Three Comings of Jesus (post 4)

This is part 4 of our series posting the entire book "Three Comings of Jesus" by J. Leland Earls. For further info, see www.wordoflifefellowship.com or write to them
at Word of Life Fellowship PO Box 190. Shelton, WA 98584. email: kevin@wordoflifefellowship.com

Numbers. The numbers also speak further to us when we see the feeding of the 4,000. Five is the number of freedom through the grace of God. Four is the earth number, and also speaks of the fullness of fruit. Thus the fragments taken after the feeding of the 5,000 speak to us of the firstfruits who shall enter into a full freedom FIRST, being released from the earthly into the heavenly through translation into a glorified body—FREE from all limitations and corruption of the flesh. The fragments taken after the feeding of the 4,000 speak to us of those who must remain on EARTH during the tribulation, that the fullness of fruit might be developed in them during that time. Then they shall be ready to be gathered after the tribulation. Hallelujah for the beauty and simplicity of God’s plan when our eyes are opened to the truth.
In John’s account of the feeding of the five thousand, we read in chap. 6:9, that the loaves used to feed the multitudes and gathered in fragments at the close were “barley loaves”. This is a further confirmation that these fragments symbolize the firstfruits, for barley ripens and is ready for harvest before the wheat. In the feeding of the four thousand, no mention is made that the loaves were of barley, so we might assume they were likely of wheat. Also, barley was particularly used to make bread for the poor, and this speaks of that which we read in Isa. 66:2, “but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.” Jesus’ first blessing was upon the “poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Mt. 5:3).

Firstfruits and harvest. Having mentioned the “firstfruits” in the preceding section on the miraculous feeding of the 5,000, I will now elaborate a little more on the scriptural background for the offering of firstfruits preceding the main harvest. For the law of the firstfruits was clearly set forth to the Israelites in the Old Testament; namely, that the first ripe of their harvest was to be dedicated to the Lord in a special way. Deut. 26:1-12 gives the instructions of how each family was to bring a basket of their firstfruits and give it to the priest as the Lord’s representative. Also Lev. 23:10-14 gives the instructions for a special “firstfruits sheaf” of the barley harvest which was to be offered to the Lord at the time of the Passover festival in the spring of the year. They could not begin their harvest of the barley and other crops until the high priest had offered this firstfruits sheaf to the Lord in a special ceremony. As the Lord of the harvest, God had to receive His special portion before the rest of the harvest could be reaped. This is a TYPE of God’s ways in His spiritual harvest of human beings. Jesus clearly states in Mt. 13:39 that His harvest comes at the close of this age. But before He can gather a great host into His “heavenly barn” (kingdom)—Mt. 13:30, He must receive to Himself a first-fruits. And this “firstfruits” must be gathered out of the end-time harvest, to be translated without experiencing death.

Mystery revealed. The preceding “mystery” is revealed to us in that added portion of Divine revelation given by Jesus to the apostle John on the island of Patmos. We must keep in mind that when Jesus was on the earth, He either did not know, or was not permitted to reveal all the details of the Father’s plan. This is why the book of Revelation is an absolute MUST to get the whole picture. In Rev. 1:1, it is called “the revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave to him (in addition to that which He spoke when on earth) to show unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass.” In the 14th chap, of Rev., we see both the firstfruits and the rest of the harvest. In Rev. 14:1-5, are the 144,000 firstfruits standing with the Lamb on Mount Zion, “having been redeemed from (out from) the earth.” This can only mean that they are no longer on earth, but translated into the heavenly realm through having their bodies glorified. Then follows in the rest of chap. 14: the preaching of the gospel to all the earth, the judgment on Babylon, the warning about the mark of the beast, the wrath of God, the commendation of the martyrs who die at the hands of the Beast powers— all of which take place during the tribulation period. AFTER these things, we see the Lord Himself in 14:14-16 with a sickle REAPING the REST of the harvest, gathering the remainder of the saints at the close of the tribulation.
Woman and Manchild. The truth of a two-fold church is also clearly given to us in the 12th chap, of the book of Revelation. In 12:1-2 is recorded the vision of the woman “clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars.” This heavenly archetypal pattern which John describes portrays the glorious church as it is to manifest on the earth, symbolically pictured as a woman. He then notices that this woman is “with child”; and then sees her give birth to a male child which is caught up to the throne of God (12:2-5). A comparison of the language of 12:5 with Rev. 2:26-27 shows that this “manchild” portrays the “overcomers” within the woman or church. Their “birth” out of the church, being caught up to the throne of God, pictures their translation without the experience of death to the glorified estate AHEAD of the rest of the church. That this takes place at the beginning of the tribulation is clear from 12:6 where we read that after the woman gives birth she goes into the “wilderness “for 1260 days. This “wilderness “is none other than the great tribulation which Jesus describes in Mt, 24:21-22. Rev. 12:7-17 describes the wrath of Satan at that time against the “woman”, and her divine protection by God. Surely this makes plain the truth, and confirms the many other patterns, that a small group will be translated at the beginning of the tribulation, while the remainder and much larger body of Christians goes through the tribulation; emphasizing the truth of some being taken and others left.
