jaksa, polisi, dan para pegawai di instansi tersebut ikut jua membidani ambruknya nilai komunal moralitas dan nurani penegakan hukum dengan menciptakan pasar lelang perkara.

Ironisnya, secara jujur harus pula kita akui bahwa terkadang masyarakat pun turut terlibat dalam penyimpangan moral dan nurani hukum tersebut dengan cara merekayasa keterangannya sebagai saksi atau ahli di persidangan.

Padahal dengan menggunakan metode “moral reading” dari Ronald Dworkin, Satjipto Rahardjo (2008) telah mengkonstruksikan negara hukum Indonesia sebagai suatu negara dengan nurani atau negara yang memiliki kepedulian (a state with conscience and compassion). Artinya, common sense dan legal sense yang berselaras dengan legal and moral ethics sejatinya menempati status penting dalam sistem penegakkan hukum di Indonesia.

Pada medio 1970-an, Philippe Nonet dan Philip Selznick menyampaikan bahwa obyek pembangunan hukum suatu negara sebaiknya berjalan berdasarkan realitas dinamika internal bangsa sendiri, dan bukan meniru negara manapun.

Dari sudut subyeknya, Kranenburg mengatakan bahwa para sarjana hukum jangan terjebak dalam optik hukum positif semata, tetapi harus membuka hati dan pikirannya terhadap perkembangan masyarakat. Sementara itu, Descartes dalam maha karyanya “Discourse on Method” mengingatkan bahwa berjubelnya hukum tanpa ketegasan justru seringkali menghalangi keadilan.

Dengan demikian, menjalani hukum sebaiknya tidak sekedar dipandang dari sudut legalistik-positivistik dan fungsional an sich, namun juga secara natural memiliki watak kebenaran dan berkeadilan sosial. Jika kita kembali pada Pancasila sebagai filosofische grondslag, maka akan ditemukan bahwa keadilan sosial (social justice) menjadi prinsip penting dalam sistem hukum kita.

Terhadap hal tersebut Mahkamah Konstitusi secara tegas telah menafsirkan bahwa keadilan akan berlaku dengan “memperlakukan sama terhadap hal-hal yang sama, dan memperlakukan berbeda terhadap hal-hal yang memang berbeda” (vide Putusan Nomor 14-17 dan 27/PUU-V/2007). Oleh karena itu, tidak seluruh peristiwa hukum harus diperlakukan sama secara mutlak, bahkan bagi John Rawls keadilan sosial justru lebih menekankan rasa adil yang diperuntukkan bagi kaum lemah (the least advantaged).

Menyikapi Momentum

Setelah terdeteksinya titik-titik kanker koruptif di lembaga penegak hukum kita, maka operasi cesar dengan pisau yang tepat layak segera dilakukan. Kita tentu berkeyakinan bahwa masih banyak para aparat penegak hukum yang memiliki moral dan nurani bersih namun (sengaja) dipinggirkan, sehingga sudah seyogianya momentum ini dimanfaatkan sebagai renaissance nurani hukum.

Oleh sebab itu, komitmen dan kemauan politik dari pemerintah, parlemen, dan pimpinan lembaga penegak hukum menjadi elan vital dalam hal ini. Masyarakat amat merindukan teladan hukum, sehingga prasyarat kejujuran, ketegasan, dan keberanian dalam menegakkan hukum dengan moral dan nurani menjadi syarat minimal dari pencarian tersebut (Deryck Beyleveld, Law as a Moral Judgment, 1986).

Sebaliknya, jika terbukti atau setidak-tidaknya terindikasi adanya praktik koruptif dan penyimpangan hukum di aras kekuasaan manapun, maka sudah selayaknya segera dibersihkan. Dalam konteks ini, Cicero sempat berpidato di depan Tribunus dengan mengatakan bahwa ikan membusuk mulai dari kepala hingga ke ekor, sehingga tindakan yang pantas dilakukan menurutnya adalah dengan memotong dan membuangnya (Imperium, 2007).

