chapter
5
|
chapter
10
|
chapter
11 (html only) |
Question: Revelation 19:11-21 doesn't mention a resurrection in the description of the Lord's return, 2nd Coming. Question: Compare the "Known Day" and the "Unknown Day." "- - of the day and hour no one knows" The day of the Lord comes as a thief, without warning, suddenly and surprisingly. The Second coming, on the other hand is a fixed and finite time. There are stated events, numbers of months and days. Revelation 12:6 says the Jews will have to wait 1,260 days for the Lord to return. The 1,260 days begins when the Antichrist stands in the Temple and declares himself to be God (Matt. 24:15-21, 2 Thess. 2:4) This event will take place at the mid-point of the seven year Tribulation (Dan 9:27). Question:
What do you do with these verses? Question:
First Thessalonians 4:13-17 How do you read
this scripture? Question:
What do you with the typology of the Jewish
Wedding? The bride, the bride price, preparing
a place, the unannounced return for the bride,
the bride making herself ready, the 7 day seclusion
in the place of intimacy (Huppah). After 7
days the bride and bridegroom are revealed
together. These inferences are not made by
people who are unfamiliar with Jewish tradition.
This scripture speaks of that time of Isaiah
26:20-21 "Come my people, enter our chambers
and shut the door 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." While the wrath of
God is poured out on the earth, the bride of
Christ will be hidden away with her Bridegroom. The appearing of the Lord, Delivered from the wrath to come: How shall we regard the end times message? Are we in the prophetic end of the age? We find numerous variations of the end times message. Some hold to a doctrine that believing Christians will endure the time of testing and trial that come upon the whole earth along with others. In this view, believers will experience the reign of antichrist and the great tribulation. There are many experts who decry the dispensational view. Dispensationalists believe the final seven years before the Kingdom of God is manifested is directed at Israel and the Jews. All
who have differing eschatologies site scripture
to support their point of view. Contention
seems to center around the place of Israel
in the final days of this age and the exegesis
of Matthew chapter 24; does it address the
church or Israel? Another stumbling block is
the timing of prophetic scripture. Have they
been fulfilled, will they be fulfilled in the
future, or are they merely symbolic. Another
view, the Pre Tribulation one, declares that
the church as the Body of Christ will not
go through this time of trial and horrific
judgment that falls upon the unbelieving masses.
Multiplied millions chose not to heed the message
of the Gospel. We are all told to pray that
we may be accounted worthy to escape these
judgments and perils which purge the earth
of evil. The church age (dispensation) will
have an end. It will end with the removal of
all true believers who are "In Christ."
As Jesus asked, "What do the Scriptures
say, and ... how do you read it?" The church age is this parenthetical dispensation alluded to in Jesus declaration of his ministry and mission, when he quoted Isaiah 61, in Luke 4. "- - Luke 4:18 - Luke 4:19 18) ;The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, 19) to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.- - -'; We note that he did not complete the prophetic message of Isaiah 61, " - - and the day of vengeance of JVH. This omitted portion describes the day of the Lord, or the Day of Vengeance. This is the same period of Judgment referred to time and again in the prophetic books. The church age is the age of the Gospel of Grace. The door is open to whoever will come into Kingdom and partake of God's favor. But even as it was in the day of Noah and the Day of Lot, that period of preaching, sorting, warning and preparation came to an end. When it did an elect few were rescued from the judgment which befell those who would not heed the message. A day came that the door was shut on Noah's vessel the ark. A day came when the angels carried Lot and his family bodily out of Sodom to a place of refuge. The double minded wife of Lot, was reluctant to give up something in that lifestyle and hesitated to look back. She did not make it to sanctuary. "Remember Lot's wife," Jesus said. There are several features of the end of the Church age and the time of trouble that was to befall the unbelieving Jews. Daniel (Chapter 9) addresses the 70 weeks that were ordained by God to complete the Kingdom age that is allotted to Israel and usher in the Messiah and the millennial reign of Christ on earth. There is a 70th week, (7 days equaling 7 years) that is yet to happen. This dispensation must eventually be realized. In order for this fulfillment the church age must abruptly end and the 70th week commence. This will not be a gradual transition but a sudden and decisive moment in God's time table. It will be as decisive as God's closing the door to the ark. The above attributes of The Church Age of Grace versus the 70th week can only lend to one interpretation as unpopular as it is with some: The rapture of the believers. The Rapture is prefigured throughout the Bible. As noted above the story of Noah and Lot prefigure the rapture. But Jesus gives us another whole model exemplified in the parable of the Bride and the Bridegroom. The teaching of Jesus is re-pleat with phrases taken from the Jewish wedding ceremony. The very language of the "Last Supper" is also a picture, not only of the passover Seder updated to reveal Jesus not only as Savior and Messiah but it portrays the wedding betrothal with perfect typology. Elsewhere a picture of the Bride and Bridegroom is also illustrated when Abraham sends his servant to seek a bride for his son Isaac. I offer the following teaching from Mary Parnell who has done a good job in researching aspects of this story and "typology."
