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The End of All Flesh

 by Brian J. Hennessy

       It has long been understood that numbers in the Bible are not just numbers, but symbols that carry spiritual significance. The number three, for example, always symbolizes the Godhead. Five is grace. Seven is perfection. Forty is trial and testing. And so forth.

Years ago a dear friend told me that the number 120 stood for “the end of all flesh,” and at the same time signaled “the beginning of life in the Spirit.” She told me the Lord had shown her this from the words God spoke to Noah before the flood: “Then the Lord said, ‘My Spirit will not strive with man forever, because he also is flesh, nevertheless his days shall be one hundred and twenty years’...Then God said to Noah, ‘The end of all flesh has come’” (Gen 6:3,13).

Over the years, whenever I’d come across the number 120 in the Bible, I would check to see if the symbolism she ascribed to it was substantiated. It always was, although several times I found it used simply as a measurement that didn’t offer enough clues to make a determination.  So in this article I want to talk about those examples that did, not only to demonstrate the incredible consistency of the word of God. But also to uncover some insightful clues about the coming world judgment, the timing of the Lord’s return and the glories that follow. Remember, Jesus warned us that “The coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah....and they did not understand until the flood came and took them all away” (Matt 24:37-39).

Therefore, we want to understand all we can about the timing of these world-changing events so we are well prepared.  But before we investigate the role the number “120” plays in these end time events, let me set the stage a bit.

A New Generation

Scripture tells us that God has another day circled on His heavenly calendar that marks the end of man’s rule on earth as we know it. This coming judgment signifies the fullness of God’s patience in allowing Adam (with Satan manipulating him behind the curtain) to continue his evil reign upon the earth one minute longer. “For He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead” (Acts 17:31).

On that date, Adam will finally be forced to relinquish his hold on power that he has exercised for some 6000 years. A new kind of man will suddenly emerge to replace him and assume total authority for running the planet. He will be a new Adam, a new generation of mankind which has received eternal life through faith in Christ Jesus. He will be “the one new man” (Eph 2:15), a chosen generation of men and women, Jew and Gentile,  who are the descendants of Abraham. And who have through faith overcome every test and every obstacle placed in their path that would have prevented them from receiving their promised inheritance.

Everything about this new adamic generation will be different. They will have a new kind of body with awesome new powers. They will not be made of mortal flesh like the first Adam (1 Cor. 15:49), but clothed with immortality and the glory of divine righteousness (Isa. 60:21). They will be without sin or corruption and will reflect the very character of God. They will rule the kingdoms of earth (Rev. 5:10), but as loving servants of the Most High God. They will be a living temple where Divinity dwells (Eph 2:21), and from which the light of the world shines forth (Rev. 22:5). They will be Jesus (1 John 3:2).

I am sure this is what Jesus meant when He prophesied that “this generation shall not pass away until all these things take place” (Matt 24:34). He was not just referring to the generation of men alive at that time as many have thought and then tried to justify with a theology called Preterism, a teaching that believes the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD fulfilled all the prophecies. No, Jesus was saying this fallen generation of mankind will not pass away before all the events He spoke of took place. Events that will be more frightening than anything ever seen, or ever will be seen, in human history. Only after those things occurred would “this generation” transition into the new generation of which I just spoke. We’re not there yet. But close.

So what is the day marked on the calendar that will signal the transition to this new “generation,” following the wrath of God. We don’t know the exact date. Jesus was very clear about that. “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels, nor the Son, but the Father alone” (Matt 24:36). Nevertheless, there will be signs that will let us know when “summer is near” - even right at the door.

One of those signs, I believe, is the number 120.

So let’s investigate how God used that number in the past to communicate certain truths to us. And then in the final chapter I will share my conclusions.
 

Noah’s 120 years.

The words again to Noah were: “Then the Lord said, ‘My Spirit will not strive with man forever, because he also is flesh, nevertheless his days shall be one hundred and twenty years’” (Gen 6:3).