Masalah pelik dihadapi ketika nurani seseorang tertutup kabut tebal akibat “keterlanjurannya” terlibat atas sandiwara mafia hukum dan peradilan. Pastilah mereka diam dan bungkam seribu bahasa karena khawatir sejarah kelamnya akan ikut terbuka, sehingga tepat ketika J.E. Sahetapy menyitir pepatah Belanda “de pot verwijt de ketel” yang artinya “belanga menuduh panci, maka akan sama-sama hitam pantatnya”.

Satu hal yang tidak kalah pentingnya yakni dengan menggalang pengawasan oleh rakyat dan pers secara langung dan terus-menerus. Tanpa adanya pemberitaan dari media massa, tentu tabir kelam penegakkan hukum seperti sekarang ini tidak akan pernah tersingkap ke meja publik. A blessing in disguise! Oleh karenanya kita patut bersyukur, sebab baik aparat penegak hukum maupun masyarakat luas menjadi terlatih pendengaran telinganya, terasah penglihatan matanya, dan tersinari hati nuraninya.

Perjuangan menegakkan keadilan berdasar moralitas dan hati nurani yang tulus memang terasa berat dan tiada henti. Akan tetapi, keyakinan atas pencapaiannya tidak boleh pernah goyah atau redup sedikitpun.

Tentunya di masa yang akan datang kita berharap bahwa tak perlu lagi kita mengais-ngais untuk sekedar mencari sebongkah nurani di tengah-tengah ilalang keadilan. Bahkan saking pentingnya arti sebuah nurani hukum, Mahatma Gandhi pernah menyatakan, “In matters of conscience, the law of the majority has no place”.

* Staf Analis Ketua Mahkamah Konstitusi, Sekretaris Dewan Pakar Ikatan Sarjana Hukum Indonesia (ISHI). Pendapat pribadi.

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Catatan: Artikel ini dipersembahkan untuk kawan-kawan saya para penegak hukum di luar sana yang saya yakini masih banyak sekali yang memiliki idealisme tinggi dan bercita-cita untuk menegakkan hukum dan keadilan dengan moral dan hati nurani tulus serta selalu berusaha untuk tidak terjerat dari praktik gelap mafia hukum. Inilah momentum bagi kita sekalian untuk berani bertindak dengan idealisme suci yang dimiliki. Bangun dan yakinlah, karena anda tidak akan sendirian dalam hal ini!

More news in the Middle East

It is finally here - the long-awaited tipping point in the MIddle East (in my humble opinion). Israel intelligence is saying that Iran has arrived at the threshold of building nuclear weapons - they possess the technology and the enriched uranium and the only thing "separating it from the bomb is the decision to go ahead and build one."

Joel Rosenberg is on top of this and provides an excellent commentary on this situation:

"ISRAELI INTEL SAYS IRAN NOW HAS KNOW HOW TO BUILD NUCLEAR WEAPONS".

The article discusses the fact that Iran also has developed missiles "with the capability of carrying nuclear weapons that could reach Israel." Perhaps more ominous is the following quote:

"Second, Al-Arabiya reported that 'Ahmadinejad says US planning to prevent coming of Mahdi; US wants to stop mankind’s savior: Iran leader.' Excerpt from the story: 'Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said he has documented evidence that the United States is doing what it can to prevent the coming of the Mahdi, the Imam that Muslims believe will be ultimate savior of mankind, press reports said Monday….They have devised all these plans to prevent the coming of the Hidden Imam because they know that the Iranian nation is the one that will prepare the grounds for his coming and will be the supporters of his rule,” said Ahmadinejad…."

Mr Rosenberg's conclusion:

"Analysis: The Obama administration now says they will pursue international sanctions on Iran in January. That could be a good development, but it comes very late in the game. It’s still not clear even crippling sanctions would stop Iran from getting the Bomb. And it may simply be too late. Iran is ready to build the Bomb, according to Israeli intelligence, and has missiles that can reach Israel. So Netanyahu is running out of time. He may feel compelled to hit Iran hard, and soon. Netanyahu’s calculus is complicated by the fact that Ahmadinejad may be growing frustrated that the so-called Islamic Messiah has not yet arrived. In 2007, Ahmadinejad gave a series of speeches says the 12th Imam’s arrival on earth was “imminent.” The Iranian president seemed sincere in that belief, but the Mahdi still has not come. Meanwhile, Ahmadinejad may also be laying the groundwork for apocalyptic violence against the U.S. and Israel, and casting the rationale for such violence in eschatological terms. Bottom line: the situation in the region is steadily deteriorating. Someone’s going to make a move. It’s just not clear who’s going to move first."


