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In trying to help the people of his day comprehend the Lord's schedule with regard to the
fulfillment of prohecy, we read in Peter's second epistle (1) that a thousand years of our
time is equal to one day "with the Lord". This is reaffirmed during Abraham's astronomy
lesson as recorded in the Pearl of Great Price (2). By this reckoning, it has been nearly
six days since Adam left the Garden of Eden. While it is difficult for most of us to
comprehend the relative timetable of events that transpire over a 6000 year period, we
can fairly quickly appreciate the relationship between events that take place in a one week
period. Thus, we shall examine some of the key episodes of the past "celestial week".
Upon being cast out of the Garden, Adam was informed that "by the sweat of his brow"
would he labor henceforward. It is very logical then to set that time equal to Monday
morning at twelve midnight. This also results in the seventh thousand years, the
Millenium, falling on the Sabbath Day.
The Flood occurred about 2350 BC (3). This was 1650 years (3) after Adam left the
Garden and on our weekly calendar would correspond to Tuesday afternoon, about 3:36
P.M.
Abraham was born nearly 2000 years after Adam (3) and so his birthday would be two
"days" afterward, that is Wednesday about midnight.
Moses led the children of Israel out of captivity in 1491 BC (3), just a little over a half day
after Abraham's birth. To be more precise, at 12:13 in the afternoon, that same
Wednesday.
After settling the Promised Land, the Children of Israel struggled to maintain unity. This
they succeeded in doing for only a little over twelve hours. The once-united kingdom was
divided only 36 minutes after midnight on Thursday morning.
Thursday turned out to be a day of scattering and division for the Lord's Chosen people.
By 6:42 A.M. the Ten Tribes had been carried into captivity by the Assyrians. And less
that three hours later, at 9:36 A.M., Lehi and his family departed for the "new" Promised
Land.
Friday broke forth with great promise. Christ was born sometime around midnight. His
life was quite short, even by mortal standards, and he was crucified less than an hour later,
at 12:48 A.M. Within some time around four hours (before 5:00 A.M.), his teachings had
been corrupted, truths lost and the priesthood no longer held among his professed
followers. There followed a long period of darkness, marked by self-serving religious
dogma.
On the American continent, the civilization established by the descendants of Lehi steadily
declined and by quarter past nine on this same Friday morning, the Nephites were utterly
destroyed.
It was not for nearly a full day after the Nephite destruction that Christopher Columbus
sailed west from Spain and found the Lamanite remnants of Lehi's family. He landed in
the West Indies at 11:49 A.M. on Saturday morning.
The continent was quickly settled. New colonists, trying to escape religious persecution,
founded many settlements. The Lamanites were pushed further west. After much trial
and conflict, the final ties were broken with England when the Declaration of Independence was signed at 6:38 P.M. Saturday afternoon, less than seven hours after
the Americas had been discovered by Columbus.
A little over one hour later, at 7:55 P.M., the Gospel and the Priesthood was restored to
the earth by Joseph Smith, ending the darkness that had prevailed for nearly 39 hours.
And what time is it now? By our reckoning, which establishes Adam's departure from the
Garden 4000 years before Christ, it is now 11:43 P.M. on Saturday night, just 17 minutes
prior to the Sabbath and the Millenium.
Event Mortal Time
Celestial Time
Adam cast out of Garden 4000 BC 12:00 AM Mon
The Great Flood 2350 BC 3:36 PM Tue
Birth of Abraham 2000 BC 12:00 AM Wed
Moses led Israelites from Egypt 1491 BC 12:13 PM Wed
Division of Israel (Isarael/Judah) 975 BC 12:36 AM Thu
Ten Tribes led away by Assyrians 721 BC 6:42 AM Thu
Lehi departs for Promised Land 600 BC 9:36 AM Thu
Birth of Christ 0 AD 12:00 AM Fri
Crucifixion 33 AD 12:48 AM Fri
Apostasy 200 AD 4:48 AM Fri
Nephites destroyed 385 AD 9:14 AM Fri
Columbus discovers America 1492 AD 11:49 AM Sat
Declaration of Independence 1776 AD 6:37 PM Sat
Gospel restored 1830 AD 7:55 PM Sat
Today 1988 AD 11:43 PM Sat
References
1. 2 Peter 3:8
2. Abraham 3:4
3. Bible Dictionary, King James Bible, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints,
pg 635-645.
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