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From FULL RESTORATION OF ALL ISRAEL series

By Rabbi/Brother Moshe Yoseph Koniuchowsky

Part 10 In The Series On Israel’s Ongoing National Restoration!

The teachings of the doctrine of a separate secret rapture, apart from the promised resurrection of the dead following the Great Tribulation, (Daniel 12:1-2) remains one of the major stumbling blocks in the restoration of both houses of our people Israel. Since it is the Father’s agenda to unite the two houses in His love and His truth, any error, especially one as massive as the fabrication of the "secret rapture", must be dealt with and corrected with the Word of Yahweh. Yahweh’s Word does not teach rapture and therefore neither should we! If the leadership of the Messianic Nazarene Yisrael movement does not stay teachable on this issue, then it is within the realm of possibility that the unity and healing that we long for and strive for will bypass this generation. If that occurs, we would not only fail in our mission to bring unity, one mind and healing to two divided houses, but also in all likelihood would have to forfeit any special rewards in the coming millennial Kingdom of Yahweh. Unless all those of Messianic Nazarene Yisrael make the most sincere attempt to search out the truth regarding the origins and misapplications of the false doctrine referred to by religionists as "the rapture", we will have labored in vain. The unity we seek among all of Israel can only be achieved with a clear understanding of the errors of the rapture doctrine, so that corrections can be made and so that oneness can be achieved.

Initial Problems

The initial problem with the "secret rapture" doctrine is that the House of Israel (Ephraim) by and large has subscribed to this error in varying degrees. When those of Ephraim-Israel enter the loving and caring environment of two-house truth, this doctrinal baggage usually accompanies the Ephraimite as well. The problem with Ephraim-Israel’s subscription to the doctrine of the "secret rapture" is that it contradicts Yahweh’s revealed will. Both houses have been leavened with a teaching that is certain to bring confusion, division and heresy, as it has in the past 200 years. Yahweh the Almighty will allow reunion and restoration to both houses of Israel, only on His terms and only to those who carry truth around their girded loins. Rav Shaul warns us that a little doctrinal leaven can soon leaven the whole lump.1 We are commanded to purge the old leaven out, so that Messianic Nazarene Yisrael can be a fresh wholesome new lump, ordained by Yahweh for the soon coming Kingdom on earth.

Where must this cleansing begin? It must begin at the source. The source is a repentant Ephraim-Israel that learns truth through an attitude of humility and contriteness and then First Cor. 5:6-7.proceeds to show believing Judah, the truth of Scripture in the same manner as the leaven was once shared. This purging must be thorough and voluntary, as well as immediate, by all those who have entered the Messianic Nazarene Yisrael movement, with the intention of rebuilding a nation. That nation of our forefathers Israel, can only be built with layers of truth and justice. In the "secret rapture" doctrine, one will find neither. Ephraim-Israel’s attitude towards the false error of secret pre-tribulationism must be that of Corrie Ten Boom, the late great lover of Jewish-Israel, when she stated: "Don’t listen to those false prophets, who come in the name of Jesus declaring that believers will not suffer the [Great] Tribulation. Go back and tell your American friends that the rapture before [Great] Tribulation doctrine is now an exclusive American [not Hebraic] message. It is not found in the rest of the nations." We would do well to take her warning seriously, since Yahweh Almighty does not teach a pre-tribulation rapture and if we as Messianic Israel do insist on teaching it, (thus proliferating the most divisive doctrine in religious circles today). I fear our full national restoration must wait for other more teachable generations yet to come.

Scripture tells us there is nothing new under the sun and certainly that would include nothing new in Scripture that was not first taught in Scripture by early believers in Yahshua and Yahweh. The doctrine of the rapture is a late 18th century invention of certain men, who held to a dispensationalist view of history. It is a doctrine that is totally foreign to the Bible and Hebraic thought and culture. Not a single rabbi (traditional or messianic) in any ancient rabbinic literature ever spoke of or even remotely made reference to a pre-tribulation rapture. If most Judahites remain loyal to Yahweh’s Word regarding the absence of the so-called "pre-tribulation rapture" in Scripture, and returning Ephraim enthusiastically endorses and proliferates it, unity is not and cannot be at hand. Therefore it must be dealt with in the here and now, in the gospel light of two house unity and understanding. Pre-tribulation rapture teaching, teaches Israelites to have a false hope of "peace and safety" prior to the soon coming full two-stick reunion in the millennium, rather than to watch and pray for strength to endure the onslaught of the Great Tribulation. Unlike modern purveyors of this error, Messiah Yahshua not only told us of pre millennial [Great] Tribulation, but also promised it to His disciples.

The rapture theory has no literal application or basis based upon primary meaning of biblical texts. Even Hal Lindsey one of the leading proponents of a "secret separate rapture" for the so-called "church", admits: "I cannot point to any single verse that clearly says the rapture will occur before the tribulation." Lindsey goes on to say, "pre-tribulation [rapture] is based largely on arguments from inference and silence." If there are no verses teaching it, why are books like the popular "Left Behind" series written on it? Why are denominations spitting and splitting over it? Why are our Jewish brothers condemned and theologically replaced because of it? We owe it to our Savior to eradicate this scourge from our midst, if we are to become the great restoration movement that Yahweh desires us to be.

The Scriptures are plainly clear that a resurrection of the believers in Messiah Yahshua will take place. That is a certainty! As we will shortly learn, this catching up of the living and the righteous redeemed dead are parts A and B of the first blessed and holy resurrection. What pre-tribulation rapture teaching has done, is to separate part A and part B of the first blessed pre-millennial resurrection, making Part A stand on its own as a "Christian" pre-tribulation secret rapture. This understanding of resurrection verses originated in the middle 18th century. Not only is this concept foreign to Scripture and the Hebrew people, it was not accepted by any of the early so called "church fathers." None of them subscribed to or taught a "secret separate pre-tribulation rapture!" The notion of the "before tribulation rapture" began in 1747 when an exiled Chilean Jesuit named Emanuel Lacunza wrote a book (released in 1816) in Italy entitled: "The Coming Of The Messiah in Glory and Majesty." In order to make room for all the Tribulation events, he surmised that there had to be a time separation between the calling up of believers and the actual return to earth of Messiah. This was the historical germ that grew into the now commonly taught error that Messiah comes three times. The second time for His people and the third time with His people. Emanuel Lacunza introduced three comings of Messiah in 1747 CE. Yahshua Almighty on the other hand spoke only of two comings to earth. Whose report will you believe?

