For two decades, sitting in various congregations, I heard that at any moment Christ could return to snatch away born-again believers and save us from going through the tribulation. In many ways I found that Rapture doctrine comforting. Who wants tribulation? But it was also confusing. I just couldn't forget what Yeshua–I called him Jesus back then—had said would happen, and when….
Matthew 24:29-31 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
According to Yeshua, this great event would occur immediately after the tribulation. Well that alone presented two conflicts.
1. If it was immediately after the tribulation, then it couldn't be imminent, at any time, but a specific time.
2. And we born-again believers would live through the tribulation!
WHO ARE THE BORN AGAIN BELIEVERS?
This, however, wasn't the only issue I had with this RAPTURE doctrine. It wasn't the only contradiction with Scripture. For when I pointed out that Matthew 24 taught that Yeshua returns after the tribulation, I was informed that Matthew 24 concerned Israel, not the Church! (Read Who Is The Church)
Although I couldn't articulate why back then, the explanation seemed at odds with a scripture that came to mind: Ephesians 2: 12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise.
Even back then, although I’d had no formal teaching regarding what today is called Hebraic Roots, I felt a kinship with God’s chosen people Israel. And I knew scripture said God was no respecter of persons. (Acts 10:34) I never believed that Jews who came to faith in Yeshua (Jesus) had to stop being Jewish. It didn’t make sense. They never stopped being Jews in the Gospels. So I would cringe whenever a preacher talked about a Jew converting to Christianity, as if faith in the Jewish Messiah made everyone Gentile. Didn’t the good news go to the Jew first and also the Gentile? Anyway, the explanation that Matthew 24 concerned only Israel, just didn’t add up.
THE RESTRAINER
Matthew 24:22 said for the elect’s sake the days would be shortened, which meant they, the elect, either were believers or would be. If they were believers, that would make God a respected of persons since, according to the theory, believing Gentiles had already been ruptured. And if they would become believers during the tribulation, that created a whole new problem. The Rapture doctrine taught the Holy Spirit was no longer present on the earth to save; naming the Holy Spirit as the restrainer who, Scripture said, would be taken out of the way!
SEARCHING FOR AUTHENTICITY
Finally, in 2008, some twenty years after committing my life to Christ, the Jewish Messiah, I attended my first Messianic congregation. During the previous two decades, I’d belonged to many different churches–some better than others. Yet, I always ended up sensing something missing. Try as I might, I never felt I really belonged. I was searching for something. Authenticity!
Then one Sabbath–I thought of it as Saturday back then–this Messianic congregation I was visiting gathered under the Chuppah to sing the Sabbath Prayer. And as the words, “May the Lord protect and defend you,” came out of my mouth for the very first time, Yeshua wrapped me in his arms and whispered, “You’re home.”
And I was…
DNA OF SCRIPTURE
During that first year, I began seriously studying the front of the Book, that part which I’d been taught was old, but which I soon learned established the plum-line. Make no mistake; the first five books establish everything that follows. It is the DNA of Scripture. There is nothing new under the sun!
Ecclesiastes 1:9…The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is nothing new under the sun.
Isaiah 46:9-10 Remember the former things from forever, for I am God, and no one else is God, even none like Me, declaring the end from the beginning…
NEW PRINCIPLES
Principle number one: To learn about the future, study the past.
Those things which befell the Patriarchs and the children of Israel—Joseph’s life, Jacob and Esau’s struggle, the exodus from Egypt–are more than history. They are a pattern! They form a type and shadow for events about to unfold.
Principle number two: Never forget the focus of Scripture is about God–Father, Son, and Spirit–and His people, Israel.
As it always has been and always will be: there is one God, one Spirit, one baptism, and one faith! (Ephesians 4:4-6).
