• Loved by their father.

Gen 37:3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, . . .

Mat 3:17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

• Hated by their brothers ( Both of their brothers were the children of Israel).

Gen 37:4 And when his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him.

John 15:25 But this comes to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause.

• Sent to their brothers.

Gen 37:14 And he said to him, Go, I pray you, see whether it be well with your brethren, and well with the flocks; and bring me word again. So he sent him out of the vale of Hebron, and he came to Shechem.

John 5:37 And the Father himself, which has sent me, has borne witness of me.

• Joseph’s dreams of the future and Messiah’s prophecies of the future provoked their brothers to hate them.

Gen 37:5 And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it his brethren: and they hated him yet the more.

Mat 21:33-46 . . . And when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard his parables, they perceived that he spoke of them. But when they sought to lay hands on him, they feared the multitude, because they took him for a prophet.

• Their jealous brothers conspired to kill them.

Gen 37:18 And when they saw him afar off, even before he came near unto them, they conspired against him to slay him.

Luke 22:2 And the chief priests and scribes sought how they might kill him; . . .

• Sold for silver.

Gen 37:28 Then there passed by Midianites merchantmen; and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmaelites for twenty pieces of silver: and they brought Joseph into Egypt.

Mat 26:15 And said unto them, What will you give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver.

• Both were rejected, stripped and put into the heart of the earth (pit).

Gen 37:23-24 And it came to pass, when Joseph was come unto his brethren, that they stripped Joseph out of his coat, his coat of many colors that was on him; And they took him, and cast him into a pit: and the pit was empty, there was no water in it.

Mat 27:28 And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe.

John 19:41-42 Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new tomb, wherein was never man yet laid. There laid they Yeshua therefore because of the Jews’ preparation day; for the tomb was close at hand.

• Their brothers lied about them concerning their fate.

Gen 37:31-32 And they took Joseph’s coat, and killed a kid of the goats, and dipped the coat in the blood; And they sent the coat of many colors, and they brought it to their father; and said, This have we found: know now whether it be your son’s coat or no.

Mat 28:11-13 Now when they were going, behold, some of the watch came into the city, and showed unto the chief priests all the things that were done. And when they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave large money unto the soldiers, Saying, Say you, His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept.

• Raised up out of the earth.

Gen 37:28 Then there passed by Midianites merchantmen; and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, . . .

Mat 12:40 For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

Act 5:30 The Elohim of our fathers raised up Yeshua, whom you slew and hanged on a tree.

• Overcame the temptation to sin.

Gen 39:12 And she caught him by his garment, saying, Lie with me: and he left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out.

Heb 4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

• Both put in prison (Joseph in the king’s prison and Messiah in death’s prison, the grave).

Gen 39:20 And Joseph’s master took him, and put him into the prison, a place where the king’s prisoners were bound: and he was there in the prison.

Mat 27:59-60 And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock:…

• Suffered greatly for the sake of saving many.

Gen 45:5 Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that you sold me here: for Elohim did send me before you to preserve life.

1 Peter 3:18 For Messiah also has once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to Elohim, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:

• Exalted to the position of second most powerful ruler.

Gen 41:39-40 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Forasmuch as Elohim has showed you all this, there is none so discreet and wise as you are: You shall be over my house, and according unto your word shall all my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be greater than you.

1 Co 15:27 For he [Yahweh] has put all things under his [Messiah’s] feet. But when he says all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him.

• Everyone had to come to them for food (to Joseph for physical food and to Messiah for spiritual food).

Gen 41:57 And all countries came into Egypt to Joseph for to buy corn; because that the famine was so sore in all lands.

John 6:51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live forever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.

• The nations would come to them to be saved.

Gen 47:25 And they said, You have saved our lives: let us find grace in the sight of my master, and we will be Pharaoh’s servants.

John 3:17 For Elohim sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

• Both were estranged from their families while saving the nations.

Gen 37:28 Then there passed by Midianites merchantmen; and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmaelites for twenty pieces of silver: and they brought Joseph into Egypt.

Micah 5:3 Therefore will he give them up, until the time that she which travails has brought forth: then the remnant of his brethren shall return unto the children of Israel.

• Their brothers would bow down to them.

Gen 37:10 And he told it to his father, and to his brethren: and his father rebuked him, and said unto him, What is this dream that you have dreamed? Shall I and your mother and your brethren indeed come to bow down ourselves to you to the earth?

Gen 43:26 And when Joseph came home, they brought him the present which was in their hand into the house, and bowed themselves to him to the earth.

Php 2:9-10 Wherefore Elohim also has highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Yeshua every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;

• Their brothers could not recognize them due to their “Gentile” disguise (Joseph as an Egyptian and Messiah as the Lord of Christians) while, at the same time, they recognized their brothers.

Gen 42:8 And Joseph knew his brethren, but they knew not him.

John 8:19 Then said they unto him, Where is your Father? Yeshua answered, You neither know me, nor my Father: if you had known me, you should have known my Father also.

