A Messianic Jew and the rapture
The below is by a Messianic Jew. I saw it on Marilyn Agee's Web site (P&C 546) and thought
it was interesting.
THE RAPTURE and THE 70th WEEK
by Rabbi Reuben ben Gershom Goossens
When I first came to know Y'Shua as my Lord and Saviour, I was led by the Lord,
blessed be He, not to read any books written by man, no matter how good they might have
been, but to concentrate only on God's precious Word. Having an understanding of the
Hebrew Scriptures, the Lord opened up so much from the Tenach (the Old Testament) which I
had never seen, nor known before. Now with new eyes, with scales removed, wherever I
looked, I could see My precious Saviour in the heart of the Tenach, as the Lord continued
to reveal so many gleaming gems, treasures, in His Word. From the blessed understanding
the Lord was giving me of His Word, came the teaching which I have been blessed to share
with the Body in Messiah Y’Shua throughout Australia and the world for over twenty
one years and now in this book. As a young believer in Y’Shua, when it came to
Christian Theology and thinking, let alone Christian terminology, one must realise, being
an orthodox Jew I had no knowledge of these things, thus I had no preconceived ideas,
especially in relation to things like the Rapture. "The Rapture, what is that?"
I would have asked, had anyone spoken to me of it. I had never heard of it as a Jew nor as
an early believer. It was by reading the Word how I came to understand that the faithful
in Y’Shua had to be taken before the Tribulation would commence. Where did I find
this revelation? Was it in the New Testament or from other saints? No, I first discovered
this truth in the Tenach. In fact this discovery came from the very same chapter (Daniel
9) when the Lord God, blessed be He, so clearly spoke to me and led me to my Saviour, the
Lord Y'Shua, on that wonderful and blessed evening in December 1977. Thus beloved, Daniel
chapter 9 contains one of the most powerful confirmations that the faithful in Y'Shua
(those that lived and those that remain when He comes) must be "caught up and meet
the Lord in the air" prior the 70th Week!...
It is important the faithful in the Lord, have understanding of the Rapture and the 70th
Week, for this understanding will affect the way we share the Lord Y'Shua with others,
especially to the people of Israel. Due to a lack of Scriptural understanding, a
well-known ministry based in Israel stated "There is no urgency for the Jews to come
to the Lord now, they will have their time later." Indeed the Word says, "All
Israel shall be saved" however it also states that two thirds of Israel shall be
lost, they shall die during that horrendous time of "Jacob’s Trouble."
Their error is understandable, for that same organisation also claims that "the Time
of Jacob’s Trouble has already occurred." This is a hideous lie of Satan! The
truth is, we need to share Y'Shua with Jew and Gentile, that they may be saved and will
not have to endure the time of "God's Wrath!"...
The pre-Tribulation Rapture, I believe, harmonises the relevant passages, without strained
arguments. It does not confuse the Body with Israel or the (unsaved) Gentiles, and Lord's
dealings with them. It recognises the difference between the Chastening of the Lord and
the Wrath of God. It recognises the difference between the Age of Grace and the 70th Week.
It recognises the difference between the provision for exemption for the Bride and the
preservation of the Tribulation saints during the 70th Week. This teaching is a balanced
interpretation, which gives God the Glory...
Without doubt, we are living in urgent times, for the Lord's return for the Bride is
imminent. He gave us signs, like Israel’s restoration to the land and Jerusalem. The
Lord God spoke about these times, by using the word "Generation", back in Psalms
and in the New Testament.
"You will arise and have mercy on Zion (Jerusalem), for the time to favour her, yes,
the set time, has come (the people and the city re-united). For Your servants (The
children of Israel) take pleasure in her stones, and show favour to her dust … When
the Lord shall build up Zion He shall appear in His glory … This shall be written for
the Generation to come" Psalms 102:13-14,16&18.
This generation has witnessed Israel‘s re-establishment in 1948, and her restoration
to Zion, the city of Jerusalem in 1967, we know with assurance that "the set time has
come."...In Hebrew, the words "Generation to come" is ---- - "Le'Dor
Acharon" which literally means "the Last Generation." It is for that very
reason we, the faithful must teach the blessed truth of the Word of God, to the Churches
and to the world, Jew and Gentile, for we are living in the "last generation",
before the Lord Y’Shua comes for His Bride....