The Jesuit Lacunza wrote under the pen name of Iben Ezra , and desired to infiltrate Protestantism with this Roman Catholic doctrine. He wrote using the name of Rabbi Iben Ezra to make Protestants think he was a Hebrew-Christian espousing a "traditional Jewish position". (Messianic Judaism today sadly holds to this position as a "Jewish position" as well). The public release of his work was part and parcel of nefarious Jesuit activity. Iben Ezra’s four-volume set came to rest on the shelves of the library of the Archbishop of Canterbury. Dr. Maitland, the church librarian, who released these works to the English-speaking world, was unaware that he was propagating a false 18th century Jesuit Roman Catholic invention. The churchman though that he was releasing the work of a Hebrew-Christian or "Converted Jew", when in fact it was the handiwork of the Jesuit order. Does Messianic Nazarene Yisrael really want to continue in the errors of Dr. Maitland by releasing and trusting in a Jesuit doctrine of three physical comings of Messiah?

The Brethren

A young Scottish Presbyterian minister was so enthralled with Iben Ezra’s "secret rapture" theory, that he translated the work into English from Spanish. This man, Edward Irving, later founded the Irvingites based on the Jesuit secret pre-tribulation rapture lie.

This order of the Irvingites were considered to be an apostate group, even by the Vatican itself! After the Irvingites, "The Brethren" movement in Ireland adopted Iben Ezra and the Irvingites error and began releasing literature stating that only "The Brethren" were the true "church of Christ." They adopted the pre-tribulation Jesuit teaching in order to separate their "only true church", from the rest of the "false brethren". They found the divisive rapture of the pre-tribulation theory, most convenient in their massive excommunicating practices towards "heretics", whose ultimate punishment would be to be "LEFT BEHIND" in their pre-tribulation rapture. "The Brethren" excommunicated the legendary George Muller, champion of the poor orphans, who ran Bristol England’s many orphanages, for opposing the new Brethren position of "a pre-tribulation secret and separate rapture". The leading figure in George Muller’s excommunication was a man by the name of John Darby.

Darby & Dispensationalim

John Darby is revered in Protestant circles as the modern founder of the pre-tribulation rapture, though he borrowed the idea from the Jesuit Iben Ezra and from Edward Irving. He like his predecessors used it to establish "The Brethren" on a spiritually superior pedestal, relegating all who disagreed with their private view of pre-tribulation rapturism, as heretics to the "Christian faith", whose ultimate separation from "Christ", would occur when they would be left behind. We see that from its inception, early Protestant groups in order to sow division, discord, and variance, among the body of true believers, used this doctrine of "Jesuit-Roman-Popery". It was this most repulsive of doctrines that succeeded in dividing the believing community into two tiers of believers. Those who were going, and those who were not going. Many were excommunicated, killed and even tortured, if they did not follow the ways of Irvingism and Darby. Darby ultimately took this demonic doctrine many steps further than any of his predecessors.

Does anyone really believe that Israel’s two houses can be rebuilt in love, equity and equality for all believers, if we knowingly proliferate the obvious errors of the past?

Like most 19th century theologians, John Darby was anti-nomian (anti-Torah), teaching that Torah had passed away at the cross. Darby noticed that during the seven years of Daniel’s final week, (Daniel 9:27) the offerings of Torah are to be made at the Temple.

Since the Torah was clearly being observed during this seven-year period, Darby concluded that Torah keeping would come back into effect at the start of the Great Tribulation. This train of thought caused Darby to segregate biblical and prophetic history into compartmentalized ages. Darby theorized that the age of Torah had ended at the cross and an age of church grace had begun. Then at the start of the seven-year Great Tribulation there was a return to Torah and an end of the Age of Grace, as Darby saw it.

This created a problem for Darby’s theory! How can the Age of Law return, if the so-called "church" is still here? Darby saw the Age of Law, as Yahweh’s dealings with Israel [i.e. the Jews only], in the Tribulation, as Yahweh would deal exclusively with Israel. So what happens to the so-called "church"? Surely the church will not leave grace to re-enter the Law of Moses! As a result Darby adopted the idea of pre-tribulation rapture [from Irving and Iben Ezra]. His idea of the "so-called church" leaving" before the tribulation was to allow Israel [i.e. the Jews] to reenter the age of Great Tribulation law [keeping]."

The result of Darby’s works and multiple illustrative charts is threefold. First it teaches that Torah is not for today. This is a direct violation of Yahshua’s own Words found in Matthew 5:19-21, that teaches that Torah is in effect from the Garden of Eden, until and as eternity commences, even after the millennial reign has culminated. Second, it expands the original errors of Irving and Iben Ezra to a new level, and finally and perhaps most importantly proliferates the hideous errors of Separate Entity Theology. Separate Entity Theology is the oxygen that feeds Replacement Theology. It has Israel (in his limited understanding, the Jews only), taking it on the chin and receiving punishment, while the other house of Israel (Ephraim) flies away. Thus we are left with the fruits of pre-tribulationism, which is a racist brand of dispensationalist dogma, that has Ephraim-Israel flying away to heaven, while Jewish-Israel, is stuck on earth. One house of Israel goes up to the celestial realm, leaving the other house of Israel in the terrestrial realm. Under the pre-tribulation rapture error, the reunification of both houses of Israel is not only a theological impossibility but a logistical one as well! Ezekiel’s’ two stick restoration clearly takes place on the mountains of Israel, to and for both houses here on the earth!

Mr. Darby forgot that Jeremiah 30:7 calls the Great Tribulation Jacob’s Trouble, not Judah’s trouble. Since Israel is made up of both houses, (for the last 2900 years) both houses will experience the Great Tribulation. If Mr. Darby had understood that non-Jewish believers are predominantly returning and rescued Ephraim-Israel, he would not have been so quick to have "all Israel" or "Jacob", go through the Great Tribulation. Only those who do not yet understand the two houses of one single people called the ekklesia of Israel, and have separated Yahweh’s people into two separate entities known as the so-called "church" and the believing Jews, can feel confident in the pre-Tribulation rapture fantasy.

We will now take a close up look at the most often quoted passages in favor of the secret rapture, (rebuked by Yahshua Himself in Matthew 24:26-27) which despite vehement denials to the contrary teaches, three comings not the two of Scripture. Whether Yahshua lands on earth or not, is not the issue that defines a physical parousia, or a physical coming! Rather what defines a coming physical appearance of the Son of Yahweh is His descent from the third heaven. If He descends from the third heaven (His home) and leaves the right hand of the Farther, that is in fact a coming, regardless of where He does or does not land! Hebrews 9:28 states: "So Messiah was once offered to bear the sins of many; and to them that look for Him shall He appear the second time apart from sin unto salvation." A secret rapture would be a third coming! Second Timothy 4:1 states: "I charge you therefore before Elohim and the Master Yahshua the Messiah, who shall judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His Kingdom" Messiah Yahshua’s appearing, as seen in the above verse, is synonymous to His second coming, which takes place at the dawn of His Kingdom, which by definition would mean just prior to the millennial reign of Rev. 20:4-5. His appearing is His coming, at the start of His earthly government! Messiah will raise (catch up) the faithful dead and righteous of all the ages past, along with changing the living. Messiah will catch up both groups in order to place them in resurrected bodies, in order to enter the earthly 1000-year reign. This catching up is the first and blessed resurrection of Rev. 20:5-6. Those who are caught up in the first blessed resurrection are truly the blessed co-rulers of the Kingdom of Messiah and of eternity with the Lamb.

