Nehemiah, having left for a season his position of comfort and security in Babylon, came to the city of Jerusalem in order to promote the welfare of the Israelites who were living there.

Immediately there was opposition from the neighboring Canaanites:

When you decide to do the Lord's will, and come out of the bondages of the world and commence the work of restoration, you will be opposed by an enemy who is perverse and vicious beyond belief. Prepare your heart and mind for fierce opposition, for spiritual warfare.

Nehemiah reminds us of Moses—another man who left the palace of a worldly ruler, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of the Lord.

The "third day."

So I came to Jerusalem, and was there three days. (Nehemiah 2:11)

Let us think about the expression, three days.

Throughout the Scriptures there is a multitude of references to three days, to the third day. God will bring great glory into the earth on the "third day."

After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we will live in his sight. (Hosea 6:2)

In the work of restoration, it is important for us to have the concept of the double portion. Christ has kept the good wine until now. Many who are last will be first. The glory of the latter house will be greater than the former (Haggai 2:9). God always is increasing the glory available to those who place their faith in Him.

We are moving from the lesser to the greater. We are pressing toward the mark, toward what is perfect, toward the perfect day, toward the city that has foundations.

There have been stupendous works of the power of God in the earth. But before God is finished, the Glory of God will cover the whole earth to a degree never imagined by us (Numbers 14:21).

Christ (His Body) will be made perfect on the "third day" (Luke 13:32).

The Kingdom of God begins in a small manner but grows until it completely fills the heavens and the earth.

The work of restoration will accomplish more than the return of the glory manifested in the apostles of the first century. The power of righteousness is as a swelling stream, a majestic river building in power until it floods the earth. Christ will appear in glory. His conquering saints will be issued immortal bodies. The world will be ruled in righteousness. The glory of the Spirit of God will cover the whole world.

For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea. (Habakkuk 2:14)

The fact that Nehemiah reviewed the condition of Jerusalem for three days is symbolic of the truth that the work of the restoration of the Kingdom of God will proceed until it brings the fullness of the Glory of God into the earth, in fulfillment of the utterances of the holy prophets of the Lord.

To be continued.