Three Comings of Jesus (post 2)

Continuing in the book by J. Leland Earls. Continued from our "Three Comings of Jesus (post 1)".

Second Pentecost. There must, however, be a second Pentecost in order to bring forth an end-time harvest. The outpouring of God’s Spirit in the Scriptures is likened to the falling of rain (Isa. 44:3, 32:15). The Lord had promised the Israelites that if they would obey His commandments, He would give them rain for their land in its season, “the first rain and the latter rain” (Deut. 11:14). The first, or early, rain came in the fall of the year, after the long hot summer, in order to soften the ground that they might plow the soil and plant the grains before the winter came. The latter rain came in the spring in order to swell the grain and bring the crops to maturity for harvest. That which God established in the natural is designed by Him to pattern His workings in the spiritual realm. First the natural and then the spiritual (I Cor. 15:46), with the natural becoming a type of the spiritual. Thus we know that for God to be true to His word there MUST be a latter rain outpouring of the Holy Spirit for the HARVEST of this age to be brought forth. That which came on the disciples in the upper room as recorded in Acts 2 was only the first, or early, rain, in order that the gospel seed might be sown. We are now coming to the end of this age which is the time of the latter rain and harvest. Mt. 13:39 makes it clear that the harvest is the end of the age.
The Husbandman. In James 5:7-8, God is likened to a husbandman who “waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receives the early and latter rain.” Then follows the admonition, “Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.” This scripture indicates that the Lord cannot receive the full fruit of the earth (the final harvest) apart from the “latter rain”, and with patience does He wait for the time of that fruit to come. There are two other scriptures which I will quote from the Old Testament to indicate the Lord’s coming TO His people in a latter rain outpouring. The first is Joel 2:23: “Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and He WILL CAUSE TO COME down for you the rain, the former rain, AND the latter rain in the first month.” Then in Hos. 6:1-3 we have the following admonition and promise: “Come, and let us return unto the Lord; for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten and he will bind us up. After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live is his sight. Then shall we know - if we follow on to know the Lord: His going forth is prepared as the morning; and HE SHALL COME UNTO US as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth. “We are now in the dawning period of this third day, and the Lord is beginning to come to His church as the rain. But first it is a restoration of the former rain, coming down now moderately, according to Joel 2:23. But the full intensity of the former rain is to be restored, as well as the latter rain being added to it. This will take place only after the firstfruits company has been translated, as I will show later.
The Coming of Jesus FOR His Saints

Receive. We have already quoted Jesus’ promise in John 14:3 that He would come again and RECEIVE His own unto Himself, and also alluded to Jesus’ statement in the parable of the pounds recorded in Lk. 19:1-27. Verse 12 tells of a certain nobleman (symbolizing Himself) who “went into a far country to RECEIVE FOR HIMSELF a kingdom, and to RETURN.” Notice, the kingdom (people) is received FOR Him first, and then He returns WITH it. This is in harmony with the Greek word paralambano which we examined earlier as used in Mt. 24:40, which means “to RECEIVE NEAR.” As we examine the scriptures, however, the evidence points to the fact that Christ will receive His saints to Himself in TWO groups, separated by a period of time. Remember that the word church means the “called out ones”. Just as we have been spiritually called out of the “Egypt” of this world, so will the saints of the true church be literally “called out” of the present earthly conditions, putting on immortal, incorruptible and glorified bodies, which will no longer be subject to the limitations of the physical realm. Christ cannot “receive” them unto Himself unless their bodies are changed into the likeness of His glorious body, so that they can function in the heavenly realm where He is, and also manifest or appear in the physical realm as He did after His resurrection to glorified life.
Illustrate. There are a number of scriptural illustrations which can clarify this truth of the two-fold church, or the church being received in two groups. I will list them first, and then deal with each illustration separately.
1. Wise and Foolish virgins (Mt. 25:1-13).
2. Children and Friend (Luke 11:5-8).
3. Feeding of 5,000 and 4,000 (Mt. 14:15-21, 1529-39).
4. Firstfruits and Harvest (Rev. 14:1-5, 14-16).
5. Woman and Manchild (Rev. 12:1-17).
6. Martha and Mary (John 11:1-32).
7. Enoch and Elijah (Gen. 5:22-24, II Kings 2:11-12).
8. Noah and Lot (Luke 1726-37).
9. Daniel and Three Companions (Dan. 2:48-49, 3:10-27).
10. Queen and Virgins (Psalm 45:9-16).
11. Bride and Those Called (Rev. 19:7-9).
12. “Ye” and “They” (Luke 12-35-36).
13. Second and Third watches (Luke 12:37-40).
14. Jesus’ First and Second Ascensions (John 20:17, Acts 1:9),
15. Faithful and Unfaithful Servants (Luke 12:41-48).
16. Peter, James, John and Rest of Disciples (Mt. 17:1-18).
17. Overcomers and Churches (Rev., chaps. 2 & 3).

As you can see, there are two contrasting groups in each Biblical illustration, and/or there are two distinct events or episodes which demonstrate the same pattern. Christians have so often fought over pre-tribulation and post-tribulation rapture theories, each finding scriptural support for their beliefs, with most polarizing to one point of view or the other. But very few ever seem to realize that there is some truth to both positions. I hope that after you have read this study, it will help you to “unify” all scriptures in a beautiful picture of God’s end-time plan, which clearly shows that some (a small number) will be translated before the tribulation for the purpose of strategy, as well as to fulfill a certain “role”; and that a much greater number will be translated at the close of the tribulation, for they will have a purpose to fulfill on earth during the tribulation, For contrary to traditional teaching, the tribulation period will see the greatest revival in human history. Even those translated first will minister on the earth at that time.
Wise and Foolish. Let us take a look first at a parable which vividly portrays the truth of some being taken and others left behind. In Mt. 25:1-13 we have the story of the TEN VIRGINS, of whom five were wise, and five foolish. All went out to meet the Bridegroom, but the wise took extra oil with them, so that when the Bridegroom tarried they did not run out. The foolish did not take extra oil and were found wanting at the midnight hour when the Bridegroom finally came. The wise were taken into the marriage, but the foolish were left behind, as expressed in Mt. 25:10: “they that were READY went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.” Those who want to wrest the scripture to fit their traditions try to make this parable a picture of the separation of Christians from non-Christians, saying that the foolish virgins are wicked people who are left behind when Christ comes to take the believers. This will simply not “hold water” for ALL ten were VIRGINS. Thus they all portray born again Christians who have been “ESPOUSED to Christ” (II Cor. 11:2). This is further shown by the fact that all ten had lamps (a type of the Word of God) and oil in their lamps (a type of the Holy Spirit). The wise simply had EXTRA oil with them (a type of the FURTHER WORK of the Holy Spirit in the BAPTISM of the Holy Spirit and subsequent purifyings and preparations by that same Spirit).
Ready. Most Christians, brainwashed by the traditions of man, simply do not want to accept the fact that MORE is required to be READY to be taken by the Lord than simply being a born-again believer. This is too vast a subject to go into here, but there is an abundance of scripture to show that salvation is simply the lifting of the death penalty, giving the recipient of Christ’s gift of grace LIFE (eternal) for the soul now, and resurrection or a change for the physical body at Christ’s return. But just WHERE that life will be lived, and in what realm of glory is another question. Paul says that there is the glory of the earthly (terrestrial), and there is the glory of the heavenly (celestial); so also is the resurrection (I Cor. 15:40). The glory of the heavenly, where those who are changed into the likeness of Christ’s glory (Phil. 3:21), to rule in His kingdom, in intimate association with Him, is reserved only for the overcomers (Rev. 2:26-28, 3:21). All Christians are now espoused to Christ in new covenant relationship through the new birth, but only a select group out of the espoused ones will be TAKEN (even as the wise virgins) to become the heavenly BRIDE of the Christ, for the bride is one who makes herself READY (Rev. 19: 7). For a further discussion of these truths, ask for the booklets “The Voice of the Bridegroom” and “A New and Living Way.” I will simply add here, that though the foolish virgins in the parable were left behind when the Lord came as the Bridegroom, it is quite evident that they did secure that extra oil they so sorely needed (even though too late to be taken at the midnight hour). And this is what vast numbers of Christians left behind will be doing during the tribulation period: getting that extra oil and getting READY for the Lord’s return to take them at the close of the tribulation, to be a part of His heavenly household.

Children and Friend. Another parable which is closely related to that of the wise and foolish virgins is the “friend at midnight” as recorded in Lk. 11:5-8. Both parables deal with a crisis at the midnight hour. The foolish virgins were without oil at the midnight hour, and a certain man was without bread. In both parables we find that “a door was shut” (Indicating a lost opportunity because of lack of preparedness). In both parables there were some on the inside of the shut door, indicating that they were taken in before the door was shut. The wise virgins were taken in, and in the parable of Lk. 11:7 we read of the Friend (Jesus) saying to the one on the outside: “Trouble me not: the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed.” “In bed” with Jesus would indicate that place of REST and INTIMACY which will be experienced after translation and glorification into His realm to be with Him. This parable illustrates again that some will be taken first to be with the Lord and other left behind. But this parable adds a clarifying and hopeful detail with reference to those left behind. Although the man without bread found the door shut when He went to his friend (Jesus) to get the bread he so desperately needed, he continued in importunity asking, seeking, knocking (see Lk. 11:9-10 which immediately follows the parable), until he got what he sought so intently for.
Three loaves. Because of his importunity (persistence) the man in the parable receives the assurance that his friend (Jesus) will “rise and give him as many as he needeth” (Lk. 11:8); but since in vs. 5, he specifically asks for three loaves, we can assume that is what he received. The “three loaves” are a veiled reference to the three categories of Christians as given in Mk. 4:40: the 30 fold, 60 fold and 100 fold. Since the man in the parable who needed bread asked for three loaves, it portrays to us that he was not going to be satisfied with the 30 or 60 fold stages of Christian experience, but wanted that “third loaf” — the 100 fold estate. Only the 100 fold will be translated into the heavenly realm to be with Christ, so this parable vividly portrays the intensity with which all Christians who are left behind when some are taken at the midnight hour, will seek the Lord Jesus (their Friend) and with importunity cry out for Him to meet them with the fiery Spirit baptism and other dealings and preparations that will be necessary to be taken at the close of the tribulation.
Feeding of 5,000 and 4,000. One of the most interesting pictures of two gatherings is in two similar miracles which Jesus performed. In Mt. 14:15 we read of the miraculous feeding of the 5,000. Jesus fed this multitude with 5 loaves and 2 fishes. The miracle took place near the Sea of Galilee. Galilee means “a circle”, and is a picture of the circuitous area of the whole earth. To us it speaks of Jesus’ ministry throughout this age as the bread of life has been broken to multitudes throughout the whole earth, and as they have partaken of the benefits of His plan of salvation (symbolized by the fish—which speaks of the mystery of regeneration). But notice, after the multitudes were fed, there was a gathering up of the fragments that remained. This speaks of those who remain (are still alive) at the coming of the Lord. They shall be “gathered” unto the Lord through translation, even as we read in II Thess. 2:1 of “the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and our gathering together unto him.”
This will be the first gathering, for we read of another gathering in the feeding of the 4,000, which we will look at shortly. In Mt. 1:20 we read that the fragments taken up filled twelve baskets. Notice that number 12, for it is the key number in speaking to us of the Firstfruits who will be gathered first. We have already seen that in Rev. 14:1 that the first-fruits are symbolized by 144,000. But please note that this number is the multiple of 12 x 12,000; confirming that 12 is the firstfruits number. Also the Greek word for “basket” in Mt. 14:20 means a small wicker hand basket. This is tremendously important as see when we examine the next miracle.
Contrast. I will now show some contrasts between the feeding of the 5,000 and the feeding of the 4,000. The latter miracle is recorded in Mt. 15:32-39. It also took place near the Sea of Galilee in a “wilderness” place. It is important to notice that this miracle took place some time after the other one, so that the “gathering” of the fragments pictured here would speak to us of a gathering of saints which takes place later than the first gathering. The “wilderness” place (15:33) could speak to us of the great tribulation period, which great numbers of Christians will find themselves going through after the firstfruits have been taken, for in Rev. 12:6 we see the remaining church going into the wilderness. Now note carefully! In the feeding of the 4,000 there are seven baskets of fragments taken up. The number 7 is symbolic of completeness of fullness. Thus this miracle speaks to us of the close of the tribulation when the FULL and complete gathering of the church takes place (in contrast to a small part only—the firstfruits—being taken earlier). Also, the Greek word for “basket” in Mt. 15:37 means a large bushel-like basket. See the Amplified Bible and contrast Mt. 15:37 with Mt. 14:20. Thus the 7 baskets taken up after the feeding of the 4,000 would be a much larger amount of fragments than the 12 baskets taken up after the feeding of the 5,000. Again, confirming the fact that the great host to be taken after the tribulation is a much larger group than the firstfruits taken earlier.