In James 5:7 Yahweh admonishes believers to "be patient therefore brethren, unto the COMING of the Master". We are admonished to be patient and watchful while we wait for Yahshua’s coming, not His secret separate appearance in some inner chamber. In 1st Thessalonians 4:15-17, a classical favorite of pre-tribulation proponents, the text in verse 15 refers to the events of the catching up from the graves and from our natural bodies and is defined as a coming of the Master, rather than a "secret rapture appearance" of the Master. The Greek word harpazo in first Thessalonians 4:17, refers to the catching up out of the graves of the righteous blessed saved dead in the messianic faith. Those alive in messianic faith at Messiah’s return (not secret separate church appearance), will also be caught up out of their natural bodies, and changed into a spiritual body (First Corinthians 15:54 refers to this change, as a clothing of the mortal with the fresh clothing of the immortal). Job himself referred to this change from mortal to immortal in Job 14:14, where he promised to patiently wait for his "change to come" after he dies. Like Job, we await our change, courtesy of our Savior Messiah Yahshua’s saving grace! In Job 19:25-26 we find a very important Scripture. Job proclaims that the Redeemer will come to earth and after his own death (Job’s), that same Redeemer will allow Job to see Elohim (Messiah) in his flesh. This clear reference to Job’s new resurrected flesh, is the first mention of life after death in the bible and is used to establish the all-important "principle of first mention". Job the oldest book in the bible, was authored by Moses and thus carries a full weight of legitimate sanction. From this "principle of first mention", we see that it is the resurrection from the dead, that Messiah is destined to oversee. Not a "new secret rapture".

Getting Changed.

A change of clothing requires a catching up from the earth, in order for the changing to take place in the realm of the holy, as does the normal changing of ones clothes. The catching up, assures us that even the change itself, will not be on earth which is under the curse of Adam’s transgression, but in the air to assure a "clean dressing and changing room", if you will! The Greek word Strong’s #109 is aer pronounced ah-ayr, meaning a drop in temperature or a fresh, cleansed breeze. The catching away then is not to heaven, but to a clean fresh changing area, with clean set apart conditions and a drop in air temperature, for the gift of our new resurrection spirit bodies, with enhanced physical capabilities.

No human being can totally change his or her clothing sitting or lying down. In order to put on this new spiritual body, living believers must also be caught up, to stand up for their change of bodies in the air, or the clean changing area. Thus "the catching up’ or harpazo (Greek) rapturo (Latin Vulgate), is nothing more than the promise of the ages coming to pass at Yahshua’s return, which is the promised first and blessed resurrection of the saved righteous dead. Part A of the first resurrection is the raising from the dead of all believers who died in all the ages past. Part B of the same first and blessed resurrection, is the standing up or catching up of living believers, in order to be changed into their new resurrected body for the millennium. No one can totally change his or her clothes sitting down. Can they? Can you?

The error of pre-tribulation rapture dogma, is due to the failure to rightly divide these passages, as being two parts of the first pre-millennial resurrection of all the saints of all the ages, as opposed to using these two parts and formulating part B into a separate and secret third coming! The qualifier in 1Thessalonians 4:15, refers to the events of verses 16-17, as events surrounding His coming, not His secret unbiblical clandestine appearance. First Corinthians 15:42-52 wonderfully confirms these verses as referring to change not rapture.

In Luke 21:36 those who propagate the Jesuit creation of the "secret pre-tribulation rapture" have misapplied the text. The original Greek does not state "pray always that you may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass". Rather in the Greek text this verse does not teach "an escape" from the tribulation. The proper translation as found in the New American Standard version as well as the New International Version, are the words strength (NASV) or able (NIV) to escape. Why would we need to pray for strength, ability and alertness in Luke 21:36, if we are not here in that period?

In Rev. 3:10 Yahweh promises to keep us from the hour of temptation, coming to try and test all the earth’s dwellers. Those who propagate anti-Semitic rapture doctrines insist that the word keep means to translate believers to heaven, in a secret rapture. Yet the text does not bear this out! The word for keep in Rev. 3:10 is the Greek word tereo, which carries the meaning: to watch over, preserve, keep through, or keep and protect away from [danger]. The basic primary meaning is to protect. Yahweh has always promised to protect His people in tribulation, not remove them from it. Elijah’s ascension to heaven is not a valid proof of the secret Jesuit rapture theory, because Elijah’s entire life was one of fighting, surviving, and overcoming worldly tribulation. His ascension was a reward for service but not a removal from tribulation. If anyone knew the preserving, strengthening and keeping power of Yahweh in the midst of tribulation, it was the prophet Elijah!

Regarding using Noah as a "type of the pre-tribulation rapture", there is not a single Scripture to even remotely suggest that Noah was removed from the earth or from tribulation. If there is a parallel to end time events regarding Noah, it is that the end times will be like the days of Noah, where the unrighteous perished, all the while the righteous were protected and preserved by the watchful eyes of Yahweh Almighty!

Pre-tribulation rapture teachings insist that Matthew 24:41-42, support their position. The "one taken" is supposedly the believer in the secret third coming rapture. Can this understanding of these texts be supported from Scripture? Absolutely not! All one needs to do is jump up to verse 39, where Yahshua makes reference to Noah’s days. In Noah’s days, those who were not on the ark, (or the unrighteous), were taken away. No one would claim that those taken away by global flood circa 2500 BCE were raptured to heaven! Would they? In context then, the term taken away, in verses 40 and 41 of Matthew both refer to the unrighteous or the unbelieving, being taken away to judgment, in the days surrounding the Master Yahshua’s return to earth! Luke 17:37, nails this down. The ones taken, become fodder for birds (demons) of prey! Doesn’t sound like heaven, does it?