A separate article was published today:

"Ahmadinejad Reportedly Claims U.S. is Blocking Return of Mankind's Savior". In this article we see the following:

"Ahmadinejad reportedly claims he has documented evidence that the U.S. is blocking the return of Mahdi, the Imam believed by Muslims to be the savior."

"We have documented proof that they believe that a descendant of the prophet of Islam will raise in these parts and he will dry the roots of all injustice in the world,” Ahmadinejad said during a speech on Monday, according to Al Arabiya."

"They have devised all these plans to prevent the coming of the Hidden Imam because they know that the Iranian nation is the one that will prepare the grounds for his coming and will be the supporters of his rule," Ahmadinejad was quoted as saying."


So there we have it (again). Iran's President Ahmadinejad sincerely believes that the Islamic "messiah" is due to return ("reemerge" may be a better term, but the nuances of Islamic folklore regarding their Mahdi isn't worth a lot of my time) and institute sharia law throughout the world. He also believes that the Mahdi will only return at a time of epic fighting between loyal Islamists and those who refuse to convert to Islam, notably the Nation of Israel. He believes it is his job to precipitate this return of the Mahdi.


There are two quotes from Joel Rosenberg's commentary that stand out the most:

1. "Netanyahu is running out of time. He may feel compelled to hit Iran hard, and soon."

2. "Netanyahu's calculus is complicated by the fact that Ahmadinejad may be growing frustrated that the so-called Islamic Messiah has not yet arrived. In 2007, Ahmadinejad gave a series of speeches says the 12th Imam's arrival on earth was 'imminent'...Meanwhile, Ahmadinejad may also be playing the groundwork for apocalyptic violence against the U.S. and Israel, and casting the rationale for such violence in eschatological terms."

I believe we have reached the tipping point. Israel has no choice at this point, and Netanyahu knows this. Israel is being forced into taking action, and that seems to be JUST what Iran desires.

An Israeli attack on Iran could come at any day now. It could also be a matter of weeks or maybe months, but most experts are predicting that something will have to happen before the end of January, if not sooner. When it happens the region will explode. The hatred directed towards Israel will reach unprecedented levels, and Russia will have to align with Iran.

Big things are coming, it is just a matter of time.

Minggu, 06 Desember 2009

Peace and Security

There is a passage found in 1 Thessalonians 5 that also points to a pre-tribulation rapture. It also informs us of much more. First, the scripture (emphasis mine):

"Now, brothers, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.

While people are saying 'PEACE AND SAFETY', destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.

But you brothers, are NOT IN DARKNESS so that this day should surprise you like a thief. You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness."

"For God DID NOT APPOINT US TO SUFFER WRATH, but to receive SALVATION THROUGH OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST."


We learn several things from this passage.

1. The "Day of the Lord", another phrase to describe the Tribulation, will come upon people very suddenly. In other words, the antichrist will emerge and "confirm the covenant", as described in Daniel 9:27. This will happen suddenly, and perhaps unexpectedly.

2. The Tribulation will begin at a time in which people are crying for "peace and safety" for the Nation of Israel and the Middle East. And it will come on them "suddenly".

3. Those who are in "darkness" (without having reached salvation through Christ Jesus) - will experience "this day" - ie, the day that begins the Tribulation, when the antichrist "confirms the covenant" - as described in Daniel 9:27. This is the official beginning of "the day of the Lord", and therefore, the beginning of the Tribulation.

4. Those who have received salvation through "our Lord Jesus Christ" are NOT APPOINTED to suffer this wrath. Paul had JUST described this process - the process of the Rapture of the Church in the previous chapter of 1 Thessalonians (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17) - in the most definitive description of the Rapture (aka the "gathering up" of His bride).