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Daniel's Prophecy For Today, Part 2

Daniel's Prophecy for Today, Part 2, Including "The 70th Week"
[Published 1977. By Brotherhood of Jesus, San Diego, California.]
It is generally taught that the 70th week of Daniel 9 is separated from the other 69 by a gap of 2,000 years. Is it? Or is this a product of man's interpretation of what "should have been" in God's mind?

God chose a people in the Old Testament times to become a key to open up and show what He would do on all the earth. These people were chosen because they best fit His requirements. God wished their lives to show a pattern of His entire plan, through what He would cause to happen to them. First He chose a man, and through that man He fathered a nation. God told Abram, the man of His choosing, that his seed would be as the dust of the earth (Gen. 13:16). God also told Abram to look at the stars; if he could number them, so he would know that progeny or seed which would come from him (Gen. 15:5). Through these two promises we may understand that the seed of Abraham was to be two-fold — a physical seed or offspring and a spiritual seed, the physical seed being typified by the dust of the earth and the spiritual seed on earth by the stars of heaven. They who began as the physical seed are to be paralleled by those who become the spiritual seed.

The physical seed came first, being known as the nation of ancient Israel. Through Abraham's grandson, Jacob, who fathered the twelve patriarchs, became the heads and progenitors of the twelve tribes of Israel. These twelve tribes constituted that nation of prophets and priests through whom God revealed Himself and to whom He chose to make known the detail of His plan. The complete history of the nation of Israel portrays, through living drama, the entirety of God's plan and purpose for the human race. The study of the sacred history from the time of Abram on, reveals numerous types and patterns depicting God's plan of the ages, as well as the nature of His dealings with human beings to bring them to Himself and into the stream of His divine purpose for them.

God made certain promises to the nation of Israel in the form of covenants or agreements, but since these promises were contingent upon obedience, God was in no way obligated to keep them when the nation defaulted. However, the covenant made with Abram was different. God swore by Himself that He would fulfill what He had spoken to Abram, because Abram believed God's promises and took action upon them, walking before Him with a perfect heart (Gen. 22:16-17, Heb. 6:13-18). Therefore, what God promised to do through Abram's offspring was not subject to change; however, since the promises were to Abram and to his seed, it was completely within God's prerogative to transfer the promises from the physical seed to the spiritual seed (Gal. 3:7, 29).


This was demonstrated by prophetic type in Jacob's experience at the river Jabbok (Gen. 32:22-32), where, as he wrestled with the angel, his name changed from Jacob to Israel. Jacob's wrestling with the angel symbolizes a spiritual experience in which the carnal gives way to the mind of the Spirit and an energizing is made available to do the will of God, a supernatural enabling to replace the "old nature" with the "new nature."


This is also signified by the name Jabbok, which means "outpouring. As in the type, God pours out His Spirit on all those who have clearly seen His provision for a walk of victory in the Spirit rather than struggling on in the flesh. The name Israel (meaning "prince with God") then comes into operation with the transfer to a more spiritual condition.

The principle of transference to the spiritual counterpart is also pictured by the fact that Jacob (meaning supplanter) replaced or supplanted his brother Esau as the birthright holder after Esau had "sold out" and despised his birthright. The name Esau means "hairy," indicating the earthly or carnal man, and that name was later changed to Edom (meaning "red") which links him to the earth from which physical man was formed. Thus Esau becomes a type of all the unregenerate human race, even those among the descendants of Abraham. Jacob-Israel is the type of the spirit-born man, the new creature who replaces the old man of sin. These prophetic events in type are designed to emphasize the truth that the physical seed of Abraham would eventually be replaced by the spiritual seed. Jesus made this a reality when He said to those who boasted of their descent from Abraham, "The Kingdom of God shall be taken from you and given to a gathering of people who will bring forth its fruits" (Matt. 21:43), to a Kingdom of priests (Rev. 1:5-6).

The natural or physical people of Israel have been preserved through the years, not by virtue of the covenant God made with them as a nation, but simply because of the word which He gave to Abram, confirmed by His oath. The covenant made at Sinai with the twelve tribes was broken and is no longer in force. Because they broke their agreement, God scattered the people of natural Israel among the nations about 720 B.C., causing them to be cut off and absorbed into the Gentile world - with one exception. That exception was the preserved remnant of the southern Kingdom of Judah which was reestablished in the Promised Land so that there might be a people to receive the Messiah and to fulfill all the things written in the Scriptures.
It was God's mercy and forgiveness that made possible their return from captivity to be preserved until the coming of the Messiah. The measure of this forgiveness and its prophetic equation was given to the Disciples in answer to Peter's question concerning forgiveness (Matt. 18:21-22). The answer expressed the essence of what God had been willing to do, even as He requested the same of the Disciples. He would not require of man what He would not be willing to fulfill Himself. Peter asked if seven times would be sufficient in forgiving his brother and Jesus told him that it should rather be seventy times seven. The number given conveyed the idea of completeness of forgiveness, with no animosity retained within the heart, and also conveyed the idea of complete or continuous forgiveness whenever true repentance (the act of turning to righteousness) is manifested, almost without limitation as to the number of times.

But also veiled in Jesus' answer was the declaration of God's grace toward an errant nation, showing the extent of His mercy to that remnant which was given permission to return to the Promised Land and later to rebuild the Temple. After numerous difficulties, the returned remnant finally began the reinstituted sacrifices on a regular and continuous basis. From the time that the sacrificial rights were reinstituted until the time that the Messiah was cut off was exactly 70 times 7, or 490 years. Thus did the Lord proclaim the extent of His grace and forgiveness after permitting the remnant to return. At the close of that 490 years, the perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ, which provided the foundation for all grace and forgiveness, was offered once for all time. Beyond that 490 years there could be no forgiveness, except on the grounds of the perfect sacrifice of the promised Messiah, the giving of Himself as the all-sufficient expiation for the sins of the world. The continuance of the animal sacrifices by the unbelieving Jewish people beyond the stipulated time period, in complete rejection of the one all-sufficient sacrifice, constituted the abomination for which the nation and the Temple were made desolate (Dan. 9:27). From that time on, those who even with good intentions continued the animal sacrifices fulfilled the prophetic words of Isaiah to the effect that he who kills an ox will be guilty as if he killed a man for sacrifice; he who sacrifices a lamb, as if he cut off a dog's neck; he who presents an offering, as if it were swine's blood; he who burns incense, as if he blessed an idol. They have chosen their own ways and their soul delights in their abominations or despicable things. They did evil before My eyes and chose that in which I do not delight (Isa. 66:3-4). Because of their abominations, they were broken as a people and scattered, remaining in exile and unfruitful for an entire age. But again, because of God's oath to Abraham, He has preserved a remnant of the Jews throughout this age and will yet deal with them.

The 490 year period from the reestablishment of the sacrifices to the establishment of the once-for-all sacrifice of Jesus Christ is not the only use of 70 sevens in Scripture. The 490 year period is also a pattern which the Lord chooses to use again and again. Our Lord is the same in the past, the present and the future. There was a 490 year period from the time Joseph was sold into the land of Egypt to the time the Israelites were brought out of Egypt. There was a 490 year period from the time of the rule over the Israelites by the Pharaoh who did not know Joseph to the time of the rule of their next king, Saul. There was a 490 year period from the rule of the new king, Saul, to the rule of the new line of kings over the land of Palestine, starting with Nebuchadnezzar. There was also a 490 year period from the time of dedicating Solomon's Temple to the dedication of the rebuilt Temple after the remnant returned from Babylon. Note that in each of these 490 year periods there was a continuity of time right up to the completion of the period; in none of them is found a discontinuity or a portion of the period set apart for later fulfillment. Each of the periods began with the initiation of a new thing or a change bringing about a new phase, and each extended without interruption to its end and to a beginning of a new phase of the same subject matter. We need to note this typical characteristic, because of the 490 year period appearing in the prophecy of Daniel 9, which must be handled according to the other paralleling patterns given in Scripture.

DANIEL 9

In about 538 B.C., Daniel knew it was almost God's time for completion of the 70 year exile in Babylon, because Jeremiah had prophesied the exile would extend over a period of 70 years (Jer. 25:11-12, 29:10). The first attack on the city of Jerusalem and the deportation of many of its inhabitants was about 606 B.C., but the Temple was not destroyed until the second siege about 586 B.C. Therefore the release of the people of Judah to return to Jerusalem was due in about 536 B.C. and the rebuilt Temple was due to be completed about 516 B.C. There was a 70 year span (with a 20-year offset) to the completion of the Temple. Daniel also knew that his people had been cast out of their own land because they sinned against God prior to the exile period, and he knew they continued to displease Him during the exile period. As later became more evident, the people took up the patterns of the Babylonians and became comfortable there; there were but a few, a remnant, who desired to leave Babylon and return to Judah.

Because of their diffidence, Daniel was moved and inspired to intercede on the behalf of his nation. There had been no repentance by the nation, no turning from what displeased the Lord, and no turning to what would please Him. Daniel confessed this as a representative of and as an intercessor for the nation in exile, with prayer and supplications, with fasting, and with sackcloth and ashes (Dan. 9:3-4, I Jn. 1:9). Although Daniel had been walking in a way pleasing to God, his prayer of specific confession and request for forgiveness included himself, because he was a member of that body of Jews which was participating in sin. This is one of the several examples in Scripture of the effectiveness of a vicarious repentance by a person living a life "sold out" to Yahweh-Jesus, but he could only repent as one member of the nation. He rightly called attention to the fact that harm is permitted to come upon those who persist in turning away from God (I Cor. 5:1-5). His only basis for requesting forgiveness and grace is for “Your own sake, O my Elohim, because Your city and Your people are called by Your name" (Dan. 9:19). Here, a very useful pattern is presented for application today (II Tim. 3:16).

Daniel immediately received an answer to his effective praying, even while he was still speaking (Matt. 6:6-8). And according to Gabriel's revealing to Daniel, there was to be another period of 70 units connected with God's plan for Judah, though this one was to be a 70 times 7 period (Dan. 9:24). In effect, Daniel was told that the "Jeremiah 70 years" would be no great problem, but that they pointed toward a greater deliverance on a higher plane. This prophetic word was to be specifically tied to God's dealings with the Jewish people and with Jerusalem, during a period of 70 times 7, or 490 years. In Daniel 9:24, the words "determined or decreed" upon the people means "especially set aside or cut out" for your people. The offer being made was to bring a finishing (lit. restraining) of the transgression of His people so His plan could continue to develop (Isa. 53:5), to seal up and make full the measure of sin (Isa. 53:6,10), to purge away and make expiation and reconciliation for sin (the iniquity not covered by the Law), to bring in everlasting righteousness (the nucleus of it is the Seed of Christ - Isa. 54:17), and to seal up (fulfill) the vision and the prophet (what he reported), and to anoint a "most holy," the Holy of Holies (Jesus Christ, also the Christian Dispensation).

In other words, this offer was intended to bring into effect a new rule in the Cho­sen Land so it could then become a pattern and a living exhibit of the Lord's intent and objective for all lands. But it was to be presented as an offer (as is always God's way) and therefore was not automatically to come into effect independently of its acceptance or rejection. The offer, as was each of the offers to the Chosen Nation, was to be conditional and provisional. Here again we see the "two sides of the coin" - the promises but also the conditions; it would be presented as a contractual agreement, but would only become a firm contract when the Chosen People, or an adequate number of them accepted the terms of the offer. This same approach is consistent with every one of the offers previously made to this Chosen Nation. The 70 weeks in Daniel 9:24 were originally written as "70 sevens," not 70 weeks. The 70 times 7 would be 490, which is to be translated into prophetic time (Ezek. 4:6), and thereby we obtain the 490 years of which Gabriel spoke. This 490 year period, following the pattern of the previous 490 year parallels, would bring the reestablishment of Jerusalem and Palestine into God's plan and a release from the hindering of Satan and his agents. Initially, these developments were to be specifically tied to God's dealings with Jerusalem and the Jewish people, the nation of Israel - no others. The period was to start at the time of a commandment (Hebrew: "a word") to restore and reestablish Jerusalem, not just the Temple in this instance. It was to extend into the coming of the Anointed One and then through seven more years of His ministry (Dan. 9:25-27), thus completing the 490 year period. The decree or "word" was to bring about the building of Jerusalem with walls (Hebrew: ramparts) which provide protection, such a wall and moat, and streets (Hebrew: broad wide place) or square, in troublous times.