          Although it is generally assumed God meant either there would be 120 years left before the rains came down, or that the life of man would now be officially limited to 120 years old, neither of those assumptions are supportable. (I will tell you what I think it means at the end of this article.) But one thing that is certain is that the number 120 is introduced here for the first time as a symbolic reference for the “end of all flesh” and the “beginning of life in the Spirit.” Following the judgment of the flood, only one man and his family, along with representative species from the animal kingdom, were deemed worthy in the eyes of God to enter the new world.

Like Noah, we too have been declared righteous through our faith and assured we will be preserved from the coming wrath of God. “For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thess. 5:9). But that is no cause for careless living. Warnings of Scripture abound to keep alert lest we drift off to sleep and allow Satan to break into our house and rob us and we miss the boat. (See my article “Thief in the Night” for greater insight on this theme.) As it happened in Noah’s day, events will unfold quickly.

          The symbolism having been established in Genesis (as all symbolism is), now comes the development of the theme.
 

Moses’ 120 Years.

          Anyone familiar with the story of Moses knows his life was divided up into three, forty-year segments. The first forty he spent in Egypt in Pharaoh’s palace. The next forty he spent on the backside of the desert being prepared by God for the task of delivering Israel from Pharaoh’s slavery. And the last forty he spent leading the people around in the wilderness, waiting for the day when he could bring them into the Promised Land. So he lived a total of 120 years (Deut 34:7). And not a day longer.

          When you investigate this story you see that the 120 years of Moses’ life also speaks of the “end of all flesh.” Although the number is again expressed in terms of years, I believe the symbolism is expanded here to include the other meaning of “flesh” – i.e., the carnal nature. Here’s how I got there.

As we know, Moses never brought the people into the Promised Land.  A seemingly minor infraction to a command from God (see Numbers 20) cost him the chance to finish his mission and he died before stepping one foot on to the promised turf. The honor of bringing Israel into the land fell to Joshua, Moses’ right hand man.

          Realizing that God is sovereign and that nothing happens by accident, I don’t believe for a second that Moses’ minor infraction was the reason he was unable to complete his mission. I believe it was God’s plan from the beginning for him to fail in order to make an important point. As the apostle Paul told us about the experiences of Israel, “these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages has come” (1 Cor. 10:11).

          I believe Moses never had a prayer of getting into the land from day one because his whole personhood was identified with the Law. He was a walking billboard for keeping the commandments. He could not be allowed to enter the land because God wanted to make sure we understood that no one can ever come into the inheritance through the righteousness of the Law, that is by following Moses. There is only one way into our inheritance and that is by following Jesus (Joshua) through faith. Since “The Law is not of faith” (Gal 3:12), it is an ineligible means for us gaining our promised inheritance. It is ineligible because that was not its purpose. Its only purpose or goal is to lead us to Jesus by revealing to us that our sin nature is the thing that was keeping us from obeying God’s commands. What could be a more graphic illustration of this point then to see that not even Moses, Mr. Law himself, could walk in 100% obedience. So God used his one slip-up of striking the rock in anger and speaking rashly with his lips to disqualify him from completing his life’s work.

          We see then that the death of Moses at 120 signifies again the “end of flesh” because the works of the Law (as represented by the Ten Commandments) are only for those who live according to the flesh. Not for those who walk in the Spirit. “For the Law is not made for the righteous, but for lawbreakers and rebels, the ungodly and sinful, etc.” (1 Tim 1: 6,9). Again, its only purpose is to bring us to the end of our flesh life (trusting in our own self effort), and to turn to Jesus. If we go back to trying to receive our inheritance by following Moses, we won’t succeed. We too will die in the wilderness. “For if the inheritance is based on law, it is no longer based on a promise; but God has granted it to Abraham by means of a promise” (Gal 3:18).

          So in the death of Moses the number 120 represents another point of transition. This time it symbolizes the crossing over from flesh (law) to spirit (trust in Jesus). From death to life. From the wilderness of man’s futile endeavors to the land of God’s promised rest and reward.
 

 Solomon’s 120 Trumpets.