Back to the original point.

The Tribulation will occur suddenly, at a time in which people are calling for "peace and safety" or, similarly, in many translations, "peace and security" for Israel and the region.

Below is a U-Tube video which was put together by one of our brothers on the "Rapture Ready" website. This video reveals the frequency of this quote and the prophetic implications:


"PEACE AND SECURITY"


Should we be surprised? No. Prophecy is always 100% accurate - exactly as written. This is simply one more example. The fact that the world's leaders are all using the EXACT phrase that 1 Thessalonians 5 described should be no surprise. It is the nature of biblical prophecy. Specific and literal.

It is almost here. The beginning of the Tribulation. The world will see a leader emerge from the revived Roman Empire (Daniel 7) and once he does arrive, he will "confirm the covenant" which officially begins the Tribulation. It will happen suddenly.

But we, the Church are not in darkness. We are of the light. Therefore, according to the scriptures, we will experience a different fate:

"For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of an archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever." (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17)

We know the relative timing of this event - given just a few scriptures earlier in 1 Thessalonians:

"to wait for the Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead - Jesus, WHO RESCUES US FROM THE COMING WRATH." (emphasis mine. 1 Thessalonians 1:10).


Maranatha!

Everything - and I mean everything that we are seeing in the world today reveals the nearness of the hour.

Peace and safety. Its a quote by almost every world leader who is involved in the Middle East peace process.

Just as the Bible informed us. It is coming, and it is coming soon. It is time to be prepared.

Jesus is coming. Be ready.

Further thoughts: The EU and Middle East peace

The latest article regarding the peace efforts in the Middle East has that very title "EU faces 'last chance' for peace in Israel", as written in the EU Observer.

The more I consider this article (see previous commentary) - the more prophetic is seems and it points out several prophetic milestones. It is worth repeating because it seems to point out so many significant "facts" relating to prophecy. Some of this is redundant, but I still believe it is worth repeating.


"The EU must put real pressure on Israel to halt settlement growth in East Jerusalem or risk seeing an escalation of the Middle East conflict that could spill into Europe, a Jewish politician on the front line of the peace process has warned."


"We have reached the last moment when it is still possible to divide and share Jerusalem. If it [decisive action] does not happen this year, it will become impossible to implement any plan like the two-state solution," Meir Margalit, a Jerusalem city councillor, told EUobserver in a phone interview on Thursday (3 December)."

"This is not an internal conflict. You [the EU] are part of this conflict," he added. "I am talking about terrorism. I am talking about another London, about the clash of civilisations. The clash of civilisations started in Jerusalem and it will end in Jerusalem," Mr Margalit said, referring to the tube bombing in the UK capital in 2005."


"Mr Margolit in recent months worked with EU diplomats based in the occupied Palestinian territories to write a study called the "EU Heads of Mission Report on East Jerusalem." The EU paper, dated 23 November, was exposed by Israeli newspaper Haaretz earlier this week and has also been seen by this website.

"Israeli plans for Jerusalem, implemented at an accelerated rate, are undermining prospects for a Palestinian capital in East Jerusalem and incrementally render a sustainable two-state solution unfeasible," the report says."

Meanwhile, Mr Margalit believes the situation has reached such a dangerous point that the EU should consider economic sanctions against Israel. The councillor rejected the argument that Europe cannot influence Israeli policy unless it acts jointly with the US.

"The EU is not a bunch of boy scouts," he said. "It is the biggest power here after the US. It must realise that what happens here will impact what happens in Europe much more than what happens in the US."

"The EU document represents the agreed position of the 21 EU diplomatic delegations in the region and will form part of the background for discussions on Israel when EU foreign minsters meet in Brussels next week."



As one can see from these articles, the whole peace process boils down to the fate of Jerusalem - exactly as Zechariah 12 informed us. We know from the first several passages in Zechariah 12 that the entire world would be lined up against Israel, with "moving" Jerusalem from Israel - aka dividing Jerusalem - the main "obstacle" of the overall plan for peace.