According to our records, these are the commandments and letters that were issued:
cyrus, about 536 B.C. (II Chron. 36:22-23, Ezra 1:1-2). A proclamation (Hebrew: a voice to go out over), and also writing, to rebuild the Temple.
the lord to Haggai, about 520 B.C. (Hag. 1). A prophetic command to resume building the Temple.

Xerxes I to Esther, about 473 B.C. (Esther 8:10). A written letter and command (a word) effecting deliverance for the Jews from Haman's intentions.
Artaxerxes to Ezra, about 460 B.C. (Ezra 7:13). An enabling for the second expedition to Jerusalem. It is said this was a written decree (Hebrew: discretion, taste) stating that all Israel may go, giving permission to exercise free will. Not all did go.

Artaxerxes to Nehemiah, about 445 B.C. (Neh. 2:8). Letters to provide beams for the gates of the fortress (in the wall) and material for the city's wall and for the house Nehemiah would enter or occupy. The builders had to work on the walls and gates with sword in hand (Neh. 4:18), for the building was done in troublous times. Which is the commandment prophesied in Daniel 9:25?

The time to the Anointed One was 7 sevens plus 62 sevens, which total 483 years, but first we must explore the kind of year which is used by the Lord in this prophecy. The year we use today is the earth's orbit around the sun in 365 1/4 days, but is that the same as God's year or that orbit time in effect before sin affected and infected our planet? There have always been 12 months, that number is one of God's numbers. But Revelation 11:2 and Revelation 13:5 speak of 42 months … a period in which Revelation 11:3 and Revelation 12:6 tell us there are precisely 1,260 days. In Revelation 12:14 and Daniel 7:25, this period of 42 months or 1,260 days is a period of 3 1/2 years. The numbering of 1,260 days and also 42 months in 3 1/2 years is particularly interesting, since within every three year period of the Hebrew calendar there is an extra month added to adjust the pattern of the months to the equator's declination relative to the sun. This is to keep the same months in the same seasons of every year. There is also reference to a period of five months containing 150 days in Genesis 7:11, 24 and 8:3-4, but this alone shows no special difference from the Hebrew calendar. However, these examples do indicate an even 360 days within what could be termed the sin-free orbit around the sun, and in many comparisons of Bible prophecy with archeological find­ings, the 360 day year appears to be the one used by the Lord in His plans.

If we are reading this rightly as indicating a very slight shift in earth's orbit when rebellion entered, because all of this portion of God's creation was affected (Rom. 8:19-22), the 7 sevens plus 62 sevens (483) years of the 360 day variety, concluding with the appearance of the Anointed One, would be 476 of our 3651/t day years. If Jesus Christ was born in about 1 A.D., as much evidence now seems to indicate, He was anointed for the beginning of His ministry near the end of 31 A.D. (Lk. 3:21-23). The date 476 years prior to His anointing would reach back to 445 B.C., which would be the date of the "word" or decree of Daniel 9:25, if there is no error in the observations. Historians have fixed the date on which the letters were given to Nehemiah by Artaxerxes as 445 B.C.; however, let it be noted that historical dates back to 1,500 B.C. are subject to a possible error of as much as 10 years.

After the 7 sevens plus 62 sevens of years, the Anointed One was to be cut off and have nothing to Him, having given up everything (including His close relationship with His Father) on the Cross. This timing was fulfilled early in 35 A.D., 3 1/2 years after the anointing. Also after the 7 sevens plus 62 sevens of years, a people following another leader who will come, will destroy the city and the sanctuary (Jn. 14:30). This portion of the prophecy foresaw the Anointed one being rejected and cut off (Jesus was also the "Temple"), and the outcome of the rejection - once it had been confirmed beyond recall - would afterwards result in the destruction of the City and the Sanctuary. The fulfillment of His being cut off came into effect with the nation of Israel rejecting the person of Jesus Christ and His being crucified, but the nation's opportunity to accept Him was continued through His Apostles and Disciples until about the time of Stephen's death. Beyond that time, late in 38 A.D., there was no longer any offering of that ministry to the nation through its leaders, but only to willing individuals in the nation (Acts 8:1). The opportunity presented to those individuals in natural Israel continued during a total of 40 years (a significant number in Scripture) from the beginning of Christ's ministry to its termination in 70 A.D., when the non-Christian army of pagan Rome surrounded Jerusalem, took and burned it on the Passover, including the Temple, killed tens of thousands and deported about 100,000 of its citizens (Lk. 21:20-24).

The initial fulfillment was for Israel. The final fulfillment is yet to take place for the nations of spiritual Israel. It will be associated with another surrounding and subsequent desolation of Jerusalem and Palestine by the armies of the anti-Christ, Satan incarnated in the human body of the ruler of the dreadful beast's worldwide empire now developing - a ruler who shall come. That latter desolation shall come with a flood of evil (harm) from Satan, the serpent (Rev. 12:15), and from that time to the end of the age will be continuous war and desolation for all the nations on earth (Lk. 21:22, Rev. 12:17, Matt. 24:22, Neh. 1:5-8). Obviously, the prophetic period of 70 sevens or 490 years for natural Israel and Jerusalem (483 years of the 360 day variety) would have terminated just before 38 A.D., which is consistent with the time when the New Testament or New Covenant ministry became no longer available to the nation of Israel through its leaders.

Now let us take a careful look at Daniel 9:27 solely on the basis of what we can discover in Scripture, for this verse is widely interpreted out of context. The first application of the prophecy is to the people of the Jewish nation and to Jerusalem (:24), though the final application includes spiritual Israel (the Kingdom on earth) and it’s "Jerusalem" (typing Christendom) by inescapable inference. The primary subject in the prophecy is the work and person of the Anointed One, Jesus Christ (:24-26), although a single reference is made to the people of another leader (:26). In verse 27, the prophecy continues, stating that He, the Messiah of verse 26, shall confirm (Hebrew: strengthen) a covenant or testament or agreement with many for one seven (seven years) -with the Jewish people (:24). Whatever covenant this was to be, was one which must already have been in existence with the Jewish people, for it was one which was to be strengthened. From the record of our New Testament, we know that Jesus, beginning with His Baptism by the Holy Spirit at the river Jordan (Matt. 3:16) and the anointing by His Father (Lk. 4:18; Jn. 17:3; 6:46, 62; 3:13), presented a strengthened Covenant entirely consistent with earlier covenants to that nation, which the nation was free to accept or reject.

The 69 "weeks" reached to the anointing, so the Messiah's ministry began at the initiation of the 70th "week." But the prophecy of verse 27 places a time limit on the offer of the strengthened Covenant to the Jewish nation, terminating seven years beyond its initial offering. All of God's previous covenants offered to this nation were contingent upon cooperation and all were defaulted by the nation's lack of response; yet the nation had been preserved, because of God’s unconditional promise to Abram confirmed by His oath (Heb. 6:13-18). Therefore, it was necessary that God again offer the nation an opportunity for accepting Yahweh-Jesus as its Messiah and for establishing His rule or Kingdom. Jeremiah was given prophecy on this necessity to the effect that, although old covenants had been broken by Israel, a New Covenant would be offered precisely like that of the New Testament ministry, and would be offered first to the Jewish nation - which was fulfilled during a period of seven years (Jer. 31:27-34, Heb. 8:6-13). This New Covenant was to result in a substantially strengthened relationship between the Jewish nation and God, if it was accepted; it was to terminate as did its predecessors, if it was not accepted (Zech. 11:10-14). The Messiah was to be cut off in death after the 69 "weeks," placing the crucifixion sometime during the 70th "week" (after the 70th week had been well started), making it impossible for the 70th "week" to be separated from the 69 "weeks" and placed at the end of the age.

See the bankruptcy of man's theology and interpretation. The first fulfillment of the 70th "week" has taken place, but it does not preclude some kind of parallel fulfillment in our time. In the early part of His ministry, Jesus Himself acted out the seven year pattern during the Festival of Tabernacles, especially for the benefit of the leaders of the nation who claimed to know the Scriptures so thoroughly (II Tim. 3:16). He presented the New Covenant and He warned them to accept it, or it would be withdrawn (Jn. 7:1, 10, 11, 14, 33, 34, 37). The Festival of Tabernacles celebrated the beginning of a new period, the civil new year, and this was so appropriate for the parable drama being presented. While present at the week-long Festival, He pictured His own ministry. During the first 3 1/2 days He worked among them almost incognito and veiled from the sight of most of the people. He was there for those who would search Him out (Isa. 42:1-9), Jer. 29:13), but it was as if He was not among the others. At mid-week He placed Himself boldly before them, rulers and all, and on the concluding day He completed the drama by a strong invitation to come to Him - the final invitation during the seven days (Isa. 42:4). A similar drama will again play out in our generation.

At another time, Jesus also pictured the limited time for the offer of His strengthened Covenant in the parable of the vineyard fig tree (a symbol of the nation of Israel) in which the owner of the fig tree had been looking for fruit from it for three years (Lk. 13:6-9). The tree deserved cutting down, but the vine dresser persuaded the owner to allow him to dig around it and fertilize it another season to see if subsequently it would bear fruit. If it did not bear fruit after the additional attention, then the fig tree would be cut down and taken out (Matt. 21:43). After His resurrection, when the Disciples asked Jesus if this was now the time at which He would reestablish the Kingdom and restore it to Israel (Acts 1:6-8), Jesus would not and could not give a direct answer, because the offer to the Jewish nation had not yet expired; it had 3 1/2 years yet to run before the nation finally rejected Him. Neither was it important or timely for them to know, in 35 A.D.

Jesus Himself was given to be that stronger Covenant to the people of Israel and through them to be a Light to the nations, but before the new things spring forth God tells of them (Isa. 42:6-3). Jesus was foretold to be the Messenger or Angel of the Covenant who was to suddenly come to His Temple (Mal. 3:1). Jesus Christ is the mediator of a new agreement (Heb. 9:14-15), and He came with the intention of carrying out His Holy Covenant which He sealed by oath to Abraham (Lk. 1:72-73). He ministered the truth of God to the Jews, to confirm and add to the promises made to the fathers (Rom. 15:8).

Jesus did away with the old order under a defaulted covenant, which involved symbolic sacrifices and offerings, so that He might inaugurate the new and establish the second order in which He Himself became the once-for-all sacrifice for atonement and for righteousness (II Cor. 3:14, Heb. 10:6-10). Gabriel prophesied that He would cause the sacrifice and the offering necessary for approaching God to cease (Dan. 9:27), which Jesus Christ did by the sacrifice of His own life at the midpoint of the final seven of the 70 sevens. He completed and fulfilled the meaning of all Old Testament symbolic sacrifices and washings, which pointed forward to Him and His enabling sacrifice to fill up their prophetic picture. He brought the reality into being in place of the acted out dramas in parable previews. Although Jesus knew the nation would reject Him and His astounding ministry, He did not once withdraw the confirming of this strengthened Covenant with the many of the Jewish nation during the whole seven year period. If no one else is faithful, God remains faithful and true, never reneging on His promises (Rom. 3:3-4).

Even after the Crucifixion, He continued to present the firm offer to the rulers of the nation by His Holy Spirit through the Apostles and Disciples - up to the murder of Stephen in 38 A.D. That brought the 490 year prophetic period to a close for Jerusalem and for the Jewish nation. After His resurrection, Jesus instructed the Apostles and Disciples to continue to present His strengthened Covenant to Jerusalem and Israel, beginning with the requirement of deep repentance so that all of sin could be forgiven and erased (Lk. 24:45-47). Subsequently and until the time of Stephen's death, the Jewish nation and its leaders heard the offer being proclaimed, but on that day a great and severe persecution broke out against the Church in Jerusalem which effectively scattered that group, forcing it out of contact with the government of the Jewish nation. The Apostles remained in Jerusalem to work with and encourage interested individuals in the region, but the period in which the nation as a nation could enter into the strengthened Contract offer had expired (Acts 7:57-60, 8:1).

To help in weighing and establishing the validity of the foregoing clarification of these Daniel 9 verses, let us quickly review their focus. The primary subject of 9:24 is the work of Jesus Christ; that of verse 25 is the person of Jesus Christ; and that of verse 26 is the crucifixion death of Jesus Christ after His anointing for ministry. Verse 27 gives a bold declaration of the vicarious atonement which would be accomplished by the promised Messiah. "In the midst or middle of the 70th week, He shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation (of the Mosaic ordinance) to cease." Carefully note in verses 26-27, "the people of the prince" refers to many, but the "he" of verse 27 is singular, so the "he" has to refer to the "Anointed One" of verse 26. There was no further need for the animal sacrifices of the Law to continue after Jesus had appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself and was once offered to bear the sins of many (Heb. 9:26, 28).

