2020...A Tale of Two Years? Best year ever, worst year ever. I am not a big consumer of classic literature except for the Bible, but for some reason the Lord brought the Dickens classic A Tale of Two Cities to mind this morning along with this well-known quote, which seems to have a quite prophetic flavor for the moment of time in which we find ourselves: "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to heaven, we were all going direct the other way - in short, the period was so far like the present period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only." Watchman, having read many of the classics and studied a few during undergrad philosophy and sociology, the Tale of Two Cities by Dickens is set in a very uncertain time indeed, prior two and during the French Revolution, the main character, Carton actually sacrifices his life for his friends Charles & Lucie, he replaces Charles held in prison - holds many similarities to the happenings of today by a revolt, but the revolt was against the aristocratic tyranny, whereas, we are seeing tyranny because of evil hating Godliness.... one of my favorite lines from Carton is ... “It is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done; it is a far, far better rest that I go to, than I have ever known.” Great analogies! All so true! TR 20 is an interesting number in the Bible. 2020 is a double 20 so perhaps the meaning is amplified. The Meaning of Numbers: The Number 20 For 20 years Jacob waited to get possession of his wives and property, and to be freed from the control of Laban his father-in-law (Genesis 31:38 - 41). For 20 years the children of Israel waited to be freed of Jabin, king of Canaan, who oppressed them. God response was to raise up Deborah and Barak, who freed the people from bondage (Judges 4 - 5). In the days of Samuel the prophet the Philistines battled and overcame Israel, taking the Ark of the Covenant back to their land. The Ark brought such calamities on the Philistines that after seven months they gave it back to the Israelites. It ended up in the city of Kirjath-jearim, which is several miles west of Jerusalem. Israel had to wait at least twenty years (1Samuel 5 - 7) before the Ark would be moved again. https://www.biblestudy.org/bibleref/meaning-of-numbers-in-bible/20.html TWENTY: This number is the double of ten, and may in some cases signify its concentrated meaning. But its significance seems to be connected with the fact that it is one short of twenty-one. That is to say, if twenty-one is the three-fold seven, and signifies divine (3) completion as regards spiritual perfection (7), then twenty, being one short of twenty-one would signify expectancy. There are numerous illustrations in Scripture to support this explanation Twenty years Jacob waited to get possession of his wives and property [Genesis 31:38-41]. http://www.agapebiblestudy.com/documents/The%20Significance%20of%20Numbers%20in%20Scripture.htm Again, great insights! The double 20 is for emphasis indeed signifying this is the Lord's year, and ours! What a grin the Lord will have on His face as He gathers His sheep and bring us to the Heavenly sheepfold! TR
I can understand the French Revolution (having visited the palace of Versailles and it’s ornate use of gold and extreme luxuries at the high cost of the common man, who lived in abject poverty) for the common folks revolt better than the tyranny of the current evil. Although the epic words you mentioned speak intensely of the truth of the day. The opposites of good as presented by our Lord and evil as present in this present age are clearly drawing the lines. We need to leave .... :prayer-hands: Appreciate the walk in memory lane as to the debate of meaning for the classics! :thankyou
Twenty (20), which is one more than nineteen, is twice ten and can, at times, mean a complete or perfect waiting period.
Twenty years Israel waited for a deliverer from Jabin's oppression [Judges 4:3].
Twenty years Israel waited for deliverance until Samson [Judges 15:20; 16:31].
Twenty years the Ark of the Covenant waited at Kirjath-jearim [1 Samuel 7:2].
Twenty years Solomon was waiting for the completion of both the Temple and his Palace [2 Chronicles 8:1].
Twenty years Jerusalem waited between its subjugation and its destruction [Jeremiah 52:4; 2 Chronicles 36:1-10].
Twenty years Jeremiah prophesied concerning the destruction of Jerusalem [Jeremiah 52:4-13].