          In the Book of Chronicles we find again the number 120, but this time not measured in years. Here it becomes the number of priests blowing trumpets at the dedication of Solomon’s temple. This usage further expands our understanding of the “end of all flesh.”

          In this instance, 120 trumpets were being blown in unison on the day the Ark of the Covenant was brought into the newly constructed temple on the Feast of Succoth (or “Ingathering” or “Tabernacles”). Suddenly the cloud of God’s glory descends and fills the temple. (See 2 Chronicles 5.)

This supernatural event has long been seen as a prophetic picture of the end-time glorification of the completed body of Christ, who is the new covenant temple of God. In other words, the glory that filled the stone temple in Solomon’s day points to the time when He will glorify the human temple of God, the Body of Christ. For if we have believed in Jesus, we have “Christ in us, the hope of glory” ( Col. 1:27). And when that glorifying moment occurs, which will also be accompanied by the blast of a trumpet, we will step out of our adamic flesh into our new bodies:

 “And just as we have borne the image of the earthly [Adam], we shall also bear the image of the heavenly [Adam]... We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we [who are still alive] shall be changed. For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality” (1 Cor. 15: 49,51,52).

           This transforming event, also called by some as “the rapture,” was even prefigured by Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration. In that event we were given a preview of His coming in His kingdom (in us) in power and glory.

 “And He was transfigured before them; and His face shown like the sun; and His garments became white as light. And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him. And Peter answered and said to Jesus, “Lord it is good for us to be here; if you wish I will make three tabernacles here., one for you, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah. While he was still speaking behold, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, ‘This is my Son, whom I love” (Matt 17:5).

        Just like the coming of the Lord at Solomon’s temple, the cloud is present, the glory is present, the transforming moment is present, and the timing was probably the same - during the Feast of Tabernacles. (I base that on the Peter’s remark about building tabernacles for Jesus, Moses and Elijah.) And although there is no trumpet sound here, there is the voice of God present, which in the Book of Revelation is described as a trumpet sound: “On the Lord’s day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet” (Rev. 1:10).

So once again we have the number 120 show up prior to a prophetic transforming event that signals the end of all flesh. This time it is linked to the blast of a trumpet and a specific feast date, namely the Feast of Tabernacles (which occurs around mid-October). This gives us a big clue to the season when our adamic flesh will transition to incorruptible flesh.
 

Darius’ 120 satraps

          We find the mention of “120” also in the Book of Daniel. “It seemed good to [King] Darius to appoint 120 satraps over the kingdom, that they should be in charge of the whole kingdom, and over them three commissioners (of whom Daniel was one)” (Dan. 6:1,2).

          At first, this usage of “120” puzzled me. I couldn’t see how it supported the theme of “the end of all flesh.” Darius the Mede had just conquered the Babylonian kingdom, inheriting in the process the descendants of the House of Judah who now lived there in exile. That certainly represented a period of transition, but the appointing of the 120 satraps (governors) did not precede and signal the change as in all the other examples. It followed the change.

          I did notice, however, that the satraps immediately became jealous of Daniel who had been appointed over them. That spoke of the war of the flesh against the spirit, agreeing with Paul’s words: “But as at that time he who was born according to the flesh [Ishmael] persecuted him who was born according to the spirit [Isaac]” (Gal. 4:29). So I knew the theme was lurking in the background somewhere.

          When I turned to Daniel Nine, I found what I was looking for.

 “In the first year of Darius, the son of Ahasuerus, of Median descent, who was made king over the kingdom of the Chaldeans – in the first year of his reign I, Daniel, observed in the books the number of the years revealed as the word of the Lord to Jeremiah the prophet for the completion of the desolation of Jerusalem, namely seventy years.” (Dan. 9: 1,2)

           It was in the first year of his reign that Darius appointed the 120 satraps. And that is when Daniel suddenly realizes the seventy-year Jewish exile is finished according to the words of Jeremiah and that they will soon be going home. In response to this information, Daniel immediately commits himself to a period of prayer and fasting to prevail upon God to forgive them for their sins (the reason they had been exiled) and to now bring them home according to the prophecy. He intercedes not only for those who were in Babylon with him, the Jews, the descendants of the House of Judah, but also for and those who were “far off,” the exiled descendants of the other ten tribes, the House of Israel - “in all the countries to which Thou has driven them” (Dan. 9:7). Since we know that only the Jews in Babylon returned, and not those Israelites who were far off, we understand Daniel’s Spirit-inspired intercession will be answered in the future when all Israel will finally be brought home.