Further confirmation that the "taken away" references mean to judgment and not to heaven, is substantiated by Messiah Yahshua Himself, as found in His parable of the sower and the field in Matthew 13. Matthew 13:49 teaches us that the separating of the righteous saved from the unrighteous lost, will take place not in the middle or towards the end of this age, but at the very end of this age itself! According to Scripture, both the wheat and tares will grow together until this age is consummated at Yahshua’s second coming. If the doctrine of a "separate third advent in a secret rapture" bus were correct, then the separation of the wheat from the tares would by definition have to take place earlier on before the end of this current age. That is not what Yahshua the Messiah taught, and neither should we! This separating of wheat from chaff or saved from lost, will be done by the angels, not by the secret rapture in a church bus. According to Yahshua, the tares are gathered first. Then the wheat. The pre-tribulation rapture theory teaches that the wheat is gathered first and only later does the chaff get gathered. Even sequentially, the "third coming secret rapture thesis" stands in gross error!

Like A Thief In The Night

The so-called "secret third coming rapture" depends largely on the usage of passages that refer to Messiah Yahshua’s coming to the earth "as a thief in the night". This underlying "thief in the night" explanation goes something like this: Since the second coming will be like lightning that shines from east to west, and since every eye shall see Him these "thief in the night" verses must refer to a separate event, where believers will not see Him, thus the necessity of a secret "thief in the night" rapture scenario. The "thief in the night" verses used to justify this secret third coming rapture are: 1 Thessalonians 5:2-10, Matthew 24:42-51, 2 Peter 3:10, Rev. 3:3 & Rev. 16:15. In order to properly comprehend all of the "thief in the night" references, we must stay with the Master Yahshua’s own Words in Matthew 24:42-44.

Yahshua the Messiah is teaching that He is the thief (in parables), and that He will come at an unexpected time! He is not said to be coming in the night, so that it may be easier (in darkness) for Him to steal away the assembly. That is not what these Scriptures teach!

Just the opposite holds true. His coming will take the assembly of Renewed Covenant Israel, (on earth) by almost total surprise. He does not have to steal away the assembly since He paid for it and rightfully owns it! One can only steal away, something or someone that does not rightfully belong to the thief. That’s what makes a thief a thief!

The illegality of the stolen possession! Surely no one would argue that Messiah Yahshua does not own the ekklesia of Yahshua. It is interesting that a sleeping assembly that is not aware of rapidly unfolding eschatological events, is said to be a sleeping assembly, which in Scripture is referred to as apostasy (2 Thess. 2:3). From Matthew 24:42 to Matthew 25:13 the Master Yahshua begins and ends His teaching on the second coming, with the declaration of the unfortunate fact, that when His coming is delayed (2000 years already), that the lethargic assembly of Renewed Covenant Israel will be so fully doctrinally leavened, (through the likes of popery) that most believers will be found sleeping. In the parable of the ten virgins, we can safely see that about half of the assembly of Renewed Covenant Israel, will be taken by surprise at His coming. The thief in the night passages, emphasize the element of surprise upon a lethargic, apostate and leavened sleeping assembly. It does not mean that Yahshua is going to privately steal away a property that is already His! The five foolish virgins of Matthew 25:1-13 had fallen into a sleep of apostasy, because they had wrongly trusted that Messiah Yahshua would return much sooner than He actually will! These passages warn all believers, that most of the assembly of Renewed Covenant Israel, will wrongly expect the Messiah to come much sooner than He will in fact come. When the believers who have been taught a "secret imminent pre-tribulation rapture", do not see that event, they will lose heart, even with the oil of the Ruach at their disposal, as they fall into apostate sleep. Yahshua’s coming is said to rudely awaken most out of that apostate sleep, due to a loss of faith in His arrival.

Rev 3:3 portrays the same principle. Namely that if the believers at Sardis, do not stay alert over a long period of time, Messiah Yahshua will come and find them sleeping too.

Rev. 16:15 bears this out as well! Our Master Yahshua, will arrive as "a thief in the night", not to steal the assembly away, but to surprise them out of apostate sleep. In 2nd Peter 3:10 the Day of Yahweh is said to "come as a thief". The Day of Yahweh here is referring to the 1000-year millennial Kingdom of Messiah on the earth. The millennium commences at His second coming and ends with the renewal of the earth by destructive fire! In 2 Peter 3:10, the term "thief in the night" refers to Messiah’s second coming at the end of the 70th week of Daniel, which then begins the millennial period. After the millennial, the heavens and earth will be renewed with a roar and with intense heat. So we clearly see that this "thief in the night" is not a "secret rapture" at all, since His coming will cause the heavens to roar.

Not very secret is it?

The most frequently quoted "thief in the night" secret rapture text is found in 1st Thessalonians 5:2. This text actually warns Renewed Covenant Israel to be leery of any doctrine or teaching that would mislead them into awaiting a "third coming by night in a secret appearance". In 1 Thessalonians 5:1 Rav Shaul states that the assembly he planted, should understand the approximate series of events that lead up to the Master’s coming. He is confident that they understand these basic concepts. The Thessalonians unlike other sleeping apostate assemblies, were actively on guard and watchful for Messiah’s second advent! Therefore Rav Shaul commends their alertness in 1Thessalonians 5:1. However Rav Shaul talks about other less watchful believers in verse 2, destined to be caught off guard by the day and timing of Messiah’s return. It will come as "a thief in the night", only to those who according to verse 3, are found swept away, by a false doctrine of peace and safety, that falsely guarantees them a pre-tribulation rapture escape, "one-way" bus ticket to heaven. In 1 Thessalonians 5:3, Rav Shaul sternly warns that there is a false doctrine of peace and safety or "Great Tribulation Escape" being propagated, that is guaranteed to bring those looking for escape from the Great Tribulation into destruction. He contrasts this destructive teaching and understanding, with that of the watchful and alert Thessalonians, who are willing to endure much pain while they "watch and wait". The contrast is between the correct "watch and wait" biblical attitude, and the "lets party and escape" attitude. One brings life and character building, the other destruction. One finds Messiah Yahshua welcomed as a long expected friend returning from a long journey, the other sees His return as a troublesome infringing event, as Yahshua returns unexpectedly "as a thief in the night", to catch them in their religiously altered state of sleepy escape-ism. As we can see, not much has changed! The false teaching of easy escape had permeated the early assemblies.

Those who had fallen into that error expected Yahshua’s return "as a thief in the night". Those willing to faithfully and patiently watch, remember, endure and wait, over a long period of time culminating in the Great Tribulation, would be alert and ushered into the Kingdom in glorious fashion.