The second interesting aspect of this article is the fact that the EU is becoming SO involved in the effort to divide Jerusalem, and involved in the overall peace process. Prior to completion of the Lisbon Treaty, the EU had been a quiet partner in the "Quartet" (EU, UN, US and Russia) who had been formed to forge a peace plan, but now it appears that the EU has assumed a leadership role. Again, exactly what Bible prophecy would predict.

The third interesting part of this article is found in the fact that the EU foreign ministers are meeting in Brussels next week for "discussions" on Israel.

Just a moments reflection reveals the absurdity of the overall situation. The "nations" are meeting to determine the fate of Israel and Israel's borders. They may or may not allow Israel to be part of this process. It is hard to imagine that we are living in an age in which a sovereign nation can be split up and its borders changed, as part of a "peace process".

Can you imagine if a day came in which an alliance including the UN, the EU and Russia determined that the US should give up southern California and New Mexico - and give the land to Mexico because of "disputed" land? Now, imagine it happening against the will of the United States - as determined by these other countries.

There is only one explanation. It is supernatural. We are witnessing the countdown to the final conflict between good and evil We are witnessing the final countdown between God and Satan. We are witnessing the process of the changing of the guard on planet earth, but it must necessarily involve this scenario that we are now witnessing. Satan has had reign over the earth since Adam and Eve. Jesus is coming to regain the earth for His rule - but only after the Tribulation has run its course.

The revived Roman Empire, which is now a potent force is beginning to flex its muscles in the region. Soon, a leader will emerge and complete the process, while "confirming" the covenant.

It is just a matter of time now, but that time appears to be very near.

Maranatha! Jesus is coming for His bride!

Jumat, 04 Desember 2009

"EU Faces 'last chance' for peace in Israel"

That is the headline in today's article posted in the EU Observer article here.

Below are some interesting quotes from this article:


"The EU must put real pressure on Israel to halt settlement growth in East Jerusalem or risk seeing an escalation of the Middle East conflict that could spill into Europe, a Jewish politician on the front line of the peace process has warned."

"We have reached the last moment when it is still possible to divide and share Jerusalem. If it [decisive action] does not happen this year, it will become impossible to implement any plan like the two-state solution," Meir Margalit, a Jerusalem city councillor, told EUobserver in a phone interview on Thursday (3 December)."


"The clash of civilisations started in Jerusalem and it will end in Jerusalem," Mr Margalit said, referring to the tube bombing in the UK capital in 2005."

{{ Now THAT is an interesting quote isn't it? }}

"Israeli plans for Jerusalem, implemented at an accelerated rate, are undermining prospects for a Palestinian capital in East Jerusalem and incrementally render a sustainable two-state solution unfeasible," the report says."

"It describes how government-backed Jewish communities in the Silwan and Sheikh Jarrah districts of the occupied city are driving out Palestinian residents to encircle the Holy Basin, an area containing sacred sites in Judaism, Christianity and Islam."

"If the Holy Basin is cut off, Muslims will be forced to seek passage to the Al-Aqsa mosque, the third holiest place in Islam, through a cordon of hard-right Jewish settlers, creating a recipe for violence."

"Encirclement would also make it impossible for the old parts of the city to be part of the future capital of a Palestinian state - a red line for Palestinian negotiators."

"The Israeli actions in districts such as Silwan and Sheikh Jarrah "represent both an immediate and long-term strategic threat to European interests," the EU report says."



Several thoughts. The EU is becoming more and more involved in the peace process for Israel, and the dividing of Israeli land, including Jerusalem. It appears that the U.S. has given up its leadership role in the Middle East and deferred to the EU. This has become painfully obvious over the last 2-3 months. Prophecy dictates that this would happen in the latter days.

This article also quoted a representative from the EU stating that the EU may impose sanctions on Israel.

The recent focus on the Middle East and Israel, by the EU is an interesting development, particularly following the Lisbon Treaty. It seems that the EU has "taken it up a notch" on the Middle East process, while the U.S. has been atypically silent. The assumption is that President Obama has his plate full, with Afghanistan, the financial crisis, Iraq, healthcare, etc etc., and as a result is quite happy to give the leadership role to the EU.

