This post will deal with a very concise and relevant passage in the book of Hosea. “For I will be like a lion to Ephraim, and like a young lion to the house of Judah. I, even I, will tear them and go away; I will take them away, and no one shall rescue. I will return again to my place, till they acknowledge their offense. Then they will seek my face; in their affliction they will earnestly seek Me. Come, and let us return to the Lord; for He has torn, but He will heal us; He has stricken, but He will bind us up. After two days He will revive us; on the third day He will raise us up, that we may live in His sight.” (Hosea 5:14 – 6:2) Many bible commentators say that this refers to the Assyrian destruction of the northern kingdom (Israel) in Hosea’s day, but notice that it concerns Judah as well. It clearly describes a time future to Hosea.
In my analysis, God, through Hosea, is saying this: I’m going to destroy Israel and Judah (Judea and Jerusalem) and I am going away, to my place. Total destruction came upon Jerusalem in 70 AD shortly after Jesus resurrection and ascension to heaven. He went back to His place (at the right hand of the Father). The Jews were carried off as slaves to the nations. There they still remain till they acknowledge their offense and earnestly seek Him. Note that they will do this in their affliction (great tribulation). God will revive them “after two days“. On the third day He will raise (resurrect) them to life in His sight (presence). This , of course will happen on the day of the Lord, when He returns and resurrects all His saints. According to this text, when will this happen ? After two days ! Two days here cannot mean 48 hours. We, again, must use the Lord’s reckoning of a day as a thousand years. The third day represents the seventh millennium , Christ’s kingdom on earth. The resurrection takes place on the first day of the kingdom. So, it follows then, that 2000 years from the crucifixion is Jesus’ coming. With the assumption that the crucifixion took place in 30 AD; 30 + 2000 = 2030.
Indeed, quite a detailed prophecy. More confirmation of the general time period of Jesus second advent put forth in the first two posts. This prophesied 2000 year period is most likely the “gap” between Daniel’s 69th and 70th week. We’ll look at another description of this gap in the next post.