The next question is "when will this occur, before, in the middle, or at the end of
the Tribulation?" Beloved, the Scriptural fact is, we the faithful in Messiah Y'Shua
cannot enter the Tribulation, not even one day thereof. Why? The fact is, the Lord Y'Shua
promised His faithful that His faithful would not!
"Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of
trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth"
Rev 3:10.
Are there other Scriptures that will give us a sure foundation to base our faith on, for
the Rapture occurring prior the Great Tribulation? Indeed, there are many. But return with
me to the book of Daniel chapter 9 and take a close look at verse 24. We must ask
ourselves as we read it "What does God say and what can we deduct from it?
"Seventy weeks are determined for Your people and for Your Holy City, to finish the
transgression, to make an end of sins, to make reconciliation for iniquity, to bring in
everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy, and to anoint the Most
Holy."
This verse contains three significant points that should clarify the situation.
1.The 70th Week is determined upon "Your People." The Children of Israel."
2.The 70th Week is determined upon "Your Holy City." Jerusalem.
3.The 70th Week is determined in order "To finish the Transgression and to make an
End of Sins."...
In the Tenach (the Old Testament) this time, the 70th Week, is known as "the Day of
Yahvah" or "the Day of the LORD." The purpose of that Day, is Judgement of
those in error and in sin. The Day of Yahvah is divided into two parts. During the first
three and a half years, that false peacemaker, the Anti-Christ, will make a treaty with
Israel and delude the world with promises of peace and prosperity (sounds much like the
Prosperity doctrine), at the same time introducing the "mark of the beast", the
cashless society. Sadly, many will accept it without question. The second half of the
Tribulation is known as the "Time of Jacob's Trouble." This time will be used to
soften the hardened hearts of the remnant of Israel, in order that they might turn to
their Messiah and be prepared for His Kingdom. The Day of the LORD will culminate in His
Second Coming to the earth....
(Why the Faithful in Messiah Y'Shua cannot go through the Tribulation)
1. On the basis of the distinction between Israel and the Body in Messiah Y'Shua:
a.God never deals with Israel and the Body at the same time.
b.Because of the promises to Israel, yet unfulfilled, Israel must have a future. Evangelic
and missionary responsibility of Israel will be completed in the Tribulation.
c.The nation of Israel is not yet complete.
d."Daniel's 70 Weeks" not completed; Sabbatical year approach. (Exod 23:10,11 -
Lev 25:3,4 & 26:33-36 - 2 Chron 36:20,21 - Jer 25:11,12, & 29:10 & Dan 9:2,
24, 25).
2. Statement and structure of Revelation:
a.The statement "Tereo ek" (Rev 3:10), "to keep out" not
"Aireo" (to take out) used in context.
b.The Structure: the Church Age / Tribulation / Millennium / Eternity. (Rev chapters 2-3 /
7-19 / 20 / & 21:1-8).
3. The Statement of Thessalonians:
a.2 Thess 2:6,7. Removal of the restraining presence of the Holy Spirit is impossible
without removing the Faithful at the same time.
b.2 Thess 2:2. Incorrect translation in the KJV & NKJ confuses the entire passage.
"Day of Christ" should read "Day of the Lord." (False teachers came
with a forged letter supposedly from Paul, who implied that the Day of the Lord, or
Tribulation, had already come).
c.1 Thess 4:16-18. Phrase "In the Messiah (Christ)" refers to believers in the
Church Age. Verse 18 emphasises a comfort witch could not exist if the Church were to go
through the Tribulation.
4. Remnant of the Tribulation:
a.The Lord Y'Shua returns to the earth with His saints. (1 Thess chapters 3:13 & Jude
14).
b.Y'Shua at the same time delivers saints at the Second Advent. (Zech 14:1-5).
c.Y'Shua cannot come with saints and deliver saints unless there are two groups of saints.
1. The Church and 2. Tribulation saints. Obviously two groups exist and both groups of
saints are separated....
8. Activity of the Faithful in Heaven: a.Before the faithful return to the earth with the
Lord, they appear before the Judgement Seat of the Lord for evaluation of fruits in their
walk of faith - Rewards. 2 Cor 5:10, 1 Cor 3:11-15.
b.Hence, some interval is necessary (7 Years) before the Bride can be prepared.
c.The marriage of the lamb takes place in heaven (Rev 19:6-8) after which the Bride
returns to the earth with the Groom (Rev 19:14)....
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