It had to happen sooner or later.

The road is being paved for the entrance of the antichrist. This is just one more bit of evidence.

Kamis, 03 Desember 2009

Begging for a fight

Iran's President just won't stop. After snubbing his nose at the UN by declaring that he would build 10 more enrichment plants, rather than discontinuing his nuclear development - he now defies the world by announcing that he will also continue to pursue high grade uranium:

"Iranian President says Tehran to Produce High-Grade Uranium". Quotes from this article:

"Mr. Ahmedinejad thumped his fists on the podium lectern as he drove home his point that Tehran could care less about what the outside world thinks of its nuclear program, insisting that "neither Israel, nor its backers can stop it."

"He also stressed that he is not worried about the military option being used against Iran's nuclear facilities, despite talk of a possible Israeli attack:

He said many people warned him, when he visited the United Nations in September, that Israel would attack Iran's nuclear facilities. He said that is media hyperbole, because there is nothing that Israel can do to stop us."

"It was the second day, Mr. Ahmedinejad grabbed the spotlight on national TV to drive home the point that he is in charge of the country's nuclear agenda and that he would not compromise an inch."


Can there be any doubt that he is baiting Israel to attack?

This is like a situation where someone has hostages - held at some public location - and during negotiations to let the hostages go, the hostage taker states that not only will he NOT let anyone go, he will kidnap several other people during negotiations. Thats how bad this situation with Iran really is.

President Ahmadinejad knows full well that he is boxing Israel in a corner. In fact, he is literally daring Israel to attack.

I believe the question isn't whether Israel will attack their nuclear facilities or not. The question is really when they attack.

And when Israel does attack - everything in the Middle East will change immediately. It is hard to even imagine what would happen next (following the "invasion"). The Muslim world will be inflamed beyond belief, and Russia will immediately become involved. Iran and Russia will most likely work to develop a coalition to attack Israel - presumably the Gog-MaGog coalition.

Keep watching the Middle East - things are getting very interesting in the region.

Rabu, 02 Desember 2009

The Coming Of The 7th Day

The title of this post reflects an article I recently stumbled on, and it is something that has interested me for some time now. It is something that I put in the category or file of "Hmmm...Thats interesting", but not something I have devoted a lot of study to, mainly because it isn't something that is specific to "Signs of the Coming Christ". However, I believe this "theory" (for lack of a better term) has some merit and worth the read. The original link can be found here.



The Coming Of The 7th Day

By Matt Leasher


The book of Genesis records that God created everything in six days and then on the seventh day He rested. Why did it take God six days to create everything and why did He need to rest on the seventh? After all, He is God. I’m sure He could have spun the universe into existence in the blink of an eye without needing any rest afterwards. Being a believer of the Bible as being the infallible truthful Word of God, I do believe that He did it as it is written but I also believe that God does things for a reason.

In 2 Peter 3:8 it says, “But beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.” And in Psalm 90:4 it also says, “For a thousand years in Your sight, are like yesterday when it is past”. These statements are in the Bible for a reason, but for what and why? Could it be that God’s procedure of creation is also a foreshadow of His plan and timetable for man’s destiny?

While there exists much scientific evidence of the earth being much older than 6,000 years this can still be true in light of the scriptures. There is what is called the gap theory. Meaning that scripture does not tell us how much time may have existed between verses 1 and 2 in Genesis. Verse 1 being, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Verse 2 being, “the earth was without form, and void, and darkness was on the face of the deep”. The theory suggests there could be thousands of years between those two verses. Then starting in verse 3 God begins to count the days and what He creates within those days. Of course this does suggest that man has only roamed this earth for 6,000 years and leads us to the debate of evolution, which is a topic for another time. For this study lets just stick to scripture and what God is telling us.

So the question remains, why does God tell us in His Word that He created the earth and the life within, as we know it, in six days and rested on the seventh? Could the beginning be a harbinger of the end? After all, the Lord does declare in Isaiah 46:9-10, “remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done.” The book of Isaiah is a fantastic resource for hearing the words of the Lord directly as many chapters reveal the Lord speaking in the first person. Here He is telling us that He declares the end from the beginning. We are given another hint that the end is determined from the beginning in Ecclesiastes 1:9, “That which has been is what will be, that which is done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun.” Jesus also tells us in Revelation that He is the Alpha and the Omega. The beginning and the end.