Genesis
24 contains many types and shadows of Messiah
as the bridegroom of the church. Ephes.
5.25 Paul first explains this relationship. Abraham sends a trusted servant (Eliezer) to find the bride. Eliezer
is a type of the Holy Spirit. The Holy
Spirit is at work wooing and drawing the bride
to the bridegroom. He is the one who nudges
our hearts as he did with Rebekah. Becoming
a believer depends on our being wooed. We are
pursued by the lord for quite awhile before
we begin to acknowledge his presence. Genesis 24. In this chapter will be found many types and shadows of Messiah as the bridegroom of the Church. But we must also study the Jewish wedding for a full picture. 1. What standout scriptures are found in Genesis 24? 2.
What types are readily apparent to you?
Notice all of the actions of Rebekah
and see if you can 5.
1 John 4.19 We love the bridegroom because
He first loved us and chose us. The Arrangements: Jewish Wedding Elements The
Mohar: The price paid for the bride"
money was paid to the father as well
as to the bride. The Bride of Messiah has also been purchased: A
very high Mohar was paid for us"
the blood of Yeshua himself. The bridegroom
wrestled with that price in the Garden
of Gethesemane - -"Father do you
know what they are asking for her"
(Jamie Lash). 1 Cor. 7.23 Phil.2.5 Lk
22.19-20 (Jesus mentions the Bride Price)
1 Peter 1.18 Hebrews 12.2 Jesus paid
the price for: The joy that was set
before him. The joy of seeing each one
of us redeemed. The Betrothal Ceremony The B'rit Kidushin: The Betrothal is for 12 months during this time the bride is set apart for sanctification and beautification. This engagement covenant is binding and they are considered legally married except for the union. At The Betrothal ceremony a Ketubah was presented to the father. The Ketubah: Ketubah comes from - -"kadosh" meaning holy. The B'rit Kidushin is holy. This contract is altogether in favor of the bride. The bridegroom promises to work for, honor, support and maintain his bride in truth, provide food, clothing, necessities and to live with her after the ceremony. The bride is promised that she will be cared for in every way. All of her needs will be fulfilled by the bridegroom. This contract is read and signed before 2 witnesses if the Bride agrees. The Holy Scriptures are Our Wedding Document. Matt. 6.28" Phil 4.19 Look at any scripture and know that the scripture is the holy covenant and inalienable right of the believer. - -"God is not a man that He should lie." He will never break the covenant. This Ketubah was read publicly. Today, the reading of our Ketubah takes place during Christian services. The
ketubah elevated the woman to a new
status in society. Our Ketubah gives
us rights and privileges that are found
in no other religion or philosophy.
Why would we reject our heavenly Ketubah,
our holy scriptures, the Bible? The
Da'at: Is the consent literally
means - "I do" Gen.