First Thessalonians 5:4 brings this truth to a remarkable light! The believers who were learning how not to be shaken (2 Thessalonians 2:1-2) by the "escape teachings" fueled by the overwhelming human desire for "peace and safety", are said to be brothers who do not dwell in the darkness regarding their Master’s return. Rather they are said to dwell "in the light" regarding His return and as such Messiah Yahshua’s coming would NOT OVERTAKE THEM AS A THIEF IN THE NIGHT, since according to verses 5 & 6, they are in the light, not drunk with the deception of a secret escape doctrine of an imminent "red eye" flight to peace and safety. As they watch, remember, wait and are faithful through sobriety by willfully rejecting the "peace and safety" doctrine, Yahweh promised to deliver them regardless of the Great Tribulation (1Thessalonians 5:9). We are not going to escape, we are going to experience deliverance and Yahweh’s loving protection on the earth, as did Noah in his days. Those who endure to the end of the Great Tribulation (Matthew 24:13) will be delivered! For the days of the coming (not comings) of the Son of Man, is likened to the days of Noah! Let Yahweh be wholly true, as men everywhere are shown to be liars!

Identical Events!

Matthew 24:30 confirms the post tribulation pre-millennial return of Messiah, with Messiah’s own Words. The gathering of His elect or chosen ones (Matt. 24:31) is said to happen after the Great Tribulation. 1st Thessalonians 4:13-17 as previously shown and 1 Corinthians 15:50-55 both speak of the same event. That single event is the visible post Great Tribulation return of our Messiah Yahshua, as He resurrects the righteous and changes the living righteous, as both are clothed in spiritual immortality! Those so clothed, then enter the millennial Kingdom to rule and reign over the earth as Yahshua becomes King, and His Name becomes known as Master over all the earth. Since the two texts mentioned above (1 Thessalonians 4:13-17 and 1 Corinthians 15:50-55) are seen to be second coming verses, we further can see this by realizing that in 1st Corinthians 15:54B and 55, Rav Shaul quotes traditional Hebraic verses regarding both the coming of Messiah to raise the righteous through resurrection, as well as the concept of the Kingdom being established on the earth. First Corinthians 15:54B quotes Isaiah 25:8, and 1st Corinthians 15:55 quotes Hosea 13:14. Both verses speak of resurrection immortality, as righteous men are prepared to enter Kingdom rule. The resurrection was what Rav Shaul was referring to. These most scared "so called church rapture texts", are nothing more than traditional 2700-year-old Hebraic resurrection texts, directly affirmed as such, by Rav Shaul himself. The mystery or secret about the first pre-millennial blessed physical resurrection that Rav Shaul reveals in 1st Corinthians 15:51, is that living believers (when Yahshua returns), will be changed into resurrection immortality without having to die. This is the great mystery and escape from death (not Great Tribulation) that will be gifted to living saints at the very time the Master Yahshua returns.

The resurrection was not a mystery! Rather part B of the first blessed and pre-millennial physical resurrection, was not known in previous ages, though part A was always known, which is why Rav Shaul quotes resurrection verses in Hosea and Isaiah. What the "peace and safety" escapists have done is, misunderstand the mystery Rav Shaul was revealing, falsely viewing part B of the first resurrection, as a totally separate pre-tribulation "church event", from the physical resurrection at the end of this age. The entire rapture doctrine lies in the blindness to Rav Shaul’s unveiled mystery. That mystery being that the blessed first pre-millennial resurrection of the saved, has 2 parts or stages, not just one. The so-called "rapture" is simply part B of the first blessed resurrection, at His second coming.

His first coming included a series of separate and unique events, ranging from the annunciation to the Garden Tomb and His ascension. Yet, we do not refer to all those events as 15 or 17 separate comings. We correctly and collectively refer to the series of events associated with Messiah’s first coming, as the first (single) coming of Messiah. So it is also in the second coming. The so-called "rapture" is simply the mysterious changing of living believers from mortality to immortality, without experiencing death. That aspect of the resurrection was unknown to the ancient rabbis! How simple and yet profound! It is from the misappropriation of these resurrection texts, that the so-called "church" world has developed three advents (rather than the two of Scripture, with the second-advent containing a series of sub-events, as did His first advent!).

Identical Proof Texts

Upon close and honest examination, the four most popular texts used to support a private "thief in the night third coming rapture", are the identical four, used to support the second coming unto physical resurrection, after the Great Tribulation. Both views believe that Messiah will come supernaturally in the sky (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). Both views believe that His appearing will entail a supernatural gathering to Him when He comes (1st Thessalonians 4:17 & 2 Thessalonians 2:1). Both views believe that He will come at the last trump (1 Thessalonians 4:16, 1st Cor.15:52). Both views believe that His coming entails a resurrection of the just (Rev. 20:4-6 & 1st Thessalonians 4:16) as well as a second (post millennial) resurrection of the unjust and lost!

Since both views use the same four basic proof texts, the question begs to be asked. Why are these Scriptures describing a single set of events at His second coming, used to teach two entirely separate and different events and hence three comings? The events in these texts are identical! Chronologically one cannot support these texts describing 2 separate and different events (rapture plus resurrection), since that would leave 2 resurrections of the just! One taking place at the so-called "secret pre-tribulation rapture" in 1st Thessalonians 4:16, and the second taking place before the Kingdom Age (Atid Lavoh) in Rev. 20: 4-5. You cannot have 2 first resurrections! Once you allow for a first resurrection of the just at the "so called rapture", then what takes place in the pre-millennial resurrection of Rev 20:4-5, can hardly be called the first resurrection. The texts quoted by both sides are identical because the truth of the matter is that there is only one coming causing the first resurrection of the just, not two-second comings and two resurrections of the just. Scripture absolutely does not teach that and neither should you!

The Final Enemy

There are other clear texts that clearly elaborate upon a key biblical principle. That principle is that the Messiah Yahshua will not return until all His enemies are made His footstool. Messiah must remain at the right hand of the Father Yahweh, until all His enemies are subjected to Him. There must not be any enemies left to vanquish upon His return, other than those unwise men invading Jerusalem (Zechariah 14:1-4)! Acts 3:20-21 confirms the Messiah will remain in the third heaven, until all things are restored on the earth.

No logical person would claim that the Great Tribulation also known as Daniel’s 70th week is a time where Messiah Yahshua is free to return, based on the absence of any hateful enemies. That is simply a premise that is totally false. In Matthew 24:12 Yahshua Himself predicts an increase in hate and lawlessness, (Torah breaking) during Daniel’s 70 week, rather than a time of the elimination of all Messiah Yahshua’s enemies! The Master Yahshua will indeed have many enemies and opponents both before and during the Great Tribulation, including but not limited to the anti-Messiah, the false prophet and the Dragon, S.A.Tan himself! Not to mention S.A.Tan’s legions of humanity’s disciples, who in many cases unknowingly do his bidding. His enemies are said to abound throughout the 70th week of Daniel.

