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.