Consider also the Jewish rejection of the “Christian Jesus”

• Both purposely kept their identities hidden.

Gen 42:7 And Joseph saw his brethren, and he knew them, but made himself strange unto them, . . .

Mica 5:3 Therefore will he give them up, until the time that she which travails has brought forth: . . .

• Their brothers would have their eyes opened to behold their true identity.

Gen 45:4 And Joseph said unto his brethren, Come near to me, I pray you. And they came near. And he said, I am Joseph your brother, whom you sold into Egypt.

2 Co 3:14-17 But their minds were blinded: for until this day remains the same veil untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which veil is done away in Messiah. But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the veil is upon their heart. Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Master, the veil shall be taken away. Now the Master is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Master is, there is liberty.

• They would forgive their brothers and be reconciled to them.

Gen 50:17, 19-21 So shall you say unto Joseph, Forgive, I pray you now, the trespass of your brethren, and their sin; for they did unto you evil: and now, we pray you, forgive the trespass of the servants of the Elohim of your father. And Joseph wept when they spoke unto him. And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of Elohim? But as for you, you thought evil against me; but Elohim meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive. Now therefore fear you not: I will nourish you, and your little ones. And he comforted them, and spoke kindly unto them.

Luke 23:34 Then said Yeshua, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do . . .

• Both would continue to rule over their brothers.

Gen 50:18 And his brethren also went and fell down before his face; and they said, Behold, we are your servants.

Micah 5:2 But you, Bethlehem Ephratah, though you be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; . . .

The following are reasons why this doctrine is unscriptural:

1) 1844 is arrived at by counting solar years of 365.25 days, a calendar used by pagan Rome. The Hebrew calendar, a lunar calendar, consists of approximately 354 days a year. Since we are dealing with a Hebrew prophecy we must use the Hebrew calendar in our count.

2) In Daniel 8:14, the Massoretic text uses 2300 whereas the Consonantal text (from which the Septuagint was made) uses 2200. The latter text predates the former by several centuries. Also, Jerome’s commentary on Daniel is based on a third manuscript that also uses 2200.

3) The question asked in Dan.8:13 refers to the casting down of the sanctuary in verse 11. Therefore, the count should begin from that point rather than the decree to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.

4) The primary fulfillment of Dan.8:9-12 is found in 1 Mac.4 where the sanctuary was cleansed after defilement by Antiocus Epiphanes. There may be a secondary fulfillment, but it too must begin at the same time the primary fulfillment does; at the casting down of the second temple.

5) In 1844, Atonement fell on Sept.23, not Oct.22. 

6) Two instances of cleansing the temple (sanctuary) are found in 2 Chr.29:5,15,16-18 and Ezek.45:18. Both were accomplished in the first month, not the seventh month. This shows that the cleansing of the sanctuary in Daniel does not necessarily refer to the Day of Atonement service.

7) The sanctuary in Daniel needed cleansing from defilement and desolation of the “little horn.” The Day of Atonement cleansing was from the sins of Israel.

8) The High Priest of Lev.16 took the blood of Yahweh’s goat directly into the most holy place and sprinkled it upon the mercy seat. Yeshua did the same with his blood (Heb.6:19,20; 9:24; 10:12,19). Yet, this doctrine teaches that Messiah did not enter the most holy place until 1844. Yahweh’s dwelling place was in the most holy place of the earthly tabernacle (Ex.25:22). Therefore, His dwelling place in the heavenly sanctuary must be in the most holy place. That is where His throne is. If Yeshua sat down at the right hand of Yahweh and is said to remain there until all his enemies become his footstool (Heb.10:12,13), then he could not have been ministering in the holy place for over 1800 years.

9) The Septuagint uses the Greek word “ekilasetai” for “make atonement” throughout Lev.16. The root words are found in Strong’s Concordance under #’s 2433-35. Those words were not translated “atonement” in the N.T.. Instead, they were translated “make reconciliation for” and “propitiation.” An important scripture uses the word “propitiation.” It is 1 Jn.2:2, “And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.” Our sins have already been atoned for, not that they “will be” in the future.

10) E.G. White, in “The Great Controversy,” pg 552, says, “At the time appointed for the judgment – the close of the 2300 days, in 1844 – began the work of investigation and blotting out of sins.” This conflicts with Heb.1:3;10:18; 2 Cor.5:19. Our sins have been purged or blotted out already. It also conflicts with Heb.9:26 which says his sacrifice “put away” sin. The Greek word is # 115 in Strong’s meaning “cancellation” of sin.

11) The following passages show the judgment to take place at Messiah’s coming, not beginning in 1844; 1 Cor.4:4,5; 2 Tim.4:1; Mt.25:31,32. 2 Tim.4:1 says, “I charge thee therefore before [Yahweh], and the Master Yeshua Messiah, who shall judge the quick (living) and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;” Unless Yeshua returned in 