The Messiah was to be cut off, but not for Himself; His atonement was for others. Its placement in time was at the middle of the final or 70th "week." Since 70 full "weeks" were set aside for the people (:24), the Jews had only 3 1/2 years after the crucifixion of Christ in which to repent and accept their Messiah, or once again be subject to the judgment of God and eventually suffer again being cast out of the Promised Land. Through the preaching of the Apostles, the Jews were clearly given an opportunity for national repentance, even though they had crucified their Messiah (Acts 3:12-26). Such repentance would have brought refreshing from the presence of the Lord and restitution to the nation (II Chron. 7:14). However, there was complete rejection of the Apostles' testimony by the Jewish rulers and elders. Stephen, under the power of the Holy Spirit, declared them to be stubborn and uncircumcised (unrighteous) and always resisting the Holy Spirit (Acts 7:51).

The rejection of the Messiah by the Jews and their subsequent continuance of the animal sacrifices were an abomination in the sight of God, for which desolation was determined upon their land. Because of the overspreading (literally, extensions) of abominations, He (the Messiah) shall make desolate (the City and Sanctuary of verse 26), even until the full determined end shall be poured upon the desolate (land). It became impossible for God to "delight" in the continuance of animal sacrifices, once their function had been terminated by Christ's perfect sacrifice of Himself. Therefore, when the Jews continued them in rejection of Christ's sacrifice, they became that abomination in the sight of God of which Isaiah prophesied (Isa. 65:1-7, 66:1-4).

The 70 "weeks" allotted to the Jews were to run consecutively, without the final or 70th "week" being separated from the 69 and relegated exclusively to a future time. Daniel was shown that the allotted 70 "weeks" would see the fulfillment of certain things through the ministry of the promised Anointed One (Dan. 9:24). In that ministry during the 70th "week," six things were to take place:

1.To finish or fill up the transgression, i.e., expressed evil thoughts and emotions,etc. (literally, restrain transgression of the Law). This Jesus did, but the Jews filledup the transgression by crucifying Jesus and also by killing those He sent (Matt. 23:32-36).


2.To make an end of sins not covered specifically by the Law, i.e., unexpressedevil thoughts and emotions, uncleanness, etc. Jesus made an end of sins in dyingon the Cross (Heb. 9:26).


3.To make reconciliation for iniquity, i.e., perversions of truth in word and deed,willful wrongs, stubborn wrong. This was fulfilled by Jesus in reconciling the wholeworld to Himself (II Cor. 5:19).


4.To bring in everlasting righteousness. Through His death and resurrection,Jesus brought into being a reservoir of everlasting righteousness - each of Hisglorified seeds is a nucleus of His utter righteousness (Rom. 3:21-22, II Cor. 5:21, IPet. 1:23).


5.To seal up the vision and prophecy. To "seal up" means to finish or fulfill orfill up, and Jesus did so fulfill (Acts 3:18, Lk. 16:16).


6.To anoint the Most Holy; after His baptism in the Jordan, the Most Holy (Jesus) was anointed (fn. 1:32, Matt. 3:16, Lk. 3:22, 4:18-22).

All these things took place during the 70th "week."

It would have been strange, most strange, if this prophecy given to Daniel did not refer to the wonderful and exceedingly merciful New Covenant which Jesus would offer and make available for possession to Daniel's people during a seven year period. It would have been especially strange since so much of the Old Testament brings a focus on this specific objective of God in His Chosen People - for the Jewish people first, if they would, and then for the nations. Additionally, there is no paralleling precedent in other Scriptures to indicate a break in this particular 490 year period and a deferment of the 70th seven for 2,000 years, until the end of the Church Age. Nor do we dare propagate this teaching without a confirming word in Scripture, for every word of truth must be established by two or three testimonies or patterns in the Word of God (Jn. 8:17, II Cor. 13:1).

Thus, we can understand that the 490 years of God's extended grace to the Jews found its consummation in the ministry of the promised Messiah and those whom He commissioned and sent out (Jn. 20:21). Jesus was anointed for His ministry of 3 1/2 years at the beginning of the 70th and final "week" of seven years. The middle of that "week" saw the rejection of His personal ministry by the Jews. It is inconceivable that there would be a more embracing or more pointed abomination than that God's chosen nation, which He had continually blessed and disciplined in great patience and which He protected even through hateful rebellions, should absolutely refuse to accept the strengthened Covenant He offered - a covenant to enable the people of that nation to overcome all evil so they could become an example to show the way to the world. Instead they utterly rejected their Creator, and made Him a cursed sacrifice (Deut. 21:23). Even after He became the once-for-all sacrifice and propitiation for all the world, that nation completely ignored the great Gift of God, fought against Him and His followers, and smugly continued to offer animal sacrifices - ostensibly to the same God Whom they blasphemed.

The end of the "week" concluded with the Jews rejecting the witness of the Holy Spirit's testimony. Although the destruction and desolation of the nation did not come until 70 A.D., the end of their probation period of 490 years had come, and the age long judgment was certain. In 70 A.D., the people of the prince (the Roman armies) came and destroyed the city and the sanctuary (the Temple). The end was to come by being cut off by desolations (Lk. 21:20-21). In its preliminary application, the abomination of desolation standing in the Holy Place (Palestine) was the presence of the Roman armies in siege against Jerusalem (Matt. 24:15-16). Upon the extension of abomi­nations (despicable things) shall be desolation, until the full determined end is poured out on the desolated land (Dan. 9:27).

A great deal of other prophecy in Old and New Testaments tells in some detail that Satan, the desolator (Isa. 14:6, 17), and his active and passive followers will in turn see destruction poured out upon themselves (Ezek. 28:7-9, Isa. 13:9, Rev. 19:19-21). When the great abomination of continued symbolic sacrifice became fact, a succession of developments under the guidance of Satan swiftly began to envelop the Jewish nation, and then spread from that center to all nations (Lk. 18:8, Rev. 12:9). The one who makes desolate immediately came in to fill the vacuum left by the rejection of Christ, and that desolator is to stay until a full, determined end is also poured out on him.

By their unrelenting rejection of the Messiah, the Jewish nation placed itself in default and has thus received no replacement covenant or testament with the Lord to this date. The Jews then ceased to be a nation and even now, as a nation again, they have no national covenant with the Lord -just as none of the other "faiths" have any established relationship with God. But the natural sons of Abraham do have the unconditional promises given him in the Old Testament and repeated as the sure mercies to David (II Sam. 7:8-16, Ps. 89:20-37). Therefore, God will yet reinstate His contract offer, when the Jewish nation, the remnant that is then left, qualifies by specifically asking Jesus Christ to function as its Messiah (Matt. 23:38-39). This will come after almost 2,000 years of there being no contract with the people pictured as Abraham's seed which is as the dust of the earth (Gen. 13:16).

Although many words have been written here to show the continuity in fulfillment of the entire 70 "weeks" of Daniel, most Scriptures have more than one application and fulfillment. In about 445 B.C. Daniel's people heard a call to come out of Babylon and return to Jerusalem (the dwelling place of peace). A few responded - it was far from all. In this instance also, we may see an additional application and fulfillment during the final seven years of the present dispensation, but quite differently than the way traditionalists see it. In the first fulfillment, it was an act of God that caused the sacrifice and oblation to cease. Through the death of Jesus and His resurrection (His once-for-all-time sacrifice), all that was caused to cease. That was in the middle of the final "week" of seven years. If we are to see a fulfillment in the same pattern during the final seven years of the present dispensation, there should be an act of God in the middle of that final "week" which would signal right then the completion of a spiritual sacrifice and offering, and which would elevate those involved in that sacrifice, even as Jesus was elevated or glorified following the completion of His sacrifice.

The Psalmist gives us insight. "Gather My saints to Me, those who have made a covenant with Me by sacrifice" (Ps. 50:1-5). A Firstfruits to God and to the Lamb are now laying all upon the Altar as a living sacrifice (Rom. 12:1), following the Lamb wherever He goes -cooperating in carrying out His thoughts and His plan (Rev. 14:4). After their being called up higher, through translation and glorification just before the final 3 1/2 years of Great Tribulation, then it can be truly said that their sacrifice and offering to God will have ceased. They will then begin their service to the Lord on the higher plane of glorified life. When Jesus completed His earthly sacrifice and came forth from the grave to glorified life in the middle of Daniel's 70th "week," in the initial application, He was the Firstfruit of them that slept (I Cor. 15:20). Similarly, when the anointed 144,000 group is translated and glorified while living, in the middle of the pattern of the 70th "week" in its end-time final application, they will be the Firstfruits of the living (I Cor. 15:23). There is thus no conflict in perceiving that many prophetic Scriptures have more than one application and fulfillment.

There is still another sense in which sacrifice and offering will cease after the Firstfruits are translated. We read in Acts 17:30 that God overlooks times of ignorance. Peter, speaking to the Jews in the Temple, suggests, rightly or wrongly, that it was through ignorance of the common people that they crucified their Messiah (Acts 3:15-17). But after His resurrection, when there was incontrovertible evidence that He was alive and had triumphed over the grave, there was no further excuse for a claim of ignorance -and they were commanded to repent (Acts 3:19-21). It shall be much the same in the day when the Firstfruits are elevated in translation. The world will have been given concrete evidence of the truth of the Bible and of a living Christ. Ignorance, because of the apostasy of the church systems, will be utterly inexcusable - even if it might have been excusable before (Rom. 1:19-20). The Firstfruits translation will be God's signal to the church systems that their dead denominational and sectarian ways, as well as their man-made doctrines and traditions, are to Him as the "extension of abominations" for which judgment must come (Dan. 9:27, 1 Pet. 4:17). That which, in their ignorance and blindness, they thought was acceptable as a "sacrifice and offering" must cease. With the manifestation of the glorified Sons of God and the mighty outpouring of His Spirit which will shortly follow, the New Era will begin - an era of physical immortality on earth. Spiritual refreshing and restitution will come to all who will repent and humble themselves before the Lord, refusing to perpetuate previous church concepts and ways (Acts 3:19-21). Similarly, as the Jews had but 3 1/2 years remaining after the death and glorification of Jesus to accept Him as their promised Messiah and King, so will the world have just 3 1/2 years after the glorification of the Firstfruits to turn to the Lord Jesus as Savior and get ready for the returning King. Thank God, eyes are now beginning to be opened and some are beginning to enter into the new thing He is doing. As with Lazarus, the Lord is taking away the "napkin of blindness" which has been around our eyes, and we are being loosed from the "grave clothes" of our old ways of thinking and traditions (Jn. 11:43-45).

God's program of development was not stopped because of the refusal of the first Chosen People to participate in it. Because the Jewish nation would not prepare for bringing all nations into the strengthened Covenant, our Lord started a new thing specifically among individuals of the other nations willing to become spiritual sons of Abraham. God did not leave Himself without a witness in the world, neither can His purposes be frustrated. When there was contract default by the preserved remnant of Abraham's physical seed during the ministry of Jesus the Messiah, He brought His replacement factor into operation.

The Kingdom mantle was lifted from the Jews as a nation and given to the spiritual heirs of promise, fulfilling the declaration made by Jesus (Matt. 21:42-45). Then in accord with many prophecies, the Gentiles received the Gospel witness and began to bring forth fruit, while the national Jewish fig tree remnant remained cursed and unfruitful (Mk. 11:12-14,20-21). Throughout our present age, the Gentiles are having their opportunity, because the promises to Abraham's seed after the flesh have been transferred to Abraham's seed according to the Spirit. A new Israel is functioning in the dynamic of Abraham's faith (Rom. 4:16; Gal. 3:13-14,29), natural Israel having been temporarily shunted into the background until the close of the age, when once again that nation shall become prominent in God's work (Matt. 23:37-39).

Israel after the flesh consisted of twelve tribes, each of which had an inheritance in the Promised Land. The Levites made up a thirteenth tribe, having no inheritance in the land, but receiving a special place as God's servants among all the people. Joseph, the birthright holder, had a double inheritance through his two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh. After the reign of Solomon, the Kingdom was divided. Ten tribes followed Jeroboam; two tribes, Judah and Benjamin, remained loyal to Rehoboam, Solomon's son. Because of the defection of Jeroboam and because of the ten tribes taking on idolatry, the Levites migrated to Judah so that they might continue to minister as the custodians of the Law and the Temple. Remnants of most of the other tribes also migrated to the southern Kingdom of Judah so that they might remain true to the God of their fathers. Thus the spiritual elements were siphoned off from the ten tribes, making their plunge into apostasy even more rapid. Only the voices of certain prophets, raised up at times, momentarily stemmed the tide into complete idolatry.

