2788. On the third day symbolizes the completion and the start of a consecration, as can be seen from the symbolism of a third day. In the Word, a day symbolizes a state (§§23, 487, 488, 493, 893). So does a year, and any period of time in general, such as an hour, day, week, month, year, or age; morning, noon, evening, or night; and spring, summer, fall, or winter. When any of these is described as the third, it symbolizes both the end of that state and the beginning of the next. Since the theme here is the Lord's consecration, accomplished by means of trials, the third day symbolizes both the completion of a consecration and the start of a new consecration. This meaning also follows from all that has come before.
The reason for the symbolism is that when the Lord had fulfilled everything he came to fulfill, he rose again on the third day. When it comes to representations in the church, everything the Lord did-or rather was going to do-while he lived on earth was like an accomplished event. The same is true when it comes to the Word's inner meaning. In God, to become is the same thing as to be. In fact all eternity is present to him. [2] That is why the number three had a representative meaning, not only in the ancient church and the Jewish religion but also in various nations outside the church. (See what was said about the number in §§720, 901, 1825.)
The fact that this was the origin of the symbolism can be seen in Hosea:
We will return to Jehovah, because he has injured us and will heal us, has struck us and will bandage us. He will bring us to life after two days; on the third day he will revive us so that we may live before him. (Hosea 6:1, 2)
The third day stands for the Lord's Coming and his resurrection. The same thing can be seen from Jonah and his three days and three nights inside a [great] fish (Jonah 1:17), which the Lord referred to in Matthew in these words:
Just as Jonah was in the belly of the sea monster three days and three nights, so will the Son of Humankind be in the heart of the earth three days and three nights. (Matthew 12:40)
[3] It is necessary to realize that three days and the third day symbolize the same thing in the Word's inner meaning. "Three" and "third" have the same symbolism in the passages below, too. In John:
Jesus said to the Jews, "Take apart this temple, yet in three days I will raise it up." He was speaking about the temple of his body. (John 2:19, 20, 21; Matthew 26:61; Mark 14:58; 15:29)
[4] Everyone knows that the Lord rose on the third day. For the same reason, the Lord divided his life into three stages, in Luke:
Go and say to that fox, "Look: I am casting out demons and completing cures today and tomorrow, but on the third day I am brought to an end." (Luke 13:32)
The Lord also endured his final crisis (the trial on the cross) at the third hour of the day (Mark 15:25). Three hours later, at the sixth hour, darkness fell over the whole land (Luke 23:44), and another three hours later, at the ninth hour, came the end (Mark 15:33, 34, 37). But early on the third day he rose again (Mark 16:1, 2, 3, 4, [6]; Luke 24:7; see Matthew 16:21; 17:22, 23; 20:18, 19; Mark 8:31; 9:31; 10:33, 34; Luke 18:33; 24:46). Because of this-and especially because of the Lord's resurrection on the third day-the number three had a representative and symbolic meaning. The following passages in the Word show that it did:
When Jehovah came down on Mount Sinai, he told Moses to consecrate the people "today and tomorrow," and that they should wash their clothes and be ready for the third day, "because on the third day, Jehovah will come down." (Exodus 19:10, 11, 15, 16)
When they traveled from Jehovah's mountain a journey of three days, the ark of Jehovah traveled before them a journey of three days to find rest for them. (Numbers 10:33)
In addition, there was darkness on all the land of Egypt for three days, and a man could not see his brother for three days, but the children of Israel had light. (Exodus 10:22, 23)
[5] The meat of a vow-fulfillment sacrifice and of a freewill sacrifice would be eaten on the first and second day. Nothing was to remain till the third day or it would be burned, because it was an abomination. The same was true for the meat of a thanksgiving sacrifice; and if it was eaten on the third day, there would be no reconciliation [with Jehovah], but that soul would bear its own wickedness. (Leviticus 7:16, 17, 18; 19:6, 7, [8])
Those touching a dead body would atone for themselves on the third day, and on the seventh day they would be clean. If not, that soul would be cut off from Israel. And a clean person would spatter water on an unclean person on the third day and on the seventh day. (Numbers 19:12, 13, 19)
Those who had killed a soul in battle or touched a victim of stabbing would purify themselves on the third day and on the seventh day. (Numbers 31:19)
[6] When they came into the land of Canaan, for three years the fruit would be uncircumcised and not eaten. (Leviticus 19:23)
At the end of three years they would bring out all the tithes of their produce for that year and store it within the gates, so that the Levite, the immigrant, the orphan, and the widow could eat. (Deuteronomy 14:28, 29; 26:12)
Three times a year they would celebrate feasts to Jehovah. And three times a year every male would appear before the face of the Lord Jehovah. (Exodus 23:14, 17; Deuteronomy 16:16)