Martha and Mary. Another symbolic picture of the two-fold church given to us in the New Testament is that of the sisters: Martha and Mary. I mention Martha first since she evidently was older, and more mature. This is portrayed by the fact that in Lk. 10:38 we read of Jesus and His disciples coming to the village of Bethany and “Martha received him into her house.” Likewise she was taking charge of making preparations for the several tired and hungry travelers, while Mary, her sister, sat at Jesus’ feet. Some have tried to deduce from this that Mary was the more spiritual one. However, close examination of the symbology does not bear this out. Mary represents the newer, more immature Christian, who is not ready to be “up and serving” the Master. Martha was rebuked by Jesus, not because she was serving—that was her responsibility as head of the house— but because she was burdened with having no help and critical of Mary for not giving her a hand. Martha’s approach to the Master and her words indicate that she was on intimate terms with Him, and evidently had herself sat at His feet much previous to Mary’s coming to that point. Mary, on the other hand, was no doubt a more recent “convert”, perhaps coming out of a life of deep sin. Therefore she needed to be at the Master’s feet at that time. Jesus said that she had chosen “that good part, which shall not be taken away from her “(Lk. 10:42). This portrays the “gift of eternal life” (Rom. 6:23) which shall not be taken away once it is given (Rom. 11:29). Like Mary, we too who have received His gift of life, must always find time to “sit at His feet” and learn of Him; but we must also grow and mature to where we can also be “up and serving” like Martha. Both are necessary in our Christian experience.
Meeting Jesus. Having clarified the above picture, we now proceed to the 11th chapter of John where again we see Jesus visiting the household of Bethany. This time it was a crises situation. Martha and Mary had sent word for Jesus to come from some distance and four days had passed before He arrived. In the mean time Lazarus had died. Jesus had allowed this to happen because He purposed to glorify God by raising him from the dead. Our purpose at this time is not to go into all of the details of this story, but to point out the prophetic pattern portrayed by Martha, Mary and Lazarus, The name “Lazarus” means “whom God helps” and he is symbolic of the Jewish nation whom God has sworn to help, and which He is going to “raise up” to spiritual life (through their accepting of the Messiah) at the time of Jesus’ return to this earth. Martha and Mary represent the two-fold church, one portion of which goes out to meet the Lord before the other. John 11:20 says that “Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him; but Mary sat still in the house.” Martha going out to meet the Master “outside the city” is a type of the first group of Christians being translated to meet the Lord before the tribulation begins; whereas Mary represents those left behind to go through the tribulation.
Martha calls Mary. After Martha had met Jesus outside the village, and had conversed with Him for a time, John 1128 says that “she went her way, and called Mary her sister secretly saying, The Master is come, and calleth for thee.” This portrays the fact that the Martha group will have a ministry in helping to prepare the Mary group for their translation. Notice that Martha talked to Mary secretly. After the Martha group has been translated, during the tribulation they will be engaged in appearing to Christians yet on the earth, to help them. These appearings will be “secret”—that is, not known by the world. Such appearings will be similar to the appearings of Jesus to His disciples after His resurrection and glorification. Acts 1:3 says that Jesus was “seen of them forty days,” and He was “speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.” So will the glorified saints of the Martha group appear during the “40” of the great tribulation, for the number “40” is symbolic of testing through tribulation.
Mary meets Jesus. After being prepared by Martha, John 11:29 says that Mary “arose quickly, and came unto him.” And verse 30 tells us that “Jesus was not yet come into the town, but was in that place where Martha met him.” Isn’t that amazing? Or is it? Mary met Jesus in the same place outside the town that Martha had met Him. WHY? We would ordinarily think that Jesus would have proceeded into the town with Martha after she had gone out to meet Him. But once we understand that every MOVE Jesus made portrays a part of His prophetic plan, then such details SPEAK to us. Both Martha and Mary meeting Jesus OUTSIDE the town, speaks to us of saints meeting Jesus “in the air” (atmospheric region above the earth) BEFORE He comes TO the earth with those saints to fully manifest Himself. But again, we notice two groups separated by time. Martha meeting Jesus first, and Mary later (but in the SAME place), so shall the two-fold church be. When Martha went out to meet Jesus there is no record that anyone saw her go (John 11:20), but when Mary left, John 11:31 says that the Jews saw her leave. This again fits the pattern that when Jesus takes the first group of saints it is a secret maneuver, but when the second group is taken, they are seen ascending, headed by the two witnesses (Rev. 11:12).