24-57-58. You
may say the following and thereby give
your consent or da'at: The
1st cup of the Covenant The blessing of the cup of wine is an important element of the ancient and modern Jewish wedding. The Bride and groom share the cup, symbolizing the shared life that would be theirs. A second cup of wine will be shared many months later. This is the cup of joy! According to Mayim Hayim, this cup is lifted UP in the right hand (signifying power) and parallels the forthcoming lifting up of Jesus on the cross. Luke 22.30 - -"Likewise He also took the cup after supper saying, this cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is shed for you." Yeshua and His disciples were celebrating the anniversary of God's wedding to Israel (the Exodus). He is telling them that the New Marriage Covenant (the one promised in Jeremiah 31) would be sealed in his blood. Yeshua and His disciples drank from a common cup in an upper room in Jerusalem. They became one as they drank wine together. When we partake of that cup at the Lord's Seder (communion) we remember our Heavenly Bridegroom, the mohar paid for us, and our covenental relationship with Yeshua. Just as two cups of wine were used as part of the ancient Jewish wedding, the second at the actual homemaking of the bride, Messiah's bride will one day drink a cup with Yeshua in person at the second part of our marriage ceremony. Matt 26.29 Until that day we have the communion cup to remind of our covenant with our Heavenly Bridegroom. We are to remember his love more than wine. Song 1.4 We need to drink often of the cup and remember our engagement to the king of Kings. The Gifts: begin to flow even before the da'at and the betrothal. Gen. 24.53 We have already studied the gifts of the Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the great gift that Jesus gave to us during our betrothal period as we wait for his return (2 Peter 3.3). James 1.16" Cor. 12, Romans 12. The
Chadar: The departure of the groom:
After the Betrothal Ceremony, the groom
left to prepare the Chadar (chamber).The
bridegroom in ancient Israel left his
beloved to go to his father's house
to prepare a Chadar. 1.
Israel returned as a nation in 1948.
The
Consecrated Bride: The
Hebrew bride (Ka'lah in Hebrew)
was set apart, consecrated, separated
from her bridegroom while he was away
preparing her wedding chamber. The
Bridegrooms return: The 2nd Cup The
Aperion: The
Huppah The
Second Cup: Isaiah 26:20-21 tells us of this time: "Come my people, enter our chambers and shut the door 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." While the wrath of God is poured out on the earth, the bride of Christ will be hidden away with her Bridegroom. The
Final Step: Revelation 19:6-9: "And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, 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.' Then he said to me, Write: ‘"Blessed are those who are called to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb!' And he said to me 'These are the true sayings of God.'" Just
like the ancient Jewish wedding, there
will be shouts of joy and dancing. The
time of the second cup will be a time
of great joy. Our intimacy with our
heavenly bridegroom is complete and
eternal. The Bride will dance for joy
with her Bridegroom/King, Yeshua. (Jesus)
We will rule and reign with Him for
1,000 years during the millennium! For
those of us who look forward to the
marriage supper of the Lamb, we must
go out to the highways and byways and
extend an invitation to others to come. From
Marvin R. Wilson: ;In modern Hebrew,
nissu'in is one of the several words
translated ;marriage.'; Nissu'in and
the related form nasu, ;married,'; derive
from the verb ;nasa, ;to lift up';,
;to bear,.'; ;to carry.'; Nissu'in suggests
exactly the opposite of putting someone
down. Indeed, marriage is graphically
portrayed as lifting the other up. This
concept is beautifully dramatized at
traditional Jewish Weddings. After the
wedding ceremony, the bride and groom
are lifted up on chairs by their guests
to the accompaniment of exuberant singing
and dancing. Furthermore,'nissu'in recalls
a period in Jewish history when the
people of a town would carry (nasa)
the bride on a carriage from the home
of her parents to her new home with
her groom'; (Our Father Abraham.
Erdmans: 1989, p. 213). Summary:
Particulars of the catching away of the saints and judgment of the unbelievers The
rapture (harpazo) as described in the Bible
is a supernatural event initiated by
the vocal command of God that transfigures
all who are in Christ. At the voice of command,
there is in an instant resurrection and transformation
of believers who were dead. First the lifeless
bodies are transfigured into an incorruptible
- immortal form that become their spiritual
bodies. (But more accurately stated, a perfected
body that is capable of functioning in several
dimensions including physical and spiritual
as Christ himself exhibited for forty days
after his resurrection.) 1Thessalonians 4: 16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 18Wherefore comfort one another with these words. The
Rapture of the church, will end the dispensation
of the church age, the dispensation of grace.