CHURCH FICTION
The idea that there is this new entity called the Church, separate from the Israel of God, is pure fiction. The word purposely mistranslated by the 4th edict of King James as Church is correctly translated as congregation or assembly. And there is proof! Around 275 BCE—before the birth of Yeshua (Jesus)—some 70 Hebrew scholars translated the Old Testamentinto Koine Greek. In it, the Septuagint, “assembly” or “congregation” was most often translated as ekklesia.Thayer states that “in the Septuagint ekklesia is often equivalent to the assembly of the Israelites.”
There is a Greek word that means church. It’s kyridakon, which means the lord’s house, a meeting place for any religious group – including pagan. But this word is not found anywhere in the New Testament Greek manuscripts.
COVENANT PEOPLE
There is but one ‘covenant people’ spoken of in the Scriptures: the Israel of God. But remember, the House of Israel, was split (1Ki 11:35-43) and became known as the House of Judah and the House if Israel. Both the old and the new (renewed) covenants were made with them! (Jeremiah 31:31-33)
WHO ARE GENTILES?
Gentiles are those among the nations who are not in covenant with YHVH. The good news is that if and when Gentiles do repent and come to faith in Yeshua, they cease being Gentile. You can’t be in covenant and out of covenant at the same time. You are either an out-of-covenant Gentile, or you are in covenant with YHVH and part of the Israel of God.
According to Ephesians 2:11-13, when a former Gentile enters into covenant with Messiah they become part of the “Commonwealth of Israel.” When they gather in Israel with their brothers and sisters to enter the Kingdom Of God during Yeshua’s millennial reign, they will enter through one of the twelve Tribal gates. There will not be a Methodist gate, or a Baptist gate, or a Pentecostal gate. They become part of Israel, grafted into Israel’s cultivated Olive Tree.
WHERE IS ISRAEL?
See my teaching on the Lost Sheep to learn how a good many, not all, of the Gentiles who come to faith in Yeshua, the Good Shepherd, are actually those from the House of Israel who were scatted into the nations and lost their identity. Hosea prophesied that the House of Israel would be scattered, that God would no longer have mercy on them–but he would on the House of Judah–and that the House of Israel would be taken away. They would no longer be called His people.
Hosea 1:6-7 …And she conceived again, and bare a daughter. And God said unto him, Call her name Loruhamah: for I will no more have mercy upon the house of Israel; but I will utterly take them away. But I will have mercy upon the house of Judah…”
Hos 1:8-9 Now when she had weaned Loruhamah, she conceived, and bare a son. Then said God, Call his name Loammi: for ye are not my people, and I will not be your God.
Then, the prophet, still talking about the House of Israel, adds this promise.
Hos 1:10 Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured nor numbered; and it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people, there it shall be said unto them, Ye are the sons of the living God.
Did you catch that? The children of Israel would no longer be called YHVH’s people! They would become part of the nations—those out of covenant. But it would come to pass that one day those who were no longer God’s people would be called sons of the living God!
HOW DO WE KNOW THIS?
In Romans 9: 24-27 Paul connects the dots. “…whom He also called, not only us, of Jews, (Paul is from the tribe of Benjamin which is part of the House of Judah, called the Jews), but also out of the nations (those scattered). As also He says in Hosea, I will call those Not My people, My people! And those not beloved, Beloved! “And it shall be, in the place where it was said to them, You are not My people, there they will be called, “Sons of the Living God.” This explains why in Matthew 15:24 Yeshua said he was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
IS THERE A PATTERN?
Now that we’ve established that the whole of Scripture concerns God and His people, the House of Israel, let’s see how what befell the children of Israel forms a pattern of end-time events soon to unfold.
I Corinthians 10:11Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.