          The immediate answer he received to his prayer was the angel Gabriel showing up to tell him about the mysterious seventy weeks that “have been decreed for your people and the holy city, to finish the transgression, to make an end to sin, to make atonement for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most holy place” (Dan. 9:24).  So clearly we have an “end of all flesh” scenario in unison with the appointment of the 120 satraps. The message? Man’s government on this earth will one day be replaced by the government of God. This is reinforced by the fact the number twelve stands for divine government, as evidenced by the 12 apostles and twelve ruling tribes of Israel. The transition to that government is connected to the complete restoration of Israel.
 

Jesus’ 120 Disciples

          The mention of the 120 disciples of the Lord gathered together on Pentecost eve in the New Testament (Acts 1:15) is probably the clearest declaration that this number signifies the “end of all flesh” and “the beginning of life in the Spirit.”  For as these 120 Jewish men and women waited in Jerusalem as Jesus had instructed them, they were suddenly transformed by the indwelling presence and power of the Holy Spirit. In a moment they went from men of craven flesh to men of the Spirit who would soon turn the world upside down with the gospel.

          It would be through their anointed preaching of that gospel that God would finally begin the process of gathering together all the scattered descendants of Abraham for whom Daniel prayed. And of whom Isaiah prophesied: “And He came and preached peace to you who were far away, and peace to those who were near” (Eph. 2:17; Isa. 57:19).

Paul was given the understanding that God had hidden the rest of Israel among the Gentiles. He saw that those scattered descendants who were labeled “far off” -  those “who were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in this world” (Eph 2: 12,13) – could now be brought near through the blood of Christ. And that the middle wall of partition that had separated us – the Mosaic Law  - had been broken down so that both Jew and Gentile believer could become “one new man” in Him – apart from the Law. Only in Jesus, the son of David, could Israel ever be fully restored.

A few days after the infilling of the Holy Spirit in the disciples, Peter would declare to all the Jews gathered in Jerusalem for the Feast of Shavuot (Pentecost) that Jesus, who had risen from the grave, had returned to heaven and would remain there “until the restoration of all things about which God spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from ancient time” (Acts 3:21). That is, Jesus wouldn’t be coming back until all the chosen descendants of Abraham from every tribe had been found and brought home to Israel as all the prophets had spoken. The instrument God would use to locate His lost sheep would be the Gospel.

We can see that the promise of Israel’s restoration was uppermost in the mind of the disciples 10 days earlier when Peter and all the disciples asked Jesus, “Is it at this time that you are restoring the kingdom to Israel?” (Acts 1:6). They obviously hoped it was imminent. Jesus confirmed that it was definitely a date on the Father’s calendar, but that that they didn’t have enough security clearance to receive that information. Or, as He put it, “It is not for you to know times and epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority” (Acts 1:7).

However, after the arrival of the Holy Spirit, the disciples now fully understood that “the restoration of the kingdom to Israel” clearly lay in the future. There was still work to be done before that promise would be fulfilled. The Gospel had to be preached in Judea, Samaria and the remotest parts of the earth before He could return. Of course, at that point, they thought the gospel was for “Jews only.” The revelation that the Gentiles were to be included would not come until Peter arrived at the home of Cornelius (see Acts 8). It would then be further championed by Paul who would be uniquely called and gifted to become the apostle to the Gentiles.

2000 years have now come and gone. Still, the judgment of God on all flesh, the complete restoration of Israel and the appearing of a new generation of mankind in Messiah have not arrived. But we are that much closer. We are still waiting for all those Gentiles who are called by His name to be found and brought in so Jewish eyes can be opened to recognize their Messiah – “and thus all Israel will be saved” (Rom 11:26).