The final Jewish dispensation will resume as
prophesied in Daniel Chapter 9. There will
be an unspecified period of time before the
final countdown of 7 years. The trigger will
be a 7 year peace accord confirmed by the world
leader who comes to prominence to quell the
unrest and chaos in the middle east after the
rapture. This seven year period consists of
two 3 1/2 year periods: The introduction of
the Man of Sin, the anti Christ, is welcomed
as the savior full of power and lying wonders
in the first three and a half years. The second
half will see God's escalating judgment upon
the anti Christ and his wicked followers. The
tribulation culminates with what is called
'The Day of the Lord' 'The day of Jacob's trouble;'
The day of Judgment;' or 'The Day of Wrath.'
Old testament referances to the Day of the
Lord are numerous in the prophetic books.
The last 7 years of the age will be filled with momentous events, wars, pestilences, mass destruction and famines. Terrible times of crisis will befall the entire planet. The false messiah of whom Jesus said, "- - you do not receive me, but another will come in his own name and him you will receive." The miracle man will be received as wise and spiritual, the authentic messenger of God. He will demonstrate miraculous signs. He will be received as the peace giver sought by all nations. Now
as I write this (within the present church
age) good and evil co-exist. We are free to
choose to be a believer in the Messiah and
Savior or not; We are free to choose any God
and any religion that suits our fancy. We can
choose to live a sensuous, self-serving life;
to be a profligate or a sinner, or not. This
present dispensation is called prophetically
in Isaiah 61, the 'Day of the Lord's Favor.'
It is also known as the church age. An dispensational
epoch of Grace. The vengeance of God
for an unknown time, remains postponed, The
dispensation of 'Grace' (Read Isaiah 61:1;
which Jesus quotes in Luke 4:18) Yet, the ungodly
can not escape divine judgment. Each will answer
to God's justice as they pass from this life. AS
IN THE TIME OF LOT AND SODOM "For
we will destroy this place, because the cry
of them is waxen great before the face of the
LORD; and the LORD hath sent us to destroy
it." Genesis 19:14 "And Lot
went out, and spoke unto his sons in law, which
married his daughters, and said, Up, get you
out of this place; for the LORD will destroy
this city. But he seemed as one that mocked
unto his sons in law." (Many are so deceived
in this present time) Genesis 19:16 "And
while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his
hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon
the hand of his two daughters; the LORD being
merciful unto him: and they brought him forth,
and set him without the city." THE
ATTACHMENT TO THE THINGS OF THIS WORLD:
SAVING ONE'S OWN LIFE Genesis
19:26 "But his wife looked back from behind
him, and she became a pillar of salt."
WILL
THE RAPTURE BE BEFORE, DURING or AFTER THE
TRIBULATION PERIOD? THE ABOVE VERSES FROM GENESIS (THAT JESUS' REFERS TO IN HIS OLIVET DISCOURSE, IN Mark 13, Luke 21 AND Matthew 24) CLEARLY DESCRIBE A PLACE OF SANCTUARY FOR THE PEOPLE OF God WHILE THE JUDGMENT WHICH IS TO BE VISITED UPON THE EARTH. These same scriptures also describe how life had a sense of normality and routine continue until the catching away of the righteous remnant who are spared from wrath. Those remaining are described as those who are caught in a snare from which there is not escape. Luke
17:31 "In that day, he which shall be
upon the housetop, and his stuff in the house,
let him not come down to take it away: and
he that is in the field, let him likewise not
return back." Luke 17:32 "Remember
Lot's wife." The
preceding and following passages describe how
people who are apparently in close fellowship
(i.e. church members of professing believers)
may experience different judgments. See Matt
25. WHERE WILL THE BELIEVER BE TAKEN? Out of this world to Join the Lord in the air. (1 Thessalonians 4:17) The prophetic scripture following is directed to the Jews again with whom the Messiah will deal until the culminating months of the tribulation. These passages outline events that precede the second coming of the Lord when those in Jerusalem seem to face total annihilation. Luke
21:20 "And when ye shall see Jerusalem
compassed with armies, then know that the desolation
thereof is nigh." The near fulfillment
of prophecy came in 70 AD and but there will
be a future fulfillment during the final conflict
of Armageddon Israel is the future event.