Ten is the number of the Gentiles who stem from Noah, the 10th from Adam. By type and by historical pattern, the ten northern tribes became symbolic of Gentile Christendom which progressively also has become steeped in idolatry. In the spirit of prophecy, Isaiah spoke of the territory around the Sea of Galilee as "Galilee of the nations" (Isa. 9:1). After the deportation of the ten tribes into the land of Assyria, their territory became occupied by Gentile peoples and was never fully Israel territory again. Even after a later migration of many from the southern Kingdom of Judah (known as the Jews) to the northern area, it has never been free of Gentile influence and domination, except for the interlude beginning in 1948. Furthermore, after the ten tribes were deported to Assyria, they were eventually absorbed into the Gentile world and lost to history, as far as any separate identity is concerned. Restoration became impossible when Yahweh cast them off and gave them a bill of divorce (Jer. 3:6-8).

Since His own Law declared that a man could not remarry a woman whom he had divorced, it became impossible for Yahweh to receive them back into covenant relationship (Deut. 24:1-4). Not until the crucifixion of the man Jesus Christ could the conditions of banishment be reversed and reconciliation made possible through His death to the old and resurrection to the new (Rom. 7:1-4). The prophet Hosea testified to that "Instead of its being said to them, You are not My people, it shall be said to them, You are the children of the living God" (Hos. 1:10-11). This was a prophetic declaration that many of the descendants of the ten tribes, having lost their identity and living in the Gentile world, would receive the glad tidings of salvation through Jesus Christ and would be come the children of God through Him (Jn. 1:12), also becoming a part of the "new Israel" of the Spirit.

The history of the southern Kingdom of Judah was entirely different. Judah was not divorced and cut off, even though taken into captivity. A remnant was permitted to return in preparation for the Messiah. However, after Judah's rejection of the Messiah and their blatant denial of His vicarious atonement by continuing to sacrifice animals to God, they, too, were divorced and cut off, their land made desolate and they were scattered among the nations. Nevertheless, they were not absorbed into the Gentiles as were the northern tribes, but have retained their distinctive identity down through the years. For this reason, those of Judah are the only identifiable portion of the physical seed of Abraham and, even though there has been much intermarriage with other peoples among them, the Lord has promised to cleanse their blood (Joel 3:20-21).

When Judah turned down the strengthened Contract offered by Jesus Christ, He transferred the tendered contract terms to a people among the nations who would choose to become "replacement Israel." He did this so a Body of Christ could become fully prepared to enter into possession of all the terms of the strengthened Covenant. That Body would become the exemplary display of the truth of those provisions, thereby demonstrating to others how they, too, can take up the strengthened Covenant and move into the experiential possession of all that it offers. How much easier it will be for many to see clearly and begin fully to trust Jesus Christ in all He has already proclaimed, when it is visibly demonstrated at the blowing of the seventh Trumpet that even a few human "earthen vessels" have truly entered into a living of the righteousness of Jesus Christ. How encouraging it will be to know others have fully overcome all sins and everything the spiritual principalities and powers can bring against them (Eph. 6:12), actually shutting off the wages of sin - even death in the physical body (Matt. 16:28; Jn. 6:50,58, 8:51, 11:26; Rom. 8:23; I Cor. 15:51). God's program continues as planned, but with the people of other nations "grafted" into it (Rom. 11:13-29). It will be through the ministry of a faithful few that a true portion of the Church will become the Glorious Church during the Great Tribulation period. Then many of the natural sons of Abraham and many more sons from the nations will finally be joined to Jesus Christ in the strengthened Covenant.

God does not play favorites (Rom. 2:11). During the past almost 2,000 years vacated by natural Israel, He has made a period of training and preparation available to those of all nations who will choose to become the spiritual sons of Abraham (Gal. 3:7), whether of Gentile or Jewish origin. As a result of the Jewish nation's refusal to enter the provisions of His contract offer, the "Israel" now recognized by our Lord has expanded far beyond the physical boundaries of Palestine, even as was prophetically pictured in the Old Testament by the dispersion of the ten northern tribes of Israel among all nations. God has also provided almost 2,000 years of exposure to training and preparation to the Christian community. Again, the 2,000 years of training were for bringing this spiritual Israel to the level at which it could be presented with the opportunity for fulfilling the strengthened Covenant. Again, it would finish and put an end to transgression, seal up and make full the measure of sin, bring in everlasting righteousness in the millennial Kingdom, complete and fulfill the vision and the Prophet's disclosure, and anoint a most holy company on earth (Dan. 9:24). Refusal of the first offer to the Chosen People brought the same offer to the many peoples of all nations.

The same pattern Jesus employed with the two southern tribes of Judah and Benjamin is also to be employed with the expanded spiritual Israel. As there were about 2,000 years of training in natural Israel from the time of its father to prepare for the first coming of Jesus Christ, so there have been another almost 2,000 years of training available for spiritual Israel to prepare for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. As there was then a voice ministry of John the Baptist for preparing the way (a people) for the First Coming, through repentance, so there is now a voice ministry going out to call for repentance in a people before His Second Coming. Just as Jesus then brought an offer of a strengthened Covenant, beginning with a personal ministry to His first Chosen People of natural Israel and extending through a period of 3 1/2 years, so will He yet fulfill the same pattern for spiritual Israel in a second 3 1/2 year period of personal ministry through the Manifested Sons (Rom. 8:18-24). They will then be functioning in His express image to fully and accurately reflect Him during the 3 1/2 years of Great Tribulation now soon to break upon a rebellious world (Rev. 11:3). The sons will perform the same function as the Son. However, unlike the earlier rejection by natural Israel of Jesus Christ and His strengthened Covenant, in this time there will be a prepared and matured portion of the Body of Christ ready to take up the strengthened Contract as the understanding of it is opened up the second time. In our time, the victory over sin and Satan and death will be proclaimed and demonstrated by many, as it was almost 2,000 years ago by One. In this end-time of the age, there will not be the blanket refusal of the Covenant offered to spiritual Israel, but there will be a terminating date on which the offering period will expire for those who continue in rebellion.

Bible Says There Will Be A Catching Away Into Heaven

I [Joel Jones] have noticed that some are teaching there is no "catching away [into heaven]" at all.

Although I am putting forth teachings which teach about a selective catching away, I want to help bolster the faith that there shall indeed be a catching away... or "rapture".

Here are some verses for our mutual study:

John 20:17 "I [Jesus] have not yet ascended..."
ANABEBKA = Strong's # G305 = "ascended"

Acts 2:33 "[Jesus] being to the right hand exalted"
HUPSOTHEIS = G5312 = "exalted"

John 17:24 "That where I am they also may be"
HOPOU EIMI = G3699 + G1510 = "where I am"

John 17:4-5 " I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.
And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was. "


My comments: Jesus ASCENDED TO THE FATHER'S RIGHT HAND. In my view, the Father's right hand is obsviously in heaven as opposed to being somewhere on this planet.

Jesus prayed that His disciples come also TO BE WHERE HE IS. That is John 17:24, "That where I am they may be also."

And, to further support that this would be in HEAVEN NOT ON EARTH, I present John 17:4-5 to show that He spoke of having finished the work on earth and was going to share in the glory with the Father.

In other verses, not listed above, Jesus told His disciples He was going to the Father. The Father, indisputably, was IN HEAVEN. We know for certain that Jesus was making His exodus into HEAVEN - as opposed to some refuge on earth. And He declared Himself to be THE WAY to the Father.

Philip said, "We do not know where you are going, and how can we know the way?" Does it not seem obvious to us that those who think that no disciples will be bodily lifted into the skies are being in the same ignorance as Philip who did not know where Jesus was going?

Three Comings of Jesus (post 6)

Final post, completing the book "Three Comings of Jesus" written in 1980's by J. Leland Earls. For more information, please visit the website of Word of Life Fellowship at www.wordoflifefellowship or write them at
Word of Life Fellowship PO Box 190. Shelton, WA 98584. email: kevin@wordoflifefellowship.com

Peter, James, John and Rest of Disciples. Mt. 17 relates the story of Jesus’ transfiguration on a high mountain. When we understand that everything Jesus did was prophetic of His plan for His church then this episode takes on special importance. In God’s symbolic language, a mountain symbolizes a kingdom— and in this story we must see it as symbolic of the heavenly kingdom which Jesus will establish when He returns. His own glory which He chose to manifest at that time (Mt. 17:1) was a foretaste and preview of that which would take place when His physical body would be changed into a glorified body—after His resurrection. All who are translated into that realm will have glorified bodies like unto His (Phil. 3:21). Mt. 17:1 says that this took place six days following His declaration that He was to go to Jerusalem and die (Mt. 16:21). A day is with the Lord as a thousand years (II Pet. 3:8). From God’s perspective, in His preordained plan, the death of Jesus took place from the time of Adam’s fall (Rev. 13:8). The Greek word for “foundation” in this verse is katabole which comes from kataballo. The “kata” part means down, and “ballo” means to throw or cast. Thus the word means “to throw or cast down.” And the correct translation of Rev. 13:8 is “the Lamb slain from the disruption or overthrow of the world “(through Adam’s sin). There is another Greek word (“themelios”) which means foundation in the sense of the substructure of a building. We can now see that the six days of Mt. 17:1 refers to 6,000 years from Adam’s fall, when Jesus was crucified in God’s sight, to the end of the present age; at the end of which some are to be taken INTO the HEAVENLY KINGDOM (symbolized by the high mountain into which Jesus took Peter, James and John).
Not all of the Disciples. It is important to note that Jesus did NOT take all twelve of the disciples into the mount on this occasion. WHY? Can we not see that He was trying to convey a prophetic pattern? This is just another evidence that it is only a small portion of Christians that are FIRST to be translated when Jesus comes for His saints. Now I wish to call your attention to something remarkable. How many hours are there in six days? You will find there are exactly 144 hours. We have already seen previously that the first group to be translated is represented by the 144,000 of Rev. 14:1. To me this is absolutely staggering—that God would have that “144” number as an integral part of the time pattern showing us WHEN the first group is to be taken. I have shown in another writing (get the article on “The Third Day”), that it has now been approximately 6,000 years since Adam’s fall (4,000 years before Christ, and 2,000 years since Christ), and that if we figure the time according to either lunar or prophetic time—in contrast to solar time, that we are already closing out the 6th day and are in the dawning of the 7th day. So any year now Jesus may come and take some into that “mountain”. Notice that after the experience in the mountain, Jesus and the three disciples come down to find the rest of the disciples dealing with a “lunatic” who was vexed with a demon, and they could not cure him (Mt. 17: 14-16). Even so, when those who ore taken first RETURN to manifest to the remaining church, they will find the world vexed with demonic power, for Satan and his demons will I be cast down when the first group is taken (Rev. 12:5-9). And the church on earth will need the ministry of the glorified saints to help counteract the influence of such demonic power. This is the meaning of the statement in Rev. 12:16 that “the earth helped the woman.” The glorified saints will be able to appear .in their glorified physical bodies and open their mouths to speak comfort, deliverance, or whatever is needed. They will help the saints on earth bring deliverance to many, and this is pictured in the deliverance wrought in Mt. 17:18.
Overcomers and Churches. There is one final contrast I will present before I end this section on the Lord’s coming for His saints. In the book of Revelation, chapters 2 & 3, are recorded the seven letters to the seven churches of Asia. Each letter, with its commendations and rebukes, is sent to the whole church in the city to which it was designated. But within each letter is a special promise to the “overcomers”. The Greek word means “to subdue, conquer, prevail, or get the victory.” We cannot here go into all of these promises. But in the last three (Rev. 2:26, 3:12, & 3:21), we have the clear indication that it is the overcomers who are going to rule with Christ in the heavenly city, the new Jerusalem, which will come down and be stationed in our upper atmosphere (Rev. 21:10), and from which the glorified saints will descend and ascend to carry out their duties on this earth during the millennium and beyond. When we get a clear understanding of these promises to the overcomers, it will become apparent that more is required to be qualified for translation into the heavenly kingdom than just being saved. There must be victory over sin in one’s life, and a partaking of the holiness of Christ (Heb. 12:14). For more information along this line, order the article “Preparation for the Lord’s Coming.” Note the correlation between Rev. 2:26-27 and Rev. 12:5, showing that the FIRST ones to be translated will be a group of overcoming Christians. Then the rest of the Christians in the churches will have their opportunity to become “overcomers” during the tribulation period, being ready to be taken at its close.