The first prophesy concerning what will happen to Israel (the people of God) during the end times was delivered by Moses:
The highlights from Deuteronomy 29:27-29, and 30:1-8 are:
And the anger of Jehovah was kindled against this land to bring on it all the curses that are written in this book. And Jehovah rooted them out of their land in anger and wrath, and in great indignation, and cast them into another land, as it is this day…
…And it shall be when all these things have come on you, the blessing and the curse which I have set before you among all the nations where Jehovah your God shall banish you, you shall bring back to your heart; and you shall turn back to Jehovah your God and listen to His voice, according to all that I command you today, you and your sons with all your heart, and with all your soul; then Jehovah your God will turn your captivity, and He will have pity on you, and will return and gather you from all the nations where Jehovah your God has scattered you…
…And Jehovah your God shall bring you into the land which your fathers have possessed, and you shall inherit it; and He shall do you good and multiply you above your fathers. And Jehovah your God will circumcise your heart, and the heart of your seed, to love Jehovah your God with all your heart…
PROPHECY AND THE GREATER EXODUS
Jeremiah also prophesied of that day when the first Exodus out of Egypt would be virtually forgotten due to a more miraculous one in which YHVH will re-gather the children of Israel (read my article Lost Sheep) from all the lands to which He’d scattered them.
Jeremiah 16:14-15 So, behold, the days come, says Jehovah, that it shall no more be said, As Jehovah lives who brought up the sons of Israel out of the land of Egypt. But rather, As Jehovah lives who brought up the sons of Israel from the land of the north, and from all the lands where He had driven them. And I will bring them again into their land that I gave to their fathers.
Ezekiel also prophesied about the greater exodus in which God will re-gather his covenant people from among the nations. He will bring them into the wilderness, as He did with those who left Egypt, and judge them. He will make them pass under His rod to bring them into the bond of the covenant and purge the rebels. (Eze 20:32-38)
Now the King James says “plead” rather than “judge”. Eze 20:35 And I will bring you into the wilderness of the peoples, and there I will plead My case with you face to face.
FACE TO FACE!
But the Hebrew word KJV translates as plead is “shaphat?”, and according to Brown Driver Briggs Hebrew Dictionary it means: to judge, govern, vindicate, punish, act as law-giver or governor, to rule, decide controversy, execute judgment, and to enter into controversy.
Let’s read the entire passage for the context.
(Eze 20:32-38) What you have in your mind shall never be, when you say, ‘We will be like the Gentiles, like the families in other countries, serving wood and stone.’ “As I live,” says the Lord GOD, “surely with a mighty hand, with an outstretched arm, and with fury poured out, I will rule over you. I will bring you out from the peoples and gather you out of the countries where you are scattered, with a mighty hand, with an outstretched arm, and with fury poured out. And I will bring you into the wilderness of the peoples, and there I will plead My case with you face to face. Just as I pleaded My case with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so I will plead My case with you,” says the Lord GOD. “I will make you pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant; I will purge the rebels from among you, and those who transgress against Me; I will bring them out of the country where they dwell, but they shall not enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the LORD.
At that time, Christians who claim God’s TORAH (law, instructions) have been done way with will either repent and “come into the bond of the covenant” or not enter the Promised Land, during the Millennial Kingdom.
TRIBULATION
That brings to mind Jeremiah 16:19, which says: “O LORD, my strength and my fortress, My refuge in the day of affliction, The Gentiles shall come to You From the ends of the earth and say, “Surely our fathers have inherited lies…” (i.e. the TORAH has been nailed to the cross.)
The word in the scripture above that is translated ‘affliction’ is the Hebrew word tsarah. Pronounced tsaw-raw’ it means tightness (figuratively trouble); transitively a female rival: – adversary, adversity, affliction, anguish, distress and tribulation!
Compare to Matthew 7:13:14: Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it. The Greek word translated narrow in this verse is thlibo, pronounced thlee’-bo. Here is the Strong’s definition:to crowd (literally or figuratively), afflict, narrow, throng, suffer tribulation!
Act 14:22 …strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, “We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.”
John 17:15 I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one.
Dan 11:31-35 And forces shall be mustered by him, and they shall defile the sanctuary fortress; then they shall take away the daily sacrifices, and place there the abomination of desolation. Those who do wickedly against the covenant he shall corrupt with flattery; but the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits.
