Climax AD 2026: The Seven Millennial Day View

By Gary Overholt and Walter Overholt

History had a beginning, and it will have an end based up God's creative order, His judgment, and the reconciliation of all Christians through regeneration in Christ. God's plan has always been one of restoration since the inception of sin as outlined in the book of Genesis. The biblical mandate of a week as a measure of time cannot be duplicated in any natural process. "The Seven Millennial Day View" implies that this week may serve as a template for God's plan of redemption.

"Climax AD 2026" explores in debate style format when the sixth week of creation or the church age will end based upon the biblical timeline and possible outliers. God has always had a view toward the end and this book will briefly review some of the past, present, and future events and markers that indicate the end of the ages are very near.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: Nov 7, 2020
• ISBN: 9781098335151

Gary Overholt

Gary Overholt– is Associate Pastor of Men and Marrieds at Inland Hills Church in Chino, California, a graduate of Kings Seminary and a Certified Pastoral Counselor with the Board of Christian Professional and Pastoral Counselors. Gary and his wife Fran have mentored hundreds of couples, trained teachers and marriage mentors and taught marriage classes together for over 20 years.

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Copyright © 2020 by Walter Overholt

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Print ISBN: 978-1-09833-514-4

eBook ISBN: 978-1-09833-515-1

First Edition

Contents

Preface

Introduction

Climax (Apotheosis)

Climax or Anti-Climax

Azusa Street Revival

Pentecostalism

AD 33

Crucifixion Date

Days of NoahThe Escape

Apostasy

Gary’s Windup

Walt’s Windup: Ignorance is Not Bliss

Appendices

Endnotes

Preface

The scope of this book is not to educate anyone in biblical eschatology. It is a call for all Christians to listen to God’s Word and be ready for His imminent and glorious return as we are commanded to do in Scripture (Matthew 24:42-44, 1 Thessalonians 5:2-6). As Christians, God expects us to know the signs of the times (Matthew 16:3-4) as the history of this world approaches its final destiny (2 Peter 3:10-13).

What should the beloved of God do as we sit upon the precipice of time waiting for God to exact justice upon the wicked? We are to be diligent keepers of God’s Word and our day to day business (our coming and going) must be above reproach, without spot or blemish (2 Peter 3:14). We are to patiently wait for His return as we go out to the lost sheep, awakening them to the gospel of Jesus Christ while there is still time. We must, again, seek to grow in the knowledge and grace of our God no matter how difficult it may be to serve Him and fulfill the ministry (2 Timothy 4:5). For example, the book of Revelation is hard to understand but you still cannot throw it out with the bathwater. If you fail to know God’s Word and His hand in history, then you subject yourself to being carried away by the error of lawless people and may lose your stability (2 Peter 3:17). Don’t succumb to the weight of the world; be anchored to the Rock (Isaiah 44:8). Yet, always be ready to answer to any man asking about the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence (1 Peter 3:15).

Paul describes the people during the last days as always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth (2 Timothy 3:7). Jesus said, But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me (John 8:45). In John 14:6, He said, I am the way, and the truth, and the life.... John 16:13 states, When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. So, what is this truth? Here is the homerun: Jesus said in His high priestly prayer, Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. Here is the key: God’s Word must be the standard and we must draw near to listen and not just offer the sacrifice of fools—vain dreams, interpretations, and empty words! Christians may not dismiss God’s Holy Writ, as many pastors have done these days. Jesus, Himself, quoted Scripture over and over again while alluding to the Law, the Prophets, and the Psalms in many other instances during His first earthly visit. The Son of God did not dismiss the truth of God’s Word and neither must His elect. Jesus, knowing man, put it this way on one occasion, How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God (John 5:44)? Praise God, He is coming soon; sooner than many think, so be sober and alert as that day draws near!

Rancho Cucamonga, CA

Author: WJO

Introduction

I want to say up-front, We are not predicting the end of the World, though the end will come (2 Peter 3:10)! We are not predicting the day or the hour of Christ’s return (Mark 13:32), though He will return (Luke 21:27)! We are exploring a centuries-old idea that I will refer to as "The Seven Millennial Day View." My faith is not based on rightly interpreting fantastic signs or an obsessive need to crack some mythical Bible code but my faith is based on God’s Word (The Bible), which reveals the atoning death of God’s only begotten Son, Jesus Christ (John 3:16) and His bodily resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:3-4).

The Bible is God’s revelation of Himself to us, His creation. He has not only provided us with a direct revelation of His character and His purposes but He has also provided us with signs and wonders of supernatural events both past, present, and future (Hebrews 2:4). His revelation and His signs are knowable and since they are knowable I want to know them. Even so, I am content to trust in Him alone for the unknowable.

This book is written in a debate-style format between me and my brother. I have written the odd chapters and the even chapters were written by my brother, Walt, who is a proficient theologian in his own right. Our study and formulation of ideas began, informally, several years ago. Our purpose now is to encourage you and provoke you to study God’s Word concerning your faith and the things which must take place (Revelation 4:1).