When it does come, it seems only those who are God’s elect, i.e. the chosen seed of Abraham, both living and dead, will transition to their new resurrected bodies. Only those who were willing to lose their lives now will regain it a hundred times over here on earth in calendar time. The rest of the world, those who survive the judgment of God, it seems will not be changed until later when there will be a second resurrection. For the next thousand years then God’s people will rule the earth as the new Adam from Jerusalem until “He has abolished all rule and all authority and power... and made His enemies a footstool for His feet.” Then will the true end come and the new heaven and earth will appear along with the final resurrection of the dead. (See 1 Cor. 15:22-24, 51,52; Rev 20: 4-6; Zech 14:16,17; Isa. 60: 11-14; Ps 66:3,4; Ps 110:1) At least, that represents my best understanding right now.  

 

The Final “120”

So what will be the telltale “120” that will signify God’s final judgment on all flesh and bring in the “new generation?”

When I started this article I had no clue. I only had a couple of possible candidates to suggest.

For example, it was just reported (the day before Rosh Hashanah, 2008) that the United States sold a sophisticated new, high-powered radar technology to Israel. But that technology required 120 American soldiers from the Joint Tactical Ground Station (JTAGS) to be assigned to support the system. This deployment, according to the article, represents “the first visibly permanent presence in Israel of American personnel.” Could this could be the “120” we were looking for.

Another possibility is the Knesset, the present government of Israel. It s comprised of a 120 members. This government of man could be likened to the 120 satraps that signaled the promised ingathering of Israel and the establishment of God’s Kingdom under the Son of David (who we know is Jesus). Presently the government of Israel is in disarray at it tries to transition from the departure of the corrupt Ehud Olmert regime to a new coalition. Maybe this “120” is the final sign.

But then the Lord gave me a gigantic insight into this whole mystery. I attended my 50th high school class reunion in my hometown in Connecticut (yes, I am that old), and the Lord used that emotional experience to reveal what I believe is the final “120.”

 My wife, who had attended the same school, went with me and we had an absolutely wonderful time meeting our old classmates and renewing old times. The amazing thing about the experience was that in spite of the many years of separation, only our appearances had really changed. Remove the wrinkles, gray hair, and extra pounds (on some), and everyone was pretty much the same as I remembered them in high school. It was like we all went off to live in a parallel universe for awhile, but for one weekend a window opened and we were able to return and pick up where we left off. There was no need for introductions or small talk. We all accepted one another because we had graduated together and survived the challenges of life. It was just a time for joyful fellowship.

After my wife and I returned to our current universe I couldn’t get the weekend out of my mind. It had been so joyful, so emotionally fulfilling, I wondered if the Lord wanted me to pursue those rekindled relationships in order to tell them more about Him. At the reunion I had had almost no opportunity to share the truly life-changing spiritual renewal I’d experienced since graduation. Like I say, it lingered with me for days.

 That’s when the Lord suddenly showed me one morning what the strange joy in my heart was all about. I was experiencing a prophetic taste of what is about to occur when He invites all His scattered sheep from every nation to come home to Israel for the grandest reunion in history – the coming together of all Israel (born-again Gentiles) and Judah (born-again Jews) under one king (Jesus) at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb.

 Zechariah described the event like this about 2500 years ago:
 

 “And I shall strengthen the house of Judah,

 And I shall save the house of Joseph [Ephraim, Israel],

And I shall bring them back,

Because I have had compassion on them,

For I am the Lord their God, and I will answer them.

And Ephraim will be like a mighty man,

And their heart will be glad as if from wine;

Indeed, their children will see it and be glad,

Their heart will rejoice in the Lord.

I will whistle for them to gather them together,

For I have redeemed them;

And they will be as numerous as they were before.

When I scatter them among the peoples,

They will remember Me in far countries,

And they with their children will live and come back.”

