Prophetic words for the end times?

READER QUESTION:

While I was reading Ex 19 I could not help but notice what appears to me to be prophetic words in regards to the End Times.

Ex 19 verses 10 to 13 "10 so Adonai said to Moshe, “Go to the people; today and tomorrow separate them for me by having them wash their clothing; 11 and prepare for the third day. For on the third day, Adonai will come down on Mount Sinai before the eyes of all the people. 12 You are to set limits for the people all around; and say, ‘Be careful not to go up on the mountain or even touch its base; whoever touches the mountain will surely be put to death. 13 No hand is to touch him; for he must be stoned or shot by arrows; neither animal nor human will be allowed to live.’ When the shofar sounds, they may go up on the mountain.”

After reading this a couple of times, here is how my mind played it out in regards to End Times:

1. "today and tomorrow separate them for me by having them wash their clothing" - following the death, crucifixion and resurrection of our Messiah, we have been given 2 more days (2,000 years??) to turn to YHWH and cleanse our self of this world (wash our clothing).

2. "and prepare for the third day. For on the third day, Adonai will come down on Mount Sinai before the eyes of all the people" - after that time, Yeshua will return and the whole world will see Him when he does (Rev 1:7)

3. "12 You are to set limits for the people all around; and say, ‘Be careful not to go up on the mountain or even touch its base; whoever touches the mountain will surely be put to death. 13 No hand is to touch him; for he must be stoned or shot by arrows; neither animal nor human will be allowed to live." - when that happens, Mt Tziyon will be holy as YHWH (Yeshua) will be there. (Isa 11:9; Isa 56:7; Eze 20:40; Joel 4:17; Zeph 3:11).

4. "When the shofar sounds, they may go up on the mountain." - to me this refers to 1 Thess 4:15-17.

I am keen to get your feedback on this as well. Is this interpretation possible/reasonable to make given the parallels we see with other parts of scripture?

OUR RESPONSE:

Excellent observation! Yes, you are seeing a certain prophecy or prophetic word here. In fact Christianity is "all over" this prophecy while Judaism seems quite reserved. But just what is fact and what is hopeful fiction is hard to discern. Your particular observations, #1, #2, and #3 are quite telling.

Your #1 "Separate them". This is the very meaning of "kadosh" (English "holy") is to "be separate and special" which YHWH commands numerous times in the Torah.

Your #2 "Prepare for the 3rd day" certainly strikes a nerve in me. I'm thinking of the "be prepared" part, not necessarily the "3 days" part. Three days is actually a long time. Much can be forgotten in 3 days. But Yeshua said "Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect" (Matthew 24:44). It is not a direct "3-day" reference but the part about "be prepared" seems to resonate with "prepare for the third day" found in Exodus 19:11.

Your #3 seems to resonate with the entombment of the Messiah. No one was to go near him, the tomb sealed and guarded.

There are certainly many connections to "3 days" in scripture. Many are a stretch to link to a prophecy, but there are 5 I've encountered which seem prophetic to me.

1. In Genesis 1:12, life is "brought forth". That was the 3rd day of creation.
2. In Genesis 22:4-6, Abraham took 3 days to journey to where he was to sacrifice Isaac; yet on the 3rd day Isaac lived.
3. Exodus 19:9-11, the citation you made, the people were given 3-days to cleanse themselves.
4. Jonah 1:17, Jonah in the belly of the fish for 3 days (which Yeshua references).
5. And Hosea 6:1-2, most powerful, we are to return to YHWH and on the 3rd day WE are revived and raised to live in His presence.