THE
WARNINGS AND THE ADMONITIONS, IMMENENTCY THE
COMING OF THE LORD AS
A THIEF (See references to Bridegroom
and bride language) IS A SECRET AND SURPRISE
RETURN the second coming comes after particular
event which mark the timing. EXHORTATIONS
WHO
WILL OUR HEARTS CHOOSE? WHERE IS OUR TREASURE?
THE
TYPOLOGY OF THE BRIDE GROOM AND THE BRIDE THE BRIDE AWAITS THE BRIDEGROOMS UNEXPECTED RETURN: Matthew
25:1 "Then shall the kingdom of heaven
be likened unto ten virgins, which took their
lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom."
MATT 25:32 -- ARGUMENTS TO SUPPORT PRE TRIBULATION RAPTURE For
my own edification and peace founded upon hope,
I find these 3 scriptural principles as the
most relevant to discerning false doctrine. From the above, you may clearly see that those who teach Restoration - - Kingdom-now theology completely ignores these guiding principles of scripture and become part of a group who over estimate the role of believers in the body of Christ in completely destroying the works of the enemy in this world and bringing in the wealth government and reign of righteousness upon the earth. Hal Lindsey an eminent Bible teacher, has focused most of his ministry on end-time prophecy and is a proponent of the immanent rapture of the church. He points out in recent teachings that the above passage is a second sorting which occurs as the remaining population upon the earth is separated into believers and unbelievers. The first sorting is the rapture itself when a distinction is made between those whose lamps are burning (Holy Spirit faith and zeal) and those without oil. In the great tribulation which follows many come to Christ and many are martyred for his namesake. The remaining are the enemies of God and have become followers of the false messiah, Anti-Christ, or gospel unbelievers. Chuck Missler has an internet link describing matters of eschatology and the second coming of Messiah for and with his church. I believe that his doctrine is solid and fully details scriptural positions. (Koinonia House Online: ) http://www.khouse.org/articles/2002/444/ MORE
ON THE TRIBULATION AND THE REVEALING OF THE
ANTI CHRIST THERE
IS A SPIRITUAL FORCE PRESENT ON EARTH WHICH
PREVENTS ANTI CHRIST FROM ASCENDING TO POWER:
THE POWER WHICH WITHHOLDS MUST BE REMOVED.
THE
PERIOD OF GRACE IS A CERTAIN PERIOD (DISPENSATION)
JESUS ANNOUNCED THIS AS 'THE YEAR OF THE LORD'S
FAVOR --ACCEPTABLE YEAR OF THE LORD' (Isa 61:2)
The remaining portion of Isaiah's prophecy
was omitted by Jesus In Luke 4:18-19 as this
was not the his mission in his initial incarnation.
God is not the author of confusion: God is
a God of order . The age of Grace (which we
can also call the church age) has a finite
and fixed time period. It begins with Jesus
declaring, "Father forgive them they know
not what they do." The Gospel of the Kingdom
can be correctly understood two have two aspects:
The ultimate fulfillment of the Kingdom of
God will commence when the Jews receive the
very Messiah who they had rejected in his first
coming. Jesus will indeed be the King of the
Jews who sits upon the throne of David and
rules the earth in righteousness where sin
and the curse no longer infest. In the present
church age, the Kingdom is not as yet fully
manifested but awaited. We pray for THE KINGDOM
to be realized in every declaration of the
Lord's prayer. The church age saints have received
the good news that we may be grafted into the
righteous root and stock of Israel and can
themselves be regarded as true children of
God. The Good News invites that free
gift that allows ones total fallen nature to
be renewed. Consequently, we are not judged
for our sins if we accept the price the Lamb
paid. THE
BOOK OF THE REVELATION WARNS THE "CHURCHES"
in chapter 2, THEN TAKES THE BELIEVERS OUT
A commonly taught view by those who teach the pre tribulation rapture of the church is that a heavenly door is opened at the beginning of Revelation, Chapter 4. The remaining scriptures view the events from a heavenly not an earthly viewpoint. Revelation 4:1 "After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will show thee things which must be hereafter."
Mysteries, index
E
Book 1: Resources:
Understanding Home Fellowships
updated 04-01-2018 |