In 2nd Thessalonians 2:1-5, we get a clear message from Yahweh, that believers today are suffering from the same exact anxiety as the early Ephraimites in Thessalonica. That being that they were being taught that, they had missed the second coming (the gathering up together of the righteous) and had been LEFT BEHIND! They were taught that they had missed the "secret so-called rapture"! Rav Shaul’s entire admonition, centers on damage control, to minister comfort to those Ephraimites, poisoned by the fear of having missed the "secret rapture"! Nothing seems to have changed! 2Thessalonians 2:2 sees Rav Shaul calmly reassuring them, that the Day of Master's return had not come secretly or privately or caught them unaware, since that Day (His return) cannot come until Messiah Yahshua’s last enemy is conquered. The Great Tribulation is a time when His enemies manifest the most intense hatred for the Messiah that this world has ever known. Therefore one should not be easily deceived about a pre, mid, partial, or pre-wrath rapture. 2 Thessalonians 2:3 cautions against the deception of "private secret rapture theories", by reaffirming that 1) that day had not come and 2) cannot come until the anti-Messiah is revealed (verse 3-4) sitting in the rebuilt Temple as Yahweh and then is destroyed by Yahshua’s energy and power (2 Thessalonians 2:8). It is Messiah Yahshua’s second coming that declares the end of all of His enemies.

Unfortunately just like in Rav Shaul’s day (2 Thessalonians 2:2), there are many letters, (newsletters and prophetic journals, like the Left Behind Series, stirring the soul with false hope) words, (internet, faxes, TV, radio preaching) spirit declaration, (demonic deception), and idle talk, (troubled minds) that proliferate this poison upon Yahshua’s bride. This cyanide has taken such deep root, that when one finally matures enough in the faith to discount "the secret rapture theory" directly from Scripture; they are then considered a heretic! It is far better to be Yahshua’s faithful heretic, than man’s folly! The corresponding resurrection passages in 1 Corinthians 15:24 & 28 confirm that Messiah’s millennial Kingdom will not and cannot commence until all rule and authority (godly and ungodly authority) has been placed under His feet or under His power (verses 24-25)! When this total subjection to Yahweh’s Son takes place (after the Great Tribulation) then the Son will subject Himself afresh to the Heavenly Father (verse 27), so that millennial Kingdom glory may commence (verse 28). It is most interesting that human death is also considered to be the Master Yahshua’s enemy as well. According to 1 Corinthians 15:26, death, the FINAL ENEMY, will only be vanquished before the millennium at the second coming of Messiah Yahshua to resurrect the righteous dead in the first and blessed resurrection. It is the first and blessed resurrection because, it is through this display of divine majesty and glory, that human death is subjugated and vanquished. The very fact that multitudes and thousands upon thousands die throughout the Great Tribulation, (many saints; Matthew 24:21-22, Rev. 6:9-11) confirms that Yahshua’s greatest enemy, death, has not been vanquished! Hence neither has His coming taken place. His coming is the solution and the final blow to human death! The human death experience ends only when men no longer die. That cannot be said of any person in human history, especially and including the Great Tribulation!

The Restrainer

Focusing in further on 2 Thessalonians 2:7-8. These texts are continually paraded to show forth a separate and distinct "secret rapture", that will take place separately and before death’s ultimate vanquishing at Yahshua’s post-tribulation return. The claim is made that the "he" in verse 7 that is "taken out of the way", is the Ruach HaKodesh (The Restrainer) or Holy Spirit indwelling the body of Messiah here on earth. The argument goes that since the Ruach is resident within the body of Messiah and since the Spirit goes, the body of Yahshua must also go in the "secret third coming rapture" to be stolen or "taken away". This theory was first invented by a 15 year old bible student and has been propagated as truth ever since. However it is not any kind of truth at all. Rather it is a lie.

Scripture does not teach that the so-called "church" has ever restrained anyone or anything. The history of the so-called "church system", confirms its inability to noticeably restrain lawlessness anywhere, especially since it’s practices are among the most lawless in all of religion. If the so-called "church system" had any restraining power or ability, it would have long ago been manifested in areas like ancient Rome, the USA, China, India, parts of Africa and the now defunct former USSR, which she has failed to "convert"! Rather the so-called "church" has become powerless to positively affect changes (spiritual and physical) in the communities and societies where they are, being continually overcome by society, as opposed to overcoming and affecting society. If the "he" spoken of in verse 7 is not the Ruach HaKodesh in the ekklesia, then who is it? Daniel 12:1-2 thankfully provides the simple, plain and logical Hebraic answer from Scripture.

Daniel 12:1 states that the archangel Michael (Israel’s warrior and battling angel; Jude verse 9) will stand up at "that time". "That time" is a Hebraic idiom, similar to the idiom "in that Day". At "that time" or the time of the end of this age (olam hazeh), Michael who constantly and historically has fought many of Israel’s major battles, is all of a sudden seen "standing"! The Hebrew word in Daniel 12:1 is la-amod, which literally means: to stand still or to desist from any activity. Apparently "at that time" the end of this age, Yahweh commands Michael, Israel’s combat angel, to stop his protective angelic care over national Israel. This "head covering" over the sons of Israel, is "taken out of the way" of the anti-Messiah and his lawless endeavors, by not being allowed by the Father to continue to "stand over" and protect Israel. Since we know that Rav Shaul writes to Renewed Covenant Israel in 2 Thessalonians, Michael’s supernatural care to Renewed Covenant Israel is present as it was in the days of First Covenant Israel, until he (Michael) is removed from the equation by "standing still"! According to 2nd Thessalonians the "he" that is taken away, will allow the forces of darkness to reign and have free hand on the earth against Yahweh’s beloved people of Renewed Covenant Israel!

Looking closer at Daniel 12:1, when Michael is ordered to cease and desist by Yahweh from his protective caring role, then and only then is the seven year Great Tribulation set to begin. The seven-year Great Tribulation against mankind and specifically against both believing houses of Israel cannot even commence, until Michael the archangel (the true historical restrainer) is "taken out of the way". His removal is S.A.Tan’s signal to commence the final solution to both the "Jewish Question" (Judah) and the "Christian Extreme Right" (Ephraim). This understanding of Scripture is the plain and simple (pashat) rendering of Daniel: 12 1-2 along with 2 Thessalonians 2:6-7 and needs no plea to any secondary spiritualization of the texts, through remez (opinion insertion) or drash (extra-commentary)! The people of Israel (Daniel 12:1) (only those written in the Lamb's Book of Life) are delivered by Yahweh Himself, (not Michael) at the end of the Great Tribulation. This of course refers to Yahweh’s return to earth in the person of His beloved Son Yahshua, to end the Great Seven-Year Tribulation and to deliver Daniel’s people, the same people, that Rav Shaul addresses in Thessalonica! Everyone found written in Yahweh’s Book of Life, which is said to be in the hands of Yahshua (Rev. 5 & Rev. 20:15), is delivered. Daniel 12:2 makes it clear, that at the end time deliverance of Israel (Renewed Covenant Israel), a general resurrection will take place in two stages (Rev. 20:5-6). The first blessed resurrection of the righteous saved and faithful followed by a post millennium second resurrection of the unjust and unbelieving. From Daniel 12:2 we see that the deliverance Yahweh has in mind is the final vanquishing of death (1st Corinthians 15:51-55) through a two-stage resurrection, with those in the first resurrection guaranteed eternal bliss! Messiah Yahshua’s coming is unto deliverance from death and the lake of fire and sulfur and not as is commonly taught, a one way yellow submarine ride, to the bye and bye! There is no "secret third coming rapture" spoken of in any of these texts! Yahweh is said to, operate in the light and in the open. He is not ashamed of His righteous ways, and His righteous judgments (John 8:12, John1: 4-5). He does not need the cloak of secrecy or a pen name, to proclaim His truth.