Parousia. When speaking of His “coming”, Jesus used two Greek words: erchomai, and parousia. Why? The erchomai word is the one most commonly used in the New Testament for the arrival of someone. In the passage in Matthew’s gospel dealing with Jesus’ second coming, chap. 24, it is used in vs. 30, 42, 43, 44, 46, & 48. The parousia word is used relatively few times in the New Testament, but most particularly with reference to Christ’s coming again. It is used in Mt.24:3, 27, 37, & 39. Parousia means “a being near”, or “presence”. Ada R. Habershon, in the book “The Study of the Miracles” says of parousia: “This word which is so often translated “coming”, and is literally “presence,” does not refer merely to His coming for His saints, but to a series of events. The very usage of the Greek word in other writings bears out this important truth. In some newly discovered papyri it has been used to denote the coming of the court or of some high official, and mention is made of special taxes being levied, and large supplies of wheat being provided for the “parousia” — not for the moment when the king or his representative arrived, but for his stay in the locality, as when the flag on the palace proclaims the presence of the king in the metropolis, and tells us that the court is in London. We may, therefore, conclude that the “parousia” will extend from the coming of the Lord to the air for His people, to His coming with them to the earth.”
Sign. It was the parousia word that the disciples used when they asked the Lord, “What shall be the sign of thy parousia, and the end of the world?” Jesus then proceeded to give a series of prophetic indicators which would signal the “end “of the age. Note the use of the word “end” in Mt. 24:6, 13, 14. But with reference to THE sign of His parousia, Jesus uses that word specifically in Mt. 24:37 & 39 in the passage that deals with the pattern of Noah and the “taking” of some and leaving of others (Mt .24:37-44). Therefore, THE sign that His parousia (or presence) has begun, IS when some are taken by translation, and the remaining Christians realize that the “household” of the church has been “broken into” by the “thief in the night” and some of the saints are missing. STOP and think for a moment. No one shall require a “sign” after the Lord has come visibly and openly to the earth. But if, as we have pointed out, Jesus arrives secretly, in the earth’s atmosphere, to remain unseen there for a period of time (the tribulation period), .THEN a specific sign would be needed to indicate He had arrived, and had begun His end-time parousia; and that specific SIGN IS the “taking” of some saints and the leaving of others behind. This will begin the three and one half year parousia of our Lord, when He will be present in our atmosphere watching over the church on earth while the tribulation rages.
As lightning. Jesus made it abundantly clear, however, that His parousia INCLUDES His final visible descent to this earth WITH His saints. The parousia word is also used in Mt. 24:27 where Jesus says: “For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the parousia of the Son of man be.” The reason for this is clear. Jesus knew that false teachers would arise to use that “parousia” word to claim that his parousia is ONLY a spiritual presence with His people, and thus denying a literal, visible return of the Lord to the earth. But the word, as used by Jesus, indicates first a definite arrival in our atmospheric envelope, continuing throughout the tribulation period (present, but unseen), and then consummated by a glorious and brilliant (as lightning) VISIBLE and bodily return with His feet standing on the Mount of Olives. This will be discussed in our next section.
False Christs. Before leaving this section, there is one more aspect of His coming I wish to comment on. In Mt. 24:24 Jesus warns specifically of “false Christs” and “false prophets” arising. Read verses 21-23 and you will see that this is specially spoken with reference to the great tribulation period. Now again STOP to think! When the Lord pulls His secret strategy, and it becomes evident that His end-time parousia has begun, and that He is present, but unseen, in the atmosphere; this will provide a tremendous opportunity for shysters and deceivers to arise claiming that they ARE the returned Christ, or they know where He is hiding out, etc. With reference to the beginning of that time, Jesus warned, “THEN if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not,” Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth; behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not.” (Mt. 24:23, 26). Although the tribulation period will be a time of unprecedented opportunity for the church, with the power and glory of the Lord manifest as never before, it will also be a time of great testing, with Satan furiously active. Specifically for that time are Jesus’ words applicable: “For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.” (Mt. 24:24). The implication of Jesus’ words is that it will NOT be possible, primarily because of the “overshadowing” ministry of the glorified firstfruits saints. The “elect” who will not be deceived at that time, will be those destined to be taken into the heavenly kingdom at the close of the tribulation.

The Coming of Jesus WITH His Saints

Jude. Jude, the brother of Jesus, who wrote the small book of Jude in the New Testament, quotes a prophecy from Enoch in vs. 14: “And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, to execute judgment upon all. “ Thus the coming of the Lord WITH His saints is at the time that the Lord personally and openly manifests Himself in the final act (or acts) of judgment which terminate this age, and put an end to man’s misrule. This is in harmony with II Thess. 1:7-8 where Paul states that “the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Notice, this is the time that He shall be revealed. The Greek word for “reveal “is apokalupto, and it means to uncover and unveil something. Up until Jesus comes with His saints, at the very climax of the pouring out of the 7 vials of wrath, He will not be “revealed”. Previously, He comes as a “thief” at the beginning of the tribulation to call the firstfruits Bride. This begins His three and one half year “parousia” or presence. Present in the atmosphere but unseen by those on earth. Near the close of the tribulation He calls the rest of the saints TO the marriage supper of the Lamb (Rev. 19:9) but still He must remain “veiled” except to those who have entered into His realm, until the 7 vials of wrath are poured out on the earth. During the pouring out of these vials, the marriage supper proceeds in the heavenlies. These vials of wrath will likely cover a very short period of time—perhaps not more than a couple of weeks. THEN shall the entire company of glorified saints be ready to accompany the Lord in His visible decent to the earth, forming great “cloud banks” of glory around Him, and trailing off into the distance behind Him like a great “train” in resplendent procession.

Revelation. This final descent from the heavenlies is pictured in the book of Revelation, chap. 19:11-16. Notice that this follows the verses dealing with the “Marriage supper” in 19:7-9. John says, “And I saw heaven opened” (Jn. 19:11); that is, what had been previously unseen by the remaining survivors on the earth would now be OPENLY viewed. They would “see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory” (Mt. 24:30). Then John proceeds: “and behold, a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True... and the armies (glorified saints) which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.” We then have a statement that confirms the other scriptures which indicate that as Jesus returns He is consummating the vials of wrath and climaxing the final judgments: “And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations…. and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness of the wrath of Almighty God. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.” (Rev. 19:15-17). Remember that we had read previously in Luke 17:29-30, that the Lord, when speaking of the raining of fire and brimstone on Sodom, said: “Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is REVEALED. “ Thus all these scriptures agree that the Lord comes finally, and is revealed in consummating, cataclysmic judgments, when He returns WITH His saints.
Zechariah. Zechariah 14:4 indicates that when the Lord returns in His final descent out of the atmosphere that “his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives.” The following verses indicate that when this takes place there will be a great earthquake as the entire earth reels under the impact of the immense power of the glorified Christ, The mount of Olives will be split in two and a great valley created, with underground waters springing up to flow both east and west — to the Mediterranean and Dead Seas. Then 14:9 says, “And the Lord shall be king over all the earth.” Hallelujah! And the glorified saints will rule with Him over the earth (Rev, 15, 2:26, 3:21, 5:10, 20:4-6). For the last 2,000 years (approximately) the Lord has been sitting at the right hand of the Father on His throne (Heb. 1:3, 8:1), but in Rev. 3:21 Jesus says, “to him that overcometh will I grant to set with me in MY throne, even as I overcame, and am set down with my Father in H[S throne.” That throne of which Jesus spoke, which is to be shared by the overcoming saints, is in the New Jerusalem, for “the throne of God and the Lamb (Jesus) shall be IN it” (Rev. 22:3).
New Jerusalem descends. Closely associated with the events which take place in connection with the Lord’s return is the descent of the celestial city, the New Jerusalem, which Jesus has been preparing for those who are to be a part of His heavenly kingdom (John 14:2-3). John saw in vision the city descending out of heaven (Rev. 21:1-10). This city will be the home and headquarters for Christ and H’s glorified saints. It will be stationed in the upper atmosphere where it will likely be seen by those on earth as a soft glowing light. Although the glorified saints return with Christ when He touches down upon this earth, they will not be remaining on this earth all of the time. During the millennium they will be “ascending and descending (see John 1:51), or you might say, commuting between the New Jerusalem (in the upper atmosphere) and the earth, for they will be fulfilling their responsibilities of “ruling” the inhabitants of earth. For more information on the New Jerusalem, order the booklet, “The Voice of the Seventh Angel”.
Occupy. In the parable of the pounds as recorded in Lk. 19: 1-27, a certain “nobleman” (who pictures Christ Himself) was to go into a FAR country (which represents Heaven). So he gathered his servants together and delivered to each a certain amount of money, and said: “Occupy till I come.” Without going into the details of the parable, I will simply state that WE Christians are the servants who have been given the responsibility and stewardship to be faithful with what the Lord has committed to us (the “money” in the parable represents all the gifts and blessings that are ours through Christ); and we are charged to “occupy” until Jesus comes. The Greek word translated “occupy” means “to busy oneself”, “to trade”, to be occupied in business”. Our “business” is the gospel of Jesus Christ, and Mt. 24:14 says that “this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and THEN shall the end come.” As long as the Lord has not returned, there is WORK to be done; we must be faithful stewards of all that the Lord has committed to us. Only the Lord knows when all nations have had a sufficient witness. I point this out because some have argued that we shouldn’t put much emphasis on the second coming of Christ because it causes people to think only about His coming and NEGLECT the responsibilities that are ours now. Such should NOT be the case if a proper balance and perspective is presented. It should cause us to be MORE diligent than ever when we realize the shortness of the time. Besides this, John writes that every one who has this hope (of His coming) “purifieth himself, even as he is pure (I John 3:3). Thus we will be diligent about our own preparation as well as being faithful in the work that the Lord has for us to do.

Ask. We have already mentioned the importance of prayer (in connection with “watching”, or being spiritually awake and alert), but I want to call your attention to an O.T. scripture which is important for serious Christians at this time. In Zech. 10:1 we read this admonition, “Ask ye of the Lord rain in the time of the latter rain; so the Lord shall make bright clouds, and give them showers of rain, to every one grass in the field.” So many tend to feel that what the Lord is going to do will come to pass anyway. But God has chosen to work through chosen ones here on earth. God found an instrument in the person of Elijah, and James tells us that “Elijah was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain; and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.” (James 5:17-18). Is not God seeking out human instruments now who will “pray earnestly” as did Elijah? Will He work apart from such instruments? The scripture quoted from Zechariah commands us to “Ask ye rain in the time of the latter rain.” This has two stages. One is now. “Rain” speaks of the outpouring of God’s Spirit. Even so are we to pray now for a greater move of God’s Spirit among God’s people, for among those who are hungering and seeking, The Spirit will be increasingly moving and working in preparation for the climax that is coming. The second stage will be after the firstfruits are translated. The remaining church will be shocked into day and night prayer, ASKING for “Rain”. After 50 days of intense seeking, God will hear from heaven and pour out the full effusion of the “latter rain”. It will be a “second Pentecost” plus. For a double portion and more will come upon the church for the glorious consummation during the tribulation period. . A further thought needs to be added here with regards to Jesus coming TO His church in the ministry of the Holy Spirit. The Lord has purposed to REVEAL Himself IN (and through) His people in a greater way before He comes for them. Paul expresses this twice in the book of Galatians. First, he says in Gal. 1:15-16: “But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by his grace, to reveal his son IN me.” Then in Gal. 4:19 Paul declares: “My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed IN you.” If Christ is being formed (developed, matured) IN us, then it follows that this will result in a greater REVELATION of Christ IN and through us. This is God’s desire and purpose for His church before the curtain fully comes down upon this age: to REVEAL His Son IN His people. This must come through a greater work and moving of the Holy Spirit within us, that “the love of God might be shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit which is given unto us” (Rom. 5:5), and that the “fruit” or character of Christ might be developed more fully within, even the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23).