                   (Zechariah 10: 6-9)

 

Zechariah isn’t alone, of course. All the prophets spoke of this happy

homecoming. If  you’d like to receive a few more invitations, check out Isaiah 11:11-16, 25:6-9 and 49:11-21, Jeremiah 23:3-8 and 31:1-12, Ezekiel 37: 15-28, Hosea 1;10,11, and Zephaniah 3:14-20  to list just a few. All told there are about 700 verses dedicated to this wonderful reunion.    

But the real ah-ha moment of this revelation came when I realized

that just  as my high school reunion was my fiftieth, our future homecoming will no doubt take place on Israel’s fiftieth reunion also – namely the Jubilee Year. This Levitical ordinance, that Israel was to keep every fifty years, was a prophetic sign pointing to the end-time restoration of Israel and God’s promised rest.

 

“You shall thus consecrate the fiftieth year and proclaim a release through the land to all its inhabitants [the verse inscribed on the Liberty Bell]. It shall be a jubilee for you, and each of you shall return to his own property, and each of you shall return to his family.” (Lev. 25:10)

 

          So what does this jubilant homecoming reunion have to do with the number “120?”

          Well, if I am putting all this together correctly, then I suspect the Jubilee year that will trigger this great homecoming will most likely be the 120th. Jubilee year. Why?  Do the math. If you divide 6000 years of man’s existence on earth by 50 Jubilee-year cycles you get 120. In the Jewish reckoning, mankind is living in the year 5769 which began on September 29th, 2008. Not only does this show we are in the ballpark, but I believe we may be a lot closer to 6000 than that estimate places us. I have a strong sense we are now in the final years of the 119th Jubilee cycle.

          If that is true, then when God told Noah (and us) that man’s days “shall be 120 years” he was not speaking about calendar years – but Jubilee years. He was saying He was giving mankind a total of 6000 years before He sent the final judgment that would finally rid the world of the dominance of flesh. If we are as close as I suspect, it means we are on the verge of transitioning into the seventh millennium. This seventh 1000-year period of mankind’s history is God’s Seventh Day, the Sabbath rest of God. It is also called the Day of the Lord.

Although we don’t know the year this will occur, we have a good clue as to the day. How come? Because we know when God told Israel to inaugurate the Year of Jubilee. They were to blow “a ram’s horn abroad on the tenth day of the seventh month; on the day of atonement you shall sound the horn all through your land” (Lev. 25:9). This day of atonement the Jews call Yom Kippur. It was the only day in the year the high priest went into the Holies of Holies to atone for the sins of Israel. (I don’t believe this contradicts the Lord’s word that we won’t know “the day nor hour,” because without the year we can’t know the exact day - or date.)

Notice also that many of the signs surrounding “120” are present. The trumpet, the time of the Feast of Tabernacles, the encountering of God’s presence in the temple, the transition from the bondage of this world’s economic and judicial system to God’s kingdom rule, and the reunion and ingathering of all the tribes of Israel.

And guess what? The day of atonement is also referred to as “the Day of the Lord,” the same title given to the seventh millennium and the time of His wrath. This gives us even further proof we are on the right track. So I would say that on some not-too-distant Yom Kippur, which will initiate our 120th Jubilee year, we will enter into the tabernacle Presence of God, our Noah’s ark, and reunite there with our brethren and our Lord. And life will never be the same again. Thank God!

 

“Come My people, enter into your rooms, and close your doors behind you; Hide for a little while, until indignation runs its course. For behold, the Lord is about to come out from His place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity; and the earth will reveal her bloodshed, and will no longer cover her slain.” (Isaiah 26:20,21)

 

“For in the day of trouble He will conceal me in His tabernacle; in the sacred place of His tent, He will hide me; He will lift me up on a rock”.   (Psalm 27:5)

 

P.S.

My son, Chris, just made me aware there is another “120” that might very well signal the coming of the “Day of the Lord” and the world’s final cataclysmic judgment. On January 20, 2009, Barak Hussein Obama will be inaugurated as President of the United States. January 20th could be seen as 120.

 

January 2009

 

                        Contact Brian Hennessy at:   brian@bhennessy.com                     Copyright ©2008  -  Brian Hennessy Ministries