I do take the six days of creation literally, but I think it represents more. Notice that on the second day that the waters were separated up and down, and the expanse (called heaven) appeared. I believe this represents the separation than physically began with Jacob and his sons (or Abraham, if you like). They were lifted, so speak, above everyone else thus creating an expanse between God's people and not God's people. The only way to cross this expanse, that I know of, was to be a slave to one of the Israelites and for them to except you. Jesus broke this expanse, wouldn't you agree. Now, under the new heaven and earth you can decide to be one of God's children. Yes, I believe all the days of creation stand for a much longer period of time. No, I don't think it is intended to determine when God will end the world.
You can just laugh if you want, it's okay.
I would like to add that I think Jesus put an end to the regular sacrifice by becoming the ultimate sacrifice. But that's another subject.
God divides the waters with an atmosphere, then made a mist to water the ground written in
Genesis 1:6-8. While Israel is gathered together, after camping out close to the Red Sea, (according to
Exodus 14:2) the Egyptians were in hot pursuit, at precisely the right time, God gives them an escape route through the Red Sea. In
Exodus 14:13 we read, “Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD.” While God divides the waters of the Red Sea, the pillar of fire that was once in front of them goes behind them to keep the Egyptians at bay.
Next day
One mass of earth comes above the surface of the water making it fit for the plants, and seeds to grow that were previously created. Water is now available for the plants to survive. We can compare this to the parable of the sower and the seed in
Matthew 13:19-23 depicting the heart as the ground, and the seed as the Word of God.
According to
Exodus 15:22, Israel had wandered for three days in the wilderness and found no water. This would be the very same day and month when Jesus rose from the tomb. God showed Moses a tree (relating to the cross of Jesus) and cast the tree into bitter waters and the waters became fit to drink. God said if Israel would obey His instructions (commandments) that they would be free from the diseases that were prevalent in Egypt, representing the world’s values. As Israel continued their trek, and arrived at Elim, they found seven wells, and seventy palm trees. The seven wells represent resurrection, spiritual completeness, and the Father’s perfection. The seventy palm trees represent Egypt’s punishment, and the restoration of Israel, depicting a new birth, or being born again as relating to the conversation between Nicodemus and Jesus. Jesus had another conversation with a Samaritan woman at a well in
John 4:7 and 10b, and He says to her, “give me to drink” clarifying that He is the living water. “Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink. If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.
New Heaven and New earth was not directly after Jesus. According to Peter, when He wrote his Epistle, he and those he was writing to were still waiting. I think we are still waiting with expectation for that to happen.
2 Peter 3:13 (KJV)
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13 [/SUP]Nevertheless we, according to his promise,
look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
Revelation 21:1-2 (KJV)
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1 [/SUP]And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: f
or the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
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2 [/SUP]And I John saw the holy city,
new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
A new heaven and earth will come when the marriage of the lamb takes place. The feast of tabernacles then, will be a spiritual experience for the entire world. It becomes a beautiful picture in ones mind and heart.
Zechariah 14:16-19 (KJV)
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16 [/SUP]And
it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the
feast of tabernacles.
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17 [/SUP]And it shall be,
that whoso will not come up of
all the families of the earth unto Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, even upon them shall be no rain.
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18 [/SUP]And if the family of Egypt go not up, and come not, that
have no
rain; there shall be the plague, wherewith the LORD will smite the heathen that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles.
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19 [/SUP]This shall be the punishment of Egypt, and
the punishment of all nations that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles.