What is a Third Day church?

What is a Third Day church?

     Third Day theology is a prophetic movement within Christianity that focuses on biblical scriptures that mention the phrase "third day" and seeks to apply what it sees are the benefits and promises of those scriptures for our time.  Adherents claim that the third day is now, the third thousand years of Christ's reign.  Sequentially, the third day follows the first and second days.  The first day is where we leave the old ways behind.  The second day is the process of holding onto the promises of God that have not yet been fulfilled.  Day three is the victory and receiving of the promises of God with an emphasis on personal development and spiritual improvement.  Therefore, a third day church is a church that is looking for new ways to "do church" by leaving the old ways and moving onto the new ones that will be revealed, allegedly, by the Holy Spirit unto greater spiritual growth and prosperity.  Generally, Third Day Churches are charismatic, pentecostal, emphasize present day apostles, prophets, prophetic utterances, and approve of women pastors. 
     Some examples of scriptures used in Third Day Churches and how they are applied is as follows:

• Gen. 22:4, "Then on the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the place afar off."

  • The context is Abraham offering Isaac.  Prophetically, God provided the Son, therefore, the church will see an great influx of believes.

• Ezra 6:15 - "And this house was finished on the third day of the month Adar, which was in the sixth year of the reign of Darius the king."

  • The Temple of God was finished on the third day; therefore, the church will experience more fulfillment of the calling of God.

• John 2:1, "And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there."

  • In this account, Jesus creates wine for a wedding.  Therefore, new works of God will develop in the church in people and in ministries.

Is this biblical?

     I do believe in patterns in the Bible and at first was intrigued by the "third day" idea.  However, the "third day theme" of blessing isn't biblically consistent with the use of the phrase throughout Scripture. Because it isn't, in order to maintain their distinction and emphasis, third day churches must read into the text more than they read out of it. This is a serious problem and should be abandoned by the Christian church.  Compare the following verses with those above as proof that "third day" scriptures are not always about God blessing the church.

• Gen. 34:25, "And it came to pass on the third day, when they were sore, that two of the sons of Jacob, Simeon and Levi, Dinah's brethren, took each man his sword, and came upon the city boldly, and slew all the males."

• Gen. 40:20, "And it came to pass the third day, [which was] Pharaoh's birthday, that he made a feast unto all his servants: and he lifted up the head of the chief butler and of the chief baker among his servants."

• Lev. 7:18, "And if [any] of the flesh of the sacrifice of his peace offerings be eaten at all on the third day, it shall not be accepted, neither shall it be imputed unto him that offereth it: it shall be an abomination, and the soul that eateth of it shall bear his iniquity."

• 1 Sam. 30:1, "And it came to pass, when David and his men were come to Ziklag on the third day, that the Amalekites had invaded the south, and Ziklag, and smitten Ziklag, and burned it with fire."

  • See also, Lev. 19:6, 7; Num 7:24; Num. 19:12, 19, 20; Num. 31:19; Judg 20:30; 1 Kings 12:12, etc., which do not support the "new works of God" idea that third day churches teach.

      As you can see, these scriptures don't support the "new works of God" idea.  In fact, they have nothing to do with the New Testament church at all and yet contain the phrase "third day."  Therefore, quite simply, the pattern looked for is not valid.  Perhaps I am being nit-picky, but when an emphasis to "doing church," is based upon a subjective observation of a group of scriptures that are not consistent with the proposed idea, I become rather suspicious -- and so should the pastors involved.
     Furthermore, the idea that the "third day" corresponds to the third millennium is without biblical warrant.  It is based on a misuse of the following scripture:  "But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day," (2 Pet. 3:8).  Note that the verse does not say that with the Lord a thousand years is a day and vice versa, but that it is as a day.  It is not a specific correlation of one day equals 1000 years, but a figurative use of the word "thousand" to express the idea that God is beyond time.
     Additionally, the notion that the third millennium of Christ's rule is commenced does not take into account the fact that Jesus did not rise from the dead and ascend until A.D. 33 (give or take).  We have another 30 years or so before the real third millennium arrives since Christ's victory on the cross.  The emphasis in biblical theology is the cross, not the birth of Christ, though it is, of course, important.  Rather, the cross is where Jesus bore our sins (1 Pet. 2:24).  This is the reason He came to us and it is the center of biblical theology.  The charismatic and pentecostal groups often seek experience as a central focus rather than the cross.  They often want new experiences, new revelations, new ideas, etc., to tickle their fancies.  I have nothing against new ideas and experiences, but they must be consistent with biblical revelation and completely subject to it.  I do not believe the "third day" emphasis is.  Therefore, it should be dismissed.
     Please understand that biblically I support the continuation of the spiritual gifts and the movement of the Holy Spirit upon and within His people, even prophetically.  But, any such movement in the Christian church must be saturated in clear biblical truth, not subjective interpretations which lend themselves to more "charismania."  Unfortunately, it is the non-doctrinally sound and over-emotionalism that has led to so many errors in the charismatic circles.  Such errors include barking like dogs when the Holy Spirit allegedly comes over them, uncontrolled laughter, being slain in the Spirit, entire churches speaking in tongues simultaneously, etc.  These things have brought ridicule upon the name of Christ by unbelievers and this very thing is warned against by Paul in 1 Cor. 14 when he discusses the proper place of charismatic experiences.  The Bible teaches order and decency in contradiction to many of the experiences of charismatic churches.     
      I am not trying to be a kill joy nor am I saying that those involved in it are not Christian.  On the contrary.  I truly hope that those who emphasis "third day" scriptures, are used by the Lord to bring glory to Him and to expand the church of God, in spite of this theological "error."   In all things we must remain biblically dedicated and subject all experiences and ideas to God's word no matter what we hope to experience or accomplish.