To understand this concept it requires circular thinking and an understanding of “prophetic time”. Prophetic time moves in a circle and in cycles. When you come to the end of a circular cycle you are back at the beginning. When 60 seconds is up you start over and begin counting the next 60 seconds. You don’t come to the end of 60 seconds and say “Ok, now what?” Rather, you get a minute out of it and then start counting minutes while the 60 second cycle is still rotating within the minute and then so on with an hour, a day, a week, a month, a year, a decade, a century, a millennia and so on. Cycles within cycles that never stop moving. If you were to remove or add 1 single second from within those cycles all of time would be thrown off and the divine order of things would be disrupted. Interesting how the last few words in the Bible are of Jesus warning us not to add or take away from the words which are written in this book. If the Bible is a prophetic book declaring the destiny of our existence from beginning to end, (which I firmly believe it is), then surely every word in it must be there for a reason and like the divine cycles of time, cannot be tampered with.

Based on Isaiah 46:9-10 we can conclude that God reveals the end of things by encoding them in the beginning of things and that the future is hidden in the past. But why the big secret, why not tell us things straight up so that we can be warned clearly without doubt. First of all, God loves us and would not leave us unwarned, nor would he deceive us with riddles. Just take a look at what He is saying in Isaiah 48:16, “Come near to Me, hear this: I have not spoken in secret from the beginning; from the time that it was I was there.” This is a clear indication that He is not hiding anything from us. Its all in His Word. All we have to do it is pick it up and read it and not try to rely on our own understandings.

So if a thousand years with the Lord is as one day perhaps the Lord is telling us that the six days of creation are representative of the 6,000 years of man’s existence in a sin cursed world and the seventh day of rest is the 1000 year millennium of Christ’s reign on earth after He returns, spoken of in Revelation 20. (Ironically the 1000 years of Jesus’ earthly kingdom are mentioned six times in Revelation 20). The last 1000 years being the “day of rest” as sin will have been wiped off the face of the earth and Jesus will reside as King of Kings and show the earth what it will be like to live in true peace and harmony, …hence, a day (or thousand years) of rest!

If this theory is true then that would mean from Adam to the birth of Jesus would have been the first 4,000 years and from Christ’s first advent to His second coming is the remaining 2,000 years which is the time that we are currently living in which is referred to as “the Church Age” or the “Age of Grace”. That being the case that would also mean that the remaining 2,000 years are almost up! There are even several references from scripture telling us of this 2,000 year period and its closure. These references are almost always in regards to the re-birth of Israel and the Jewish people. The land and the people that God has remarkably preserved throughout the ages specifically for His return! Lets examine them keeping in mind that one day with the Lord is as a thousand years.

In Exodus 19:11 the Lord tells Moses to consecrate the people for 2 days and on the third day the Lord will come down upon Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people. This is very representative of the 2,000 year, (or 2 days), “age of grace” that we currently live in before the Lord returns to be “in our sight”.

In Hosea 6:2 it says, “after two days He will revive us; on the third day He will raise us up, that we may live in His sight”. This is in regards to Israel. We have seen with our very eyes the beginning of Israel’s revival with Israel becoming a nation again in 1948. No other nation in history has ever been eliminated out of existence and come back into existence but miraculously Israel has done it twice! (The first being in the Book of Ezra after King Cyrus allowed them to return to their land after 70 years of captivity in Babylon). Jesus also gave us a prophetical sign of this coming to pass when He cursed the fig tree after entering Jerusalem saying “Let no fruit grow on you ever again”, (Matthew 21:19). Immediately the fig tree withered away. The fig tree of course is representative of Israel, (see Hosea 9:10). Then in Mark 13:28-31, Jesus tells us to learn the parable of the Fig Tree to understand when we are close to the end of the age. He says, “when its branch has become tender, and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. So you also when you see these things happening, know that it is right at the doors! Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place.” Now when a fruit tree begins to bear leaves in the spring that means that the fruit is soon to blossom on it in the summer. Israel becoming a nation again in 1948 was the Fig tree bearing its leaves but Jesus said it would never again bear fruit! Furthermore, the generation that sees this happen will not pass away. A generation according to Psalm 90:10 is 70 years or 80 if by strength. Lets do the math here. 1948 plus 70 brings us to 2018. If by strength we are graced with an extra 10 years then we are looking at 2028 at the latest for the return of the Lord. Either way, it will be in our lifetime! Even though Jesus said we will not know the day or the hour, He did say that we will know when it is right at the door!