Absent From Revelation?

"The private third coming secret rapture", rests largely on an argument based on an allegoric interpretation of Revelation 4:1. In this "church" sponsored allegory, Yochanan becomes a "type" of the so-called "church", and since Yahweh invites John to heaven in order to glimpse into the prophetic future, hence the so-called "church" is caught up in rapture. This initial falsehood was put forth by John Darby of "The Brethren", and later expounded upon by Schofield. Schofield considered John's summoning to heaven in a vision to be the last mention of the raptured assembly in the book of Revelation. He pointed out that the so-called "church" was not mentioned again in the book of Revelation after chapter 4. That went the logic, is due to a pre-tribulation, imminent and "secret third coming rapture"! First and foremost a doctrine cannot be established without a primary literal rendering of a text confirmed by two or three other literal texts. Schofield and Darby are on shaky ground when they have attempted to build an entire doctrine creating false hope, upon allegory and metaphor. This is the same error that causes Messianic Judaism to reject Israel’s glorious two-house restoration. They simply build on a faulty foundation of allegory. Allegory can only be used to confirm a matter, but never to firmly establish one. The absence of the word "church" ekklesia, after Rev 4, is not because some secret third coming took place. No, not at all! The ekklesia is never mentioned again after chapter 4, because Yahweh’s focus turns from the seven assemblies of Asia Minor, to future events, which He showed John in a prophetic personal vision! The subject for John’s consideration will be the end time events, rather than the current events of his own day.

The open door in heaven in Rev 4:1 is an open look into the prophetic future of His people Renewed Covenant Israel. The focus of the vision was upon coming events such as judgment, deliverance and resurrection. Why would Yahweh continue to mention the current state of His ekklesia, when the prophetic events that the ekklesia will experience, is the topic of consideration? Also the book of Revelation, was a general epistle written to all believers and not to any specific congregation in the last days. The word ekklesia is also absent from the books of Titus, Jude and Philemon. Does that mean, that those three books, all teach "a secret third coming rapture", simply because the subject is not mentioned? That is a conclusion drawn from inference and cannot be allowed in any honest consideration of the true second coming of Messiah. While the word ekklesia is not mentioned after Rev. chapter 4, the term believers and saints certainly are. These terms are all synonymous. The ekklesia is simply the sum total of its saintly parts. If most of the book of Revelation does not apply to the ekklesia on earth during the events described in it, why would the book of Revelation begin and end with references to the ekklesia on earth awaiting the Master Yahshua’s return? (Rev 1:4, 22:16,17,20,21)? The entire book is written to the ekklesia of Renewed Covenant Israel and only those willing to manipulate the texts can insert the transference of the ekklesia from earth to heaven. This conduct is a dangerous and allegorical private interpretation of Rev. 4:1..

Enoch

Another popular argument used by "secret third coming proponents", is that of Enoch. Enoch, like John in Rev. 4:1 they claim, was a "type" of the rapture. The problem here is twofold. First and foremost is the resorting once again to allegory as the foundation of a fundamentally flawed doctrine. Whether Enoch was caught up to heaven or not is not the issue! The issue is how and upon what justification from Scripture does Enoch become a "type" of the "secret rapture of the so-called church". When you flip up the tab on the top of a Coca-Cola can, is that also an "allegorical foreshadowing" of the "going up" in the "secret rapture"? Secondly there are those who teach that the translation of Enoch was not to heaven at all, but that the Word translated in Genesis 5:24, is the Word lachach, which can also mean placed, bring, moved, seized or supernaturally relocated elsewhere on earth. Scholars continue to disagree vehemently on this issue. To use this inconclusive reference to justify the "secret third coming secret rapture" is typical of those in the "pre-tribulation" rapture movement.

Matthew 24 takes place clearly within the context of the 70^th week of Daniel, the last seven years of this age. In Matthew 24:29-31, the gathering of the righteous through resurrection is said to take place immediately after The Tribulation of those days. Matthew 24:31 even uses the word gather found elsewhere in the Brit Chadasha. What did John Darby, Schofield and other dispensationalists do with these plain post tribulation resurrection passages? "Darby explained them away by stating that after the rapture of the so-called "church" [before the Great Tribulation], during the tribulation period, the Lord would deal with the Jews in a ‘special way’ [oy-vey!, where have we heard that before?] and lead them into the proclamation of the gospel of the Kingdom". Later he added this understanding to ‘the tribulation saints’, which he said referred to a "Jewish remnant" and their converts…." In order to justify this "secret third coming" for a separate man made entity, John Darby committed one of the grossest errors of biblical hermeneutics. He ascribed the subject of the word elect (chosen ones) in Matthew 24:22 to unredeemed Jewish-Israel, when every other usage of this word in the Renewed Covenant, without exception, always refers to the entire redeemed body of Messiah. The word elektos (Strongs #1588) or ekloge (Strongs #1589) in the Greek, always refers to all the born again chosen elect or elected believers in Messiah Yahshua. Yahshua even states in Matthew 24:22, that it is because the elect or the elektos are in the Great Tribulation, that His mercy towards them is such, that He will shorten or amputate the time of the Great Tribulation, for the "elects sake". If Yahweh does not move on behalf of His children during the Great Tribulation, no "[believing] flesh" would survive! Why would Yahweh shorten the days of the Great Tribulation, for those who are by nature the children of wrath (Ephesians 2:3)? In order to portray the ekklesia of Renewed Covenant Israel as raptured before the events described in Matthew 24, suddenly, with unprecedented boldness, Darby and Schofield unilaterally declared that the elect in Matthew 24 no longer refers to the ekklesia, rather they ascribed the term to unbelieving Jews. Unbelievers of any race (including Jews) cannot be called the elect or elected of Yahweh, a Father who demands faith as a requisite to pleasing Him. In order to remove the obvious references to the ekklesia, from a chapter that is clearly taking place within the time frame of the Great Tribulation, "rapturists" transfer the designation of elektos from the body of born again believers, instead ascribing it to unregenerate Judah. This practice is done nowhere else by these same men, other than in Matthew 24! Is that consistent biblical extrapolation? Not only is this an example of handling the Word with dishonesty and craftiness, but also is in fact a flagrant and unashamed manifestation of the historic anti-Semitic feelings of hate, distrust and jealousy, that many "believers" hold towards the Jewish people. The "secret third coming rapture theory" merely propagates the age-old Replacement Theology problem of the so-called "church" (the supposed New Israel) getting the blessing and the Jews (supposed Old and rejected Israel) getting the cursing (of Deut. chapters 28-32). In its bare essence, the "secret third coming manmade rapture theory" is an attempt to "give it to the Jews" who get left behind for Yahweh’s wrath, in favor of the New Israel (the so-called "church") as opposed to Renewed Covenant Israel!