And those of the people who understand shall instruct many; yet for many days they shall fall by sword and flame, by captivity and plundering. Now when they fall, they shall be aided with a little help; but many shall join with them by intrigue. And some of those of understanding shall fall, to refine them, purify them, and make them white, until the time of the end; because it is still for the appointed time.
In Matthew 24:9-31 Yeshua says, “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake. And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved.
WHAT ELSE DID YESHUA SAY?
And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.
“Therefore when you see the ‘ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place” (whoever reads, let him understand) “then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.
Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take anything out of his house. And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes. But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! And pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath.
For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened.
Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There!’ do not believe it. For false Christ's and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. See, I have told you beforehand.
“Therefore if they say to you, ‘Look, He is in the desert!’ do not go out; or ‘Look, He is in the inner rooms!’ do not believe it.For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. For wherever the carcass is, there the eagles will be gathered together.
Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
MARTYRS
Some will be martyred…
Revelation 2:10 Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. (Remember this was written in a letter to one of the Churches!)
Most will be miraculously protected…
Rev 12:5-6 She bore a male Child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron. And her Child was caught up to God and His throne. Then the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, that they should feed her there one thousand two hundred and sixty days (3 ½ years).
Isaiah 26:20-21 Come, my people, enter your chambers, And shut your doors behind you; Hide yourself, as it were, for a little moment, Until the indignation is past. For behold, the LORD comes out of His place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity…
Zep 2:3 Seek the LORD, all you meek of the earth, who have upheld His justice. Seek righteousness, seek humility. It may be that you will be hidden in the day of the LORD’s anger.
Psalms 91:1-8 He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.” Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the perilous pestilence. He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler. You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, nor of the arrow that flies by day, Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, Nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday. A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; but it shall not come near you. Only with your eyes shall you look, and see the reward of the wicked.
Zechariah 14:1-5 Behold, the day of the LORD is coming…For I will gather all the nations to battle against Jerusalem; the city shall be taken, the houses rifled, and the women ravished. Half of the city shall go into captivity, but the remnant of the people shall not be cut off from the city. Then the LORD will go forth and fight against those nations, As He fights in the day of battle. And in that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, Which faces Jerusalem on the east. And the Mount of Olives shall be split in two, from east to west, making a very large valley; half of the mountain shall move toward the north and half of it toward the south. Then you shall flee through My mountain valley, for the mountain valley shall reach to Azal. Yes, you shall flee as you fled from the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah. Thus the LORD my God will come and all the saints with you (His warrior Bride!).
(Rev 18:1-4) After these things I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was illuminated with his glory. And he cried mightily with a loud voice, saying, “Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and has become a dwelling place of demons, a prison for every foul spirit, and a cage for every unclean and hated bird! For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich through the abundance of her luxury.” And I heard another voice from heaven saying, “Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues.
Rev 18:20-24 “Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you holy apostles and prophets, for God has avenged you on her!” Then a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying, “Thus with violence the great city Babylon shall be thrown down, and shall not be found anymore. …for by your sorcery all the nations were deceived. And in her was found the blood of prophets and saints, and of all who were slain on the earth.”
Rev 19:6-8 And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thundering, saying, “Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns! Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.” And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.
Rev 20:1-2 Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years;
Rev 20:4 And I saw thrones – and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them – and the lives of those who had been beheaded because of the witness they bore to YHVH and because of the Word of Elohim, and who did not worship the beast, nor his image, and did not receive his mark upon their foreheads or upon their hands. And they lived and reigned with Messiah for a thousand years (The Scriptures 1998).
WHEN IS THE GREATER EXODUS?
The first Exodus happened at Passover . . . the last, and greater EXODUS will happen then too!
Exodus 12:11 “And thus you shall eat it: with a belt on your waist, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand. So you shall eat it in haste.”
We’ll be leaving soon! Are you ready?
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