Snare. The importance of being spiritually alert and ready is emphasized by Jesus in Luke 21:34-36: “And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. For as a SNARE shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch ye, therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.” The Greek word translated “snare” in this passage, means a trap (as fastened by a noose or notch); used figuratively it can be a trick or stratagem. Repeatedly, in this study, I have been seeking to show you God’s strategy; and that is to suddenly and unexpectedly (by most) to break into the “household” of the church and “take” as a thief, the “jewels” (firstfruits saints) in order to bring the remaining church to its knees in brokenness and repentance. We have shown that these firstfruits saints are to fulfill the role of the Bride. In the 24th chap, of Gen., we read the story of Eliezer (a type of the Holy Spirit) being sent by Abraham (a type of God the Father) to get a bride for Isaac (a type of Jesus Christ). The bride was Rebekah. The Hebrew word for REBEKAH means “a rope or noose.” Thus we can see that the very name of the Bride (Rebekah) indicates that the “snare” which God is preparing to suddenly “spring” upon the world is the TAKING (by translation) of that group of saints who will make up the Bride company. This is a part of God’s stratagem.
Veiled. But notice, in Gen. 24:64-67 we read that Rebekah remained ‘veiled” until after she had met Isaac and he had taken her into his mother’s tent. This shows that up until the time that the Bride is taken, much of the truth of God and his end-time strategy remains “veiled”; and that is why there is so much confusion and lack of understanding even among God’s people. But when the Bride company is translated, the remaining “veils” will be taken away. This is shown to us in the book of Revelation in 10:5-7. Quoting from the Amplified version: “Then the (mighty) angel whom I had seen stationed on sea and land raised his right hand to the heaven (the sky), and swore in the name of Him who lives forever and ever. . . (He sware) that no more time should intervene and there should be no more waiting or delay. But that when the days come that the trumpet call of the seventh angel is about to be sounded, then God’s mystery— His secret design, His hidden purpose—as He had announced to His servants the prophets, should be fulfilled (accomplished, completed).” It is at the time that the 7th angel (trumpet) begins to sound that the Bride company is translated. Then the “mystery” (secret design or stratagem) will be “finished” in the sense that all remaining “veils” will then be taken away; and also, God will be able to complete His end-time purpose, for the church will quickly begin to understand and enter into the dynamic and glory which God has planned for His people during the tribulation period, and participate with fullness of power in the glorious consummation of this age.
Worthy. We had previously quoted Lk. 21:34-36 about the “snare”. But I want to emphasize the statement in vs. 36 concerning those “accounted worthy to escape all these things. . . and to stand before the Son of man.” What does it mean to be “worthy”? The Greek word translated “worthy” means to be entirely deserving or fit, comparable or suitable. And how do we become worthy? Jesus makes it very clear in Mt. 10:34-38: “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.” A very clear distinction needs to be made here, it is possible to receive a gift from the Lord (such as salvation), and yet not be worthy of HIM, as far as being ready to dwell in His immediate presence and qualifying to be a part of His ruling kingdom,, There must be sufficient change in our lives that there is a comparableness or suitableness of our natures with His, and there must be a proving to be trustworthy and faithful so that we are fit to dwell with Him. (For more information on this, order the article “Preparation for the Lord’s coming). Only the “firstfruits” will be worthy of this high calling at the beginning of the tribulation. The tribulation will provide the opportunity for a vast host of others to qualify and be ready by its close.
Finally. We see from Gen. 24:63 that Isaac went out into the field at eventide; and there He received His beloved Rebekah “Eventide” speaks to us of the approaching close of this age, and is not our “Isaac” (Jesus) coming to the “field”(this world) to receive H’s beloved? Even so, COME, Lord Jesus!

Three Comings of Jesus (post 5)

Continuing with our series of posts intended to post the entire book by J. Leland Earls. For more information, write to Word of Life Fellowship PO Box 190. Shelton, WA 98584. email: kevin@wordoflifefellowship.com , or visit their website.