Chapter 1

Climax (Apotheosis)

We are approaching a possible climax in history. A climax based on a historical viewpoint that has been mostly ignored and for the most part inexplicably forgotten decades ago. This potential climax is building as we approach the possible completion of the first 6000 years of earth’s history. Does God have a 7000-year plan for the earth and humanity (The Seven Millennial Day View)? Or is our understanding of God’s timing completely unknowable and irrelevant. We will soon know if indeed God has been operating on a 7000-year plan. Under such a view, major Biblical events are prophesied to occur before the last 1000 years.

Dating the creation of heaven and earth using only the chronological history, recorded in the book of Genesis, can lead to slight variations in dates but by most calculations we are approaching, within a margin of error, the 6000-year point from creation; 6000 AM (Anno Mundi). From a biblical perspective, once it is no longer feasible to calculate the age of the earth to be younger than 6000 years the 7000-year plan or The Seven Millennial Day View (explained later) becomes obsolete and immaterial. The moment of truth is at hand.

The Biblical history of the earth highlights many great and climactic events, including:

Creation of time, space and matter

Creation of biological life

Creation of mankind in God’s image

The fall of mankind explaining the current state of everything in our world

The worldwide flood, the definitive answer to the current geologic table

The creation of nations of peoples through the separation of languages

The ordaining of a godly nation in order to preserve God’s revelation

God becoming a man in the person of Jesus Christ

Jesus Christ being executed on the cross and resurrecting from the dead

The gathering of followers into an institution we call the church

All of these climactic events listed have caused certain paradigm shifts in our world and have implications regarding our future. Furthermore, all of these climactic events were recorded in the Bible to help us know and understand God and His plans for mankind and all of His creation.

The Bible is more than just a history book, though it is accurate in its recording of history. Likewise, the Bible is more than a book of meta-physical guidance, though it does provide a spiritual road map. The Bible is God’s revelation of Himself, His creation, and His eternal purposes for humanity.

The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ is arguably the greatest event in history to date. Humanity’s understanding of this event has united, divided, and influenced civilizations and cultures for centuries. Jesus Christ, the suffering servant (Isaiah 52-53, Luke 24:25-27), who died and rose again for the salvation of all men and women, who were already condemned to eternal punishment (John 3:18), will return again someday in power and glory (1Thess. 4:16-17, Zech. 14:4). The advent of Jesus was the climax of the Old Testament and the beginning of the New (Luke 22:20), and His resurrection marked the beginning of a journey to the ultimate climactic event, yet in the future: The Second Coming of Jesus Christ to establish His prophesied earthly Kingdom (Matt. 25:31).

I have drawn some conclusions about the future timing of this great and future event. I want to share them with you right up front. There are many elements to consider for this proposition but the overall concept is quite simplistic. I understand the peril in even suggesting a date for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. Many so-called prophets and quacks alike have suggested dates over the years and have obviously been proven wrong. I am not claiming to be a prophet, holding any special revelation or understanding but I am merely pointing out some biblically related observations that may or may not prove to be valuable on this topic.

Let me add that in recent history some conservative theologians and Christian leaders have identified it as somewhat heretical to even breach this subject. After all, they would say, We cannot know the timeline for the return of Christ because only God the Father knows the day and the hour (Matt. 24:36). However, the way I see it, Jesus expected the Jews of the first century to have understood the scriptures and recognized Him as the Messiah (Matt. 16:1-4). So, it may be prudent for us, not to be caught off guard (Luke 12:37, 1 Thess. 5). The day and the hour may not be knowable but maybe the time and seasons are (Matthew 24:32-33). Soldiers of the watchtower should not be found sleeping at their post but found sober and awake (Ezekiel 33:6). For this reason, I am not afraid to pick up a pair of binoculars and scan the prophetical horizon. As the day approaches, the focus moves from fuzzy to clear and we should be continually adjusting our lens. We should be encouraging each other to love and to do good deeds and we ought to see the day approaching (Heb. 10:24). Consequently, let us not shrink back as we prepare to meet our Creator face to face (Heb. 10:39).

My theory begins with certain foundational understandings and viewpoints of Scripture and an age old Seven Millennial Day View based on the days of Creation. These understandings, if inaccurate will adversely affect the conclusions that have been drawn. These understandings include:

A literal six-day creation and a young earth theology, against popular opinion

Complete reliability of God’s Word, the Bible; a view becoming less popular

A worldwide or global flood, against modern popular opinion

A dispensational view of Israel and the church; always controversial

A seven-year tribulation period following the rapture of the church; a recently disparaged view (Pre-Tribulation Rapture)

A literal 1000-year earthly Millennial Kingdom (Pre-Millennialism)

Using these doctrinal viewpoints as foundational to The Seven Millennial Day View, I would like to suggest that the rapture of the church could be the beginning of the ultimate climax occurring in the year AD 2026, culminating in the glorious Second Coming of Jesus Christ in AD 2033. It is impossible to be too dogmatic when it comes to the calendar or chronological dating issues but with the current information available, if correct, these years are biblically plausible. I will explain, but first, if you are like me the suggestion of these dates should raise your eyebrows, make your heart skip a beat, and take your breath away.

Our days are numbered and these near dates should inspire you to share your faith with those around you and work out your own salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12). Perhaps attempting