Enoch and Elijah. Facts and prophetic episodes relating to the New Testament church are TYPED in the Old Testament, as God previewed by living drama things to come in the Messianic age of covenant fullness. It is no accident that just TWO men were translated without experiencing death. They picture the two-fold church in this end time. Enoch is a type of those to be taken first, BEFORE the tribulation, because Enoch was translated before the FLOOD came upon the earth. Enoch pictures those who are now “walking with God”, as he did (see Gen. 5: 22-24). “And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.” Heb. 11:5 declares that “by faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.” In contrast to Enoch, Elijah pictures those who will be translated following the tribulation. Elijah was on the earth when FIRE fell from heaven, and a great RAIN came (I Kings 18:38, 45), which symbolize the “second Pentecost” of latter rain outpouring which is to come in fullness AFTER the Enoch group of Christians is translated. Following this, Elijah went into the “wilderness”, where he was sustained supernaturally (I Kings 19:4-8), for a period of 40 days and nights. “Forty” is the number of testing, and speaks to us of the great trial of the tribulation period (Rev. 3:10), while the church is in the wilderness (Rev. 12:14). Elijah was persecuted by King Ahab and his wicked wife Jezebel, who picture the end-time forces of the Beast and apostate religion coming against the true saints (Rev. 2:20, chap. 13 and chap. 17), especially during the tribulation period.
Noah and Lot. In Luke 17:26-32, Jesus connects the days of Noah and Lot together as picturing end-time conditions and the return of the Lord. Noah was taken into the ark BEFORE the floods of tribulation came, and was LIFTED UP above the waters, even as the firstfruits will be “lifted up” by translation before the tribulation. Mt. 24:39 says that the people in Noah’s day “knew not “that Noah had been taken into the ark until the floods came. In other words, it was a secret maneuver and secret departure. The name Noah means “rest” and speaks to us of the rest obtained or entered into by a small elect body by means of the mystic “marriage” to the Lamb of God. Like unto Enoch, Noah “walked with God” (Gen. 6:9), and was called “a just man and perfect in his generations.” Thus he types those who are now “following the Lamb” (Rev. 14:4), waiting and expecting to be secretly taken. On the other hand, Lot did not live a separated life like unto Noah, but in the midst of Sodom and its wickedness (and this was something that he decided).
Gen. 13:10-11. Sodom means “scorched”, whereas her sister city, Gomorrah, means “submerged”. Lot lived in Sodom, not Gomorrah. Thus he pictures those Christians who have lived free enough from the world so that they are not submerged in its sin and ways; but they have lived in close enough proximity to its ways that they have been scorched by it. Lot chose to live in Sodom even though his righteous soul was vexed by its wickedness (II Pet. 2:8).
Delivered from wrath. Compromising Lot thus represents that group of Christians who must go through the tribulation, and be received of the Lord at its close. Note that it is clear from Luke 17:29 that Lot and his family were delivered out of Sodom JUST BEFORE God rained fire on the city to destroy it. Then verse 30 says, “Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is REVEALED.” Jesus is not revealed “in flaming fire” to take vengeance (II Thess. 1:7) until the very close of the tribulation. When He comes at the beginning of the tribulation it is as a “thief”, unseen except by that small group that he takes. Some quote I Thess. 1:10 as evidence that Christians cannot go through the tribulation because they have been “delivered from wrath to come.” However, it must be seen that the tribulation is not God’s wrath, but rather Satan’s wrath (Rev. 12:12). Only at the very close of the tribulation, in the 7 Vials of Wrath of Rev. 16:1-21, is the “wrath of God” poured out on the earth. This corresponds to the “fire” that was rained on Sodom AFTER lot was delivered. Also in Rev. 15:2-4 we see saints who are obviously in a glorified estate in the heavenlies just BEFORE the vials of wrath are poured out. That they had gone through the tribulation is evident by the fact that they “had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name” (15:2). So shall the “Lot” group go through the tribulation, in victory over the beast and his system, and be translated to glory just BEFORE the vials of wrath are poured out.
Taken and Left. We have already examined the passage in the gospel of Matthew about those being taken and left. However, Luke’s account gives added insight which needs to be looked at. Matthew does not give a complete account; Luke is better. In Luke 17:32 we read: “I tell you, in that night there shall be two in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left. “ Notice, the two are in ONE bed; they are resting in the same place, having one abode in common. Thus they are both Christian believers. Had the Lord wanted to portray the difference between believers and unbelievers, He would have said: “Those in one house shall be taken, whereas those in another house shall be left.” Whereas Jesus said “in that NIGHT there shall be two in one bed and one shall be taken”, etc., it first indicates that it shall be factual night over Jerusalem when the “taking” starts. Secondly, because the horror and darkness of the great tribulation then opens IN FORCE, the general situation in the world will be similar to that of a “night”. Recall that it was at midnight (Mt. 25:6), that the cry went forth which caused the wise virgins to bestir themselves that they might meet the approaching bridegroom. Also, it was at midnight (Ex. 12:29) that a cry went up out of the land of Egypt because the Lord had taken (by death) the firstborn of the land. As THAT “taking “was a judgment upon Egypt for their hardness, in heart, so in a like SIMILITUDE, shall a CRY go up from the church, as the Lord takes the “firstborn” (firstfruits) through translation as a judgment upon a lukewarm, careless, “sleeping church. It is the same as the Lord “breaking into” the household of the church as a thief (Mt. 24 A3 -44) to take His “jewels”, as in Mai. 3:17: “And they shall be mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in the day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them (from the great tribulation), as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.” Such “thievery” is the PRICE He exacts upon the balance of the church for their lack of readiness.