The ekklesia of Renewed Covenant Israel is Ephraim, Judah along with Gerim who are grafted in by faith in Messiah. From these three groups, a righteous remnant of Renewed Covenant Israelites will be protected during the 70th week of Daniel. This elektos includes increasingly large portions of the House of Judah and thus all Israel is preserved on the earth, as the elektos, including believing Jews, until the resurrection on the last day of this age. Those who live through the Great Tribulation based upon the protective care of Yahweh are those who are changed in a moment and in the twinkling of an eye. Those who are martyred during the Great Tribulation when Michael is told to cease from his protective ministry, (when Michael is "taken out of the way") will be resurrected shortly thereafter at the end of the seven year period, at Yahshua’s return. The Darby, Schofield, dispensationalist "sock it to the Jews" mentality, is brought about by the most nefarious of all religious teachings, (held by many in Christianity and Messianic Judaism) which insists that Christians (mostly descended from Ephraim) are a separate physical entity from Jewish-Israel, as opposed to the second house of a single united entity called the Commonwealth of Israel! To separate the ekklesia of Messiah Yahshua, from the physical, historical, sociological, and spiritually recognizable people of 12 tribe Israel, in order to recast and remold them into a separate entity called "spiritual Israel", "New Israel", or the so-called "church" is the root cause of all the evils of disunity, division, jealousy and hatred that have befallen our beloved nation. The rapture error is not the source of the blessed hope (as is the 2nd coming according to Titus 2:13). Rather it is the source of much of our variance and disembodiment, one from another! Christianity would not be so quick to promote the "sock it to the Jews" doctrine originated by a 15 year old bible student that twists the elect of Matthew 24, to mean traditional Judaism, if Ephraim-Israel, (most born again non-Jews) would come to the realization that they are A LARGE PART OF PHYSICAL ISRAEL. That realization would then bring them into the reality of their destiny to partake of the same fate as Judah. With an understanding that non-Jewish believers are the other house that sprung forth from Jacob’s loins, they would see Jacob’s trouble (Jeremiah 30:7) as their own along with Jewish-Israel! They would then become a bit more cautious before ascribing the curses of Torah to Jewish-Israel, (their idea of all Israel, i.e. the Jews) all the while heisting the blessings for themselves! Many Christians would then aggressively reform the errors of the dispensationalist authors that they blindly follow! There will not be a "yellow submarine" pre-tribulation rapture bus, in order to avoid "a hard days night" in the Great Tribulation! That is sheer fantasy! No lie can live forever without being exposed sooner or later! As with Replacement Theology, we have again encountered that the roots of the "secret rapture theory" is the scourge of Separate Entity Theology! May it be come anathema in our lifetime, so that men of good will in all denominations can leave their own agendas and can get on with the business of restoring the Kingdom to Israel! The elect of Matthew 24 (elektos) speaks of Jews, Ephraimites and Gerim, all being the chosen ones (chosen nation) and all being rewarded with either change or resurrection, after the Great Tribulation because as far as Yahshua sees things "there is nor Jew; no ethnos (other non-Jewish believers); no male no female; no bond; no free (Gal. 3:29), only one body or nation of Renewed Covenant Israel (Ephesians 2:14-15) dwelling in Messiah Yahshua, as Abraham’s seed (sperm)!

There is even an attempt to compare "the rapture" with biblical Jewish weddings to somehow justify the "secret third coming rapture". The Messianic Jewish movement is full of these analogies, in their own misled attempts to justify a pre-tribulation rapture. Most would be surprised to learn that the use of Jewish wedding traditions as an allegory for the "secret third coming rapture", is not a biblical Jewish teaching at all, but a late 19th century attempt by Christian dispensationalists, to justify a doctrine that is patently absurd on every level of simple, (pashat) understanding.

The Kavatz Of Israel!

If the rapture as has been taught in "church circles", is not scriptural, then what exactly is this resurrection event after the Great Tribulation before the dawn of the millennium? In Hebrew the word for gathering is kavatz Strongs #6908.The similar Aramaic word is khataf, which literally means a gathering or regathering. The entire second coming scenario as outlined in Scripture, is not the rapture of a separate manmade entity, but a supernatural gathering together of scattered two house Israel at the end of this age, (olam hazeh) in order to enter the millennium, (atid lavoh) and eventually eternity (olam habah). Deut. 30:4 talks of Yahweh bringing Israel back together through a forceful re-gathering out of all other lands. Raschi the great Jewish commentator, states that: the gathering of Israel in the last days "means that they will be dragged through the air by the hand of Messiah to the land." The reference to the khataf or re-gathering of Israel, can be found in Matthew 24:31, Mark 13:27 and 2 Thessalonians 2:1. The gathering of the elect has always been associated with the Messiah’s end time re-gathering of all of Israel’s exiles from both scattered houses. The blowing of the shofar as mentioned in Isaiah 27:12-13, refers to Israel’s two house end time regathering and is referenced in 1st Thessalonians 4:16-17 as well as 1st Corinthians 15:50-55.The fact that the khataf (forceful gathering) includes resurrection, is a clear reference to Ezekiel 37:1-14, which speaks of Israel’s restoration to nationhood, as the two sticks become one again after physical resurrection. It is the physical resurrection spoken of in the Brit Chadasha that brings fulfillment to these ancient restoration texts (Isaiah 25:1-12)! Further proof that the so called "secret third coming rapture" is in fact the second coming of Messiah Yahshua to re-gather all Israel, is found in the term "four corners of the earth" found in Matt. 24:31 and Mark13:27, both quoting Isaiah 11:12 and Deuteronomy 30:4, clear references to Israel’s regathering. The khataf will be the regathering of national Israel (Judah and Ephraim and their companions) back to the land at the close of this current age, as the two houses fully come together (Ezekiel 37:16-28) in order to enter millennial glory, authority and power.