Now even though Israel is a nation again the Jews for the most part still reject Jesus as the Messiah and live under the Old Law. However, in recent years many Jews in Israel are converting and becoming what is known as Messianic Jews, or “completed Jews” and are accepting and realizing Christ as the Messiah and as their Savior. This conversion of the Jews cannot fully take place until Jesus returns and is in their presence. So the fact that so many are now starting to convert is a stark sign that He is coming very soon. Preparations for the coming third temple that He will reside in are also well underway as well. This can be observed at http://www.templeinstitute.org/main.htm

Another symbolic sign of the 2,000 year age of grace that we live in is in John 11 where Jesus waits 2 days before going to raise Lazarus from the dead. This is symbolic of the 2,000 years before Jesus returns and raises His faithful from the dead at the Rapture.

In Matthew 17 we see the account of the Transfiguration. Where Jesus takes Peter, James, and John up to a mountain and is transfigured in front of them in their presence. His face shined like the sun and His clothes became white as the light and Moses and Elijah appeared with Him speaking to Him and the Father spoke from the clouds announcing Jesus as His Son. This was no doubt a preview to the three apostles of the glory of what His appearance will be like at His second coming. But what is most noteworthy about this account is that in verse 1 it says, “after six days Jesus took Peter, James and John up on a high mountain...”. If this was a preview of His glory at His second coming than it happened after 6 days! Just like the creation theory.

The Transfiguration event also parallels the description of the rapture in Thessalonians 4:16-17:

“For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.”

Similarly, at the Transfiguration, Moses represents the dead in Christ because he experienced death. Elijah represents those who are alive at the time of the Rapture because he never experienced death, (see 2 Kings 2:11). They, the dead and the alive, join Jesus and are transformed. Also the Old Testament saints and the New Testament saints are together during this event as represented by Moses, Elijah and the three apostles. Although they are not in the air, they are on a “high mountain”. A cloud envelopes them and they are “with the Lord in the clouds”. Lastly the voice of God is heard and we know from other scriptures that the voice of God is like the sound of a trumpet. (See Exodus 19:19, Revelation 1:10 and Revelation 4:1). So the Transfiguration appears to be a rehearsal for the Rapture!

Now getting back to the creation theory and the 7th Day. Not only does God rest on 7th day but the Bible also shows us that God measures time in sevens with rest for His people always being on the 7th day. In the Old Testament the Jews were commanded to work 6 days and always rest on the 7th, that being the Sabbath. Passover lasts for seven days with the last day, (the 7th) being a day of rest. Then the 7th week after Passover comes another day of rest known as the Feast of Weeks (a.k.a. Pentecost). In the 7th month on the Hebrew calendar there are 3 feasts of rest. They are Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kipper and the Feast of Booths (or Tabernacles). Every 7th year was a year of rest for the land where in Exodus 23:11 the Lord says to leave the land unplowed and unused. Then every 49th year, (7 x 7), comes a year of Jubilee (see Leviticus 25:8-17), which is a year of rest for the land and also liberty for all people including the servants and workers.

So in conclusion we can see that the Lord has provided us with several clear, prime examples of the timing of His coming. All we have to do is examine how it all began. There is something to be revealed from the beginning. Even Genesis and Revelation parallel each other. In Genesis the world began with man dwelling with God in paradise until sin cursed the world. In Revelation Jesus will return and bring the world back to a land of perfection and rid the curse of sin from the land providing a glorious day of rest for us all!

Come Lord Jesus