Joshua told the people that in three days they would cross the Jordan and inherit the land. (Joshua 1:11; 3:2)
[7] Jehovah called out to Samuel three times, and he answered the third time. (1 Samuel 3:8)
When Saul wanted to kill David, David hid himself in the field on the third evening. Jonathan said to David, "I will sound out my father at this time the third day from now." Jonathan shot three arrows to the side of a stone. And David then fell on his face to the earth before Jonathan and bowed down three times. (1 Samuel 20:5, 12, 19, 20, 35, [36, 41])
David had to choose one of three things: seven years of famine in the land, or fleeing for three months before his foes, or contagion in the land for three days. (2 Samuel 24:12, 13)
[8] There was famine in David's days for three years, year after year. (2 Samuel 21:1)
Elijah stretched himself out on the dead boy three times and brought him to life. (1 Kings 17:21, [22])
When Elijah had built an altar to Jehovah, he said to pour water on the burnt offering and on the pieces of wood three times. (1 Kings 18:[32, 33,] 34)
Fire consumed the captains-of-fifty sent to Elijah two times, but not the one sent the third time. (2 Kings 1:13, [14])
This was a sign given to King Hezekiah: That year they would eat what sowed itself; in the second year, what grew out of that; but the third year they would sow, reap, plant vineyards, and eat the fruit. (2 Kings 19:29)
[9] Daniel entered his house, and he had the windows in his upper room opened toward Jerusalem, where three times a day he would bless [God] on his knees and pray. (Daniel 6:10, 13)
Daniel mourned three weeks of days, not eating choice bread, and not drinking wine, and not anointing himself, until the three weeks of days were fulfilled. (Daniel 10:2, 3)
Isaiah went naked and shoeless for three years as a sign and portent against Egypt and against Cush. (Isaiah 20:3)
From the lampstand there went out three branches on each side, and there were three almond-shaped cups on each branch. (Exodus 25:32, 33)
[10] On the Urim and Thummim there were three precious stones in each row. (Exodus 28:[17-18,] 19, [20])
In the new temple there will be three gate rooms on this side and three on that side, one measure for the three of them. On the porch of the House, the width of the gate will be three cubits on this side and three cubits on that side. (Ezekiel 40:10, 21, 48)
In the New Jerusalem there will be three gates to the north, three to the east, three to the south, and three to the west. (Ezekiel 48:31, 32, 33, 34; Revelation 21:13)
The same thing can be seen in these places:
Three times Peter denied [knowing] Jesus. (Matthew 26:34, 69, and following verses)
The Lord said to Peter three times, "Do you love me?" (John 21:17)
Then there is the parable in which a person who had planted a vineyard sent slaves three times and finally a son. (Luke 20:12; Mark 12:2, 4, 5, 6)
The people working in a vineyard were hired at the third hour, sixth hour, ninth hour, and eleventh hour. (Matthew 20:1-16)
And it was said of a fig tree that, since it had not borne fruit for three years, it would be cut down. (Luke 13:6, 7)
[11] Just as three and third had a representative meaning, so did one third. For instance:
Minhas were two tenths [of an ephah] of flour mixed with a third of a hin of oil. And the wine for a libation was a third of a hin. (Numbers 15:6, 7; Ezekiel 46:14)
In Ezekiel:
He was to pass a razor over his head and over his beard and then divide the hair, and a third he was to burn with fire, a third he was to strike on all sides with a sword, and a third he was to scatter to the wind. (Ezekiel 5:1, 2, 12)
In Zechariah:
In the whole earth, two parts would be cut off and a third would be left, but the third part would be led through fire and tested. (Zechariah 13:8, 9)
[12] In John:
When the first angel trumpeted, hail appeared, and fire mixed with blood, and it fell onto the earth, so that a third of the trees were burned. The second angel trumpeted, and what seemed to be a large mountain burning with fire was thrown into the sea, and a third of the sea became blood, for which reason a third of the creatures in the sea having souls died. And a third of the ships were ruined. The third angel trumpeted, and there fell from the sky a large star burning like a lamp, and it fell onto a third of the rivers; the name of the star was Wormwood. The fourth angel trumpeted, so that a third of the sun was struck and a third of the moon and a third of the stars, so that a third of them would be shadowed over and the day would not shine for a third of it and the night likewise. (Revelation 8:7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
[13] The four angels were released to kill a third of all human beings. (Revelation 9:15)
By these three a third of all human beings were killed-by the fire, the smoke, and the sulfur that went out from the mouth of the horses. (Revelation 9:18)
The dragon dragged a third of the stars in the sky with its tail and threw them onto the earth. (Revelation 12:4)
The fraction one third, however, means some, and an amount that is not yet full, whereas a third in order and the number three mean something complete-completely evil for the evil, and completely good for the good.