Lot prepared. We read in Gen. 19:1 that God sent heavenly messengers to Sodom to prepare Lot for departure from Sodom. Even so, shortly after the “firstfruits” are translated, shall THEY be sent as “messengers” to the Lot group to help prepare them. They shall have their glorified bodies at that time, and will have the power to appear and disappear even as did Jesus when He was on earth for 40 days after His resurrection and glorification. This is pictured in Rev. 12:6 where we read that those of the “Manchild” group “FEED the church in the wilderness (of tribulation).” When Lot left Sodom, it was not secretly, and at night, but in broad daylight (Gen. 19:15), seen by others. Of that moment Jesus spoke in Luke 17:35, “Two shall be grinding together (at the mill); the one shall be taken, and the other left.” Ordinarily, grinding is done in the DAY. Thus over Jerusalem, broad daylight shall prevail when the Lot group is taken, and Rev. 11:12 informs us that those who ascend at THAT time will be SEEN going up, even as Jesus was seen when He ascended (Acts 1:9). In perfect harmony with this is the fact that when Martha went out to meet Jesus, no one saw her leave (John 11:20), but later, when Mary left to meet Jesus in the same place where Martha had met him, we read that “the Jews then which were with her in the house, and comforted her, when they SAW Mary, that she rose up hastily and went out, followed her.” Hallelujah! Beloved, when we see the dove-tailing of all these little details, all in perfect harmony with the numerous illustrations which God has given us in His Word, to show the two-fold church and His plan for each group, how can we help but SHOUT His praises.
Summarizing. Looking again at Luke 17:34-35, we see that there are two statements of being “taken”. Lk. 17:36 is NOT to be found in the older and authentic Greek manuscripts. It probably means that the statement contained in that verse was spoken by Jesus at ANOTHER TIME, when speaking of the same matter, but inadvertently inserted here by a copyist of later manuscripts. Thus we have TWO “takings”; the first of Lk. 17:34 at NIGHT; the second of Lk. 17:35 in the DAY. They are separated by three and one half years. The first “taking” is a secret maneuver; a sudden breaking into the house by the thief to take the “jewels”, who are the firstfruits Bride; symbolized by the Wise Virgins, the Manchild, Enoch, Noah, Martha, etc. These are taken before the great tribulation, and are thus “accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man” (Lk. 21:36; see also Rev. 3:10). This coming of Jesus is unexpected, except by those awake and watching; thus the admonition by Jesus: “Watch, therefore, for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. . . therefore be ye also ready; for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh” (Mt. 24:42, 44). “For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth” (Lk. 21:35). The second taking is EXPECTED; there is nothing secret about it. Christians left to go through the great tribulation will KNOW that they have just three and one half years to get ready. It will correspond to Lot going out of Sodom in broad daylight. This group to be taken will make up the remainder of the “heavenly household” to be joined to the Bride. They are symbolized by the foolish virgins, the woman in the wilderness, Elijah, Mary, Lot, etc. They will be SEEN as they go up.
Revelation. Lest some of you think I am “reading” too much into some of Jesus’ statements in the gospels, I want to make it clear that it is impossible for anyone to construct a pattern of end-time events from the gospels alone. Only the book of Revelation can help clarify some of the details, and that is why Jesus gave to John that revelation on the isle of Patmos (Rev. 1:1, 19). Therefore I am scripturally interpreting some of Jesus’ statements in the gospels in light of the further revelation given to John on Patmos, especially time factors. Let me illustrate this principle by touching on another matter. Jesus speaks about the resurrection in John 5:29: “And they shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of judgment.” If this brief statement was all the information we had concerning the subject, we might conclude that the resurrection of both the good and the evil would take place at approximately the same time. Yet, Jesus’ further revelation given to John on Patmos makes it clear that the two resurrections will be separated by a thousand years (Rev. 20:4-6). Thus the book of Revelation is very important in order to get the whole picture of end-time events. It is also impossible to try to build an end-time pattern on the writings of Paul alone. Paul said he “saw through a glass darkly” (I Cor. 13:12), so important details were not given to him. His writings can add some illumination, but the basics must come from Jesus’ words in the gospels and in the book of Revelation.
Where to, Lord? It is quite obvious from Lk. 17:37 that the disciples understood Jesus’ teaching concerning the “taking”, for they asked the question “Where, Lord?” That is, WHERE are those taken going? What’s their destination? Jesus answered “Wheresoever the body is, thither will the eagles be gathered together. At the beginning of the tribulation, just before He takes the first group of Christians, Jesus will have personally descended to our earth’s atmosphere. HE, himself, will be the “Body” to which the saints will be gathered. Jesus used the figure of “eagles” or birds of prey which feed on a “body” or carcass. First, the figure is fulfilled in that we who belong to the Lord FEED on Him; we “eat His flesh and drink His blood” (John 6:56). Secondly, when Christians are translated from an earth-bound body to a glorified body, they are FREED (like the birds) to ascend and GO where Jesus IS (gathered together to Him). At the close of the tribulation, at the time of the second “taking”, both Jesus and the glorified firstfruits saints will constitute the “Body” that the rest of the saints will be gathered to. This will fulfill I Thess. 4:17 where Paul speaks of those to be “caught up” to “meet the Lord in the air.” Also, II Thess. 2:1 speaks of the “coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and our gathering together unto HIM.”
Where JESUS is. The above is in harmony with Jesus’ statement in John 14:3 that he would come again and “receive you unto MYSELF; that where I AM, there you may be also.” Jesus remains in the atmosphere of our earth during the entire three and a half years tribulation, and so do the firstfruits who will have been translated (but ministering to those yet on earth by appearing to them and instructing them). When the second group is translated at the close of the tribulation, ALL of the glorified saints will be taken by Jesus into the highest heaven where the TEMPLE (and throne) of God is located. There, at the proper time they will enter that temple to be introduced to the Father. There the “marriage supper of the Lamb” will take place while the “vials of wrath” are being poured out on the earth. Jesus then RETURNS WITH His saints to the earth at the very climax of those vials, to personally consummate the “wrath of God” on this earth. Rev. 15:1-8, 19:7-21.
Those left. One other factor needs to be clarified here. If indeed there are two “takings”, as indicated by the many Scriptures we have been studying, then according to this pattern, even at the close of the tribulation, when a great host is taken, others will at that time be left behind. Why? And what is their destiny? It must be realized that during the tribulation, with the greatest “revival” in human history, multitudes will turn to the Lord. For many of these, there will simply not be enough time (or for some a lack of willingness) to be fully prepared and proven for entrance into the heavenly kingdom. The pattern which enables us to understand God’s plan for those left is found in II Kings 2:1-15, in the story of Elijah and his successor, Elisha. We have already seen that Elijah is a type of those to be translated at the close of the tribulation, in contrast to Enoch who pictures the firstfruits translation before the tribulation. Without taking time to go into great detail, we see in the story that immediately after Elijah is taken by God into the heavenlies, Elisha picks up Elijah’s mantle and smites the waters of Jordan and they part, enabling Elisha to go across. Crossing Jordan on “dry ground” is a type of entering into life without the experience of death. But Elisha remained on earth after Elijah was taken, showing us that those left on earth after the final “taking” at the close of the tribulation will have the opportunity to enter into deathless LIFE in physical bodies; immortality in human flesh; living in perpetual youth and health for the entire thousand year millennium or longer. Their opportunity to have their bodies glorified by translation will come at a time specified by God some time in the future.
Daniel and Three Friends. Let us now go back to the Old Testament for further illustrations of the two-fold church and God’s plan for each in this end time. One of the most interesting patterns is that of Daniel and his3 companions, Shadrack, Meshach and Abednego. In Daniel 3:1, we read of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, setting up a great image, and in 3:4, everyone was commanded to bow down and worship the image. This is a type of the end-time “image” which the nations of earth are commanded to “worship” according to Rev. 13:14-15. I will not take time here to detail just what that “image” will involve in this end-time, for I have dealt with the matter in other writings. Order the booklet “Christ Revealed verses The Man of Sin” for information on this. Because Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego would not bow down to the image they were cast into a fiery furnace, but were supernaturally protected (Dan. 3:19-27). The “fiery furnace “is a type of the great tribulation which most Christians will have to go through, but with the protection of Almighty God.
Why? I had often pondered over the question of why Daniel was not cast into the fiery furnace. Surely he did not compromise and bow down before the image„ The answer is found in Daniel, chap. 2. There we read of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream and the inability of all the wise men of Babylon to tell the dream or its interpretation. However, God revealed the dream and its interpretation to Daniel, who then related it to the king. The king was so grateful that Dan. 2:48-49 tells us that “the king made Daniel a great man”…”and made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon, and chief of the governors overall the wise men of Babylon.” This “elevation” of Daniel took place BEFORE the fiery furnace of chap. 3. Thus we see that those who accused Daniel’s friends in 3:8 could not touch Daniel. He was TOO HIGH. He could have had their heads lopped off. The picture here fits beautifully into the patterns that we have seen elsewhere. Daniel represents the “firstfruits” who are taken (and elevated through translation) before the peoples of the nations are required to submit to the “image” of the Beast, whereas Shadrack, Meshach and Abednego represent the Christians who go through the tribulation (the “fiery furnace”). Because of their faith and commitment, these men were protected by God and brought through the fire unharmed. Hallelujah! What a beautiful picture of what God will do for all who are committed to Him in the coming tribulation. But also, how blessed will be those in the “Daniel” group to be “elevated” before the fiery tribulation comes.
Queen and virgins. Psalm 45 is one of the most beautiful of all the Psalms. It speaks of the glory and majesty of Christ and His Kingdom. Besides the King in verses 1-8, we see the Queen in verse 9: “upon thy right hand did stand the queen in gold of Ophir” Verses 10-14 tell of her beauty and character, as well as her love and devotion to the King, Then verse 14 says: “She shall be brought unto the king in raiment of needlework: the virgins her companions that FOLLOW her shall be brought unto thee (the King).” Notice, that there is another company mentioned besides the queen. They are “the virgins her companions who follow her” That they follow her indicates that they would arrive AFTER the queen. This again is in harmony with the other patterns we have seen. The first group of Christians (“firstfruits”) taken by Jesus will make up the BRIDE company, becoming the “Queen” of the heavenly realm. The others who follow (three and one half years later) will be “virgins her companions”; that is, maidens in waiting and servants of the King and Queen, but destined to fulfill important posts of responsibility in the Kingdom.
Sonship. The above designations refer to the “roles “or positions they will be filling, whether of the Bride company or the Servant company. But all together, they will make up the “heavenly household” of UNVEILED SONS OF GOD. This is why in Rev. 12:5, even the Bride company is pictured as a “man-child”. It is to emphasize the positive spirit-factors: overcoming and gaining dominion; of maturity and “SONSHIP”, When God seeks to emphasize the soul-qualities to be developed in His people such as love, devotion, gentleness, faithfulness, etc., the church (or any part thereof) is pictured as FEmale, as in II Cor. 11:2 where the church is espoused to the Lord as to a husband (see also Ephes. 5:22-33). But when God seeks to emphasize the spirit-attributes of positive overcoming, gaining dominion, coming to maturity, etc., the church (or any part thereof) is pictured as male, as in Ephes. 4:11-16 where Paul speaks of the church being edified and growing to maturity, “till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect (fullgrown) MAN, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. Paul says in Rom. 8:19 that creation waits for the “manifestation (revealing) of the Sons of God.” Those in the “Bride” company will be the first to manifest such “Sonship” in deathless, glorified bodies, at the beginning of the tribulation,, Many others will be ready for “manifest Sonship” at the close of the tribulation, but they will be a part of the “household of servants “to fill many posts of responsibility in the Kingdom OTHER than the role of the Bride. Then there will also be “unveiled sons” on the earthly plane, in deathless physical bodies, even as we have seen in the type of Elisha. No doubt a “firstfruits” (first ones) will manifest such deathless life even during the tribulation, such as the two witnesses of Rev. 11:3. As the millennium begins, many others will have the opportunity to enter into this kind of deathless life here on earth.
The Bride and Those Called. We have seen how the 5 wise virgins (who represent the Bride) are pictured in Mt. 25:10 as going in with the Lord to the marriage. In Bible times, when a man was ready to marry, he simply took the woman who had been pledged (espoused) to him to live with him, making a public announcement of the fact that they were beginning married life, and then inviting his relatives and friends to a time of feasting and celebrating, called the marriage supper or wedding feast. When Jesus takes (through translation) His firstfruits Bride at the beginning of the tribulation, the fact that they are then joined to Him constitutes the “marriage”—they are united to live together. Those who are left behind are not a part of that marriage, but they ARE invited to the “marriage supper”, which will take place when the great host is translated at the close of the tribulation. Note two distinct episodes in Rev. 19: 7 and 9. First, the writer says, “Let us be glad and rejoice and give honour to him; for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready” (Rev. 19:7). But then in 19:9 we read, “And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb.” A Bride is not invited to her own marriage celebration; SHE is the one who helps to extend the call, and invites others, as we read in Rev. 22:17, “And the Spirit and the bride say, Come.” The Bride company will be busy during the tribulation extending the call to many, and getting them ready for the marriage supper. This is in harmony with a previous pattern where we saw Martha returning to Mary and saying “The Master is come, and calleth for thee” (John 11:28). We have already seen that those in the Bride company will have the power to materialize their glorified bodies and speak to those yet on the earth.
“Ye” and “They”. Another passage which relates to this matter is Luke 12:35-36. Jesus again contrasts and shows the dif¬ference between some who will be ready when He comes and others who will not. He distinguishes between two groups in verses 35-36 by using two personal pronouns: “Ye” and “They”. Based upon the understanding I have been presenting in this study, I will punctuate this passage differently than the Authorized Version. Remember, there is no punctuation in the original Greek text. Words and sentences simply run together. All punctuation is supplied by the translators based on how they believe it makes the best sense, according to their understanding. Let me now quote verse 35 and the first part of verse 36, inserting a period where I believe it makes better sense. “Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning; and YE like unto men that wait for their lord.” The “YE” here would be those who are ready, looking for and expecting the return of the Lord. The very fact that He admonishes them to have their “lights burning”, indicates that His coming would be at NIGHT, and we have previously seen that this coming is for the FIRST group of Christians, and it also parallels the thought of the parable in Mt. 25:1-6 where the wise virgins were ready because they had extra oil, and thus their lights were burning when the Bridegroom came at the midnight hour. Now notice the next statement Jesus makes in the last half of Lk. 12:36, which I will punctuate by beginning a new sentence: “When he (the Lord) will return from the wedding, that when he cometh and knocketh, THEY may open unto him immediately. “ Notice the change in pronouns from “Ye” to “They”. And the “they” group are admonished to be ready to receive the Lord when He returns from the WEDDING. This in itself indicates that some had previously been taken by the Lord and joined to Him in “spiritual matrimony”, as we read in Mt. 25:10. The initial “union” of Jesus, the Bridegroom, and His Bride, continues during the tribulation period, at the close of which He returns from the wedding to receive those who are CALLED to the marriage supper. The marriage festivities will take place in the heavenlies while the vials of wrath are being poured out on the earth. Then, as we will see later, following the vials of wrath, they will all RETURN with the Lord to help inaugurate His Kingdom on this earth.
Second and Third Watches, Continuing in the passage inLk.12, we note that in vs. 37 the Lord admonishes watchfulness, I will now quote vs. 38 from Young’s Literal Translation, for most ver¬sions do not translate this verse correctly; “and if he may come in the second watch, and in the third watch he may come, and may find it so, happy are those servants.” Notice carefully, that this verse says Jesus will come in the second watch AND in the third watch—that is, a TWO-fold coming for His people; in perfect harmony with the other patterns we have beheld. The second watch in Bible times was the watch from 9:00 p.m. to MIDNIGHT, and was called the “midnight” watch ;and thus speaks of Jesus coming for the firstfruits Bride company at the “midnight” hour (Mt. 25:6). The third watch came after midnight until 3:00 a.m. and was called the “cockcrowing watch”. It was during this watch that the disciples went through severe trial the night Jesus was betrayed and taken into custody, ending in Peter’s denial of the Lord, which came just before the cock crowed (Mt. 26:34, 74-75). So does the third watch portray the tribulation period, which is spoken of in Rev. 3:10 as “The hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world to TRY them that dwell upon the earth.” The “third watch” coming of the Lord is for those who go through the tribulation and are ready to be received at its close. For more information on the “watches”, order the booklet “The Voice of the Seventh Angel.”
Jesus’ First and Second Ascensions. Jesus was “taken” twice from this earth. WHY? Certainly the primary reason was related to His personal ministry and that which He was accomplishing for man’s redemption. However, we need to realize that He set the pattern for the church, portraying in His own life and actions God’s plan,, Did He not declare Himself to be THE TRUTH? (John 14:6), Will His church be involved in anything that He Himself has not already depicted and acted out? Beloved, ponder that deeply. First of all, Jesus’ resurrection and translation to glorified life took place secretly. No one saw it. His body was simply found missing. Then, on the very morning of His resurrection, He ascended to the Father. The only one to whom He appeared before that ascension was Mary Magdalene (see John 20:11-18). WHY? When we realize that Jesus by His actions was enacting a prophetic drama, then we understand that Mary is thus prophetic of the Bride who is to betaken first, secretly as it were, even as Jesus appeared secretly to Mary and then ascended without anyone else seeing Him. There are several women named “Mary” in the New Testament. Mary Magdalene is a different woman than Mary, the sister of Martha, whom we discussed earlier. Mary Magdalene is the one of whom it is spoken in Mark 16:9 that Jesus “appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils.” Seven is the number of the Bride, and the “seven devils cast out” here speaks of the complete work of cleansing of the Bride company in preparation for their translation.
Jesus Appears to Others. As Jesus ascended following His secret meeting with Mary, so did He depict by His own action the coming translation and ascension of the firstfruits Bride. But later in the day, He returned and appeared to the other women and His disciples. He then remained on earth for 40 days during which time He appeared to many (Acts 1:3),, Even so shall the firstfruits Bride company (after their translation to ascend to Jesus somewhere in our atmosphere) RETURN to appear to and minister to the remaining church on earth. “40” is the number of tribulation through testing, and Jesus TYPED the coming tribulation period by that 40 days He ministered on earth after His glorification. After Jesus’40 days on earth He again ascended, but NOT secretly as previously. According to Acts 1:9-11, His disciples saw Him visibly ascending until He disappeared into a cloud. Thus the prophetic drama continues, as Jesus by His own action depicts the translation and ascension of the re¬mainder of the saints at the close of the tribulation, who, as we have already shown, will go up visibly and openly. Hallelujah! How can we hold back our “shouts of praise “as we behold such “dove-tailing “of details in the prophetic pattern Jesus wrought for us in His own life and actions.
Faithful and Unfaithful Servants. I will now return to Luke 12, and comment on one more contrast which Jesus spoke of. In vs. 39 Jesus speaks of the thief breaking into the house. We know that Jesus comes first as a “thief” to break into the household of the church to take His “jewels” (the Bride company). Some quote I Thess. 5:1 and say that it is only the “day of the Lord” that comes as a thief and not Jesus personally. They use 1 Thess. 5:4 as evidence that it is only the world that is to be taken by surprise, for “ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.” But WHO are the “ye” of that verse. Certainly we cannot equate the common lot of careless, sleeping, Christians of today with the Spirit sanctified and consecrated Thessalonian Christians who had been under the personal teaching of the apostle Paul and were fully instructed in end-time matters. In addition, a careful reading of scripture shows that it is not only the day of the Lord that is to come as a thief, but also Jesus personally. Besides, how can we separate Jesus from His “day”? In Rev. 16:15, Jesus, speaking TO Christians, says: “Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.” Jesus also warns the church in Rev. 3:3: “If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.” The “day of the Lord” coming as a thief speaks primarily of sudden and unexpected judgments coming on the world, but Jesus personally coming as a thief refers directly to His sudden and unexpected (by most Christians) coming upon His church, to break through and “steal”. It is in this context that Jesus gives the contrast in Luke 12:37-48 of the two kinds of servants—the faithful and wise, and the unfaithful.
In contrast. In the passage just mentioned, the “faithful and wise” servant is the one who is “ready” (vs. 40), faithfully doing the Lord’s will (vs. 43), and receiving the promises of increased “meat” (understanding) and rulership (increased stewardship) responsibility (vs. 42, 44). The unfaithful and careless servant does not take seriously the warnings of the Lord’s coming and the need to be ready (vs. 45), but continues to engage in carnal type activities (vs. 45). The “beating” of others and getting “drunk” are not necessarily to be taken literally any more than the “stripes” of vs. 47-48. They are simply symbolic of wrong attitudes and actions towards others through unfaithfulness in stewardship responsibilities. Also Rev. 17:2 gives a symbolic picture of being “drunk” on the “wine” of the harlot’s “fornication”. This speaks of compromise and unfaithfulness to the Lord, consorting with the “woman” (soul desires) of the world’s Babylonish systems. James amplifies on this by saying in his epistle that “friendship (intimate contact, spiritual adultery) with the world is enmity with God” (James 4:4), In Luke 12:46 Jesus states the consequence of such careless, compromising living: “The Lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware (as a “thief”), and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unfaithful.”
Cut in sunder. Just what does the Lord mean by the expression “cut him in sunder”? The Greek word used here means literally to bisect or cut in two. Young’s Literal translation says “will cut him off”. The Rotherham version says “cut him asunder”. The Lord is not going to literally cut any person in two, but when He comes “unawares”, secretly, “as a thief”, and TAKES by translation the “faithful and wise servants”, then He divides or “cuts asunder” some from others; those left behind are then “cut off” from those taken. Those left behind then have their lot appointed with the “unfaithful”, that is, they will have to go through the tribulation. According to the concordance, the Greek word translated “cut asunder” can, by extension of thought, also be translated “to flog severely”. This is exactly in harmony with that which is stated in the passage in Luke 12: 47-48, that those servants who did not prepare themselves sufficiently and are left behind shall be “beaten with stripes.” These “stripes” are simply the buffeting conditions of the tribulation period, which the Lord says will be either few or many. Can we not see how important it is for the Lord to prepare us now, so that even if we are not chosen to be in the first group to be taken, we will not have to be buffeted greatly by the tribulation conditions, but will receive the completeness of the Lord’s protection. The parable we have just been considering, however, does indicate that many careless and unfaithful servants of the Lord will experience many buffeting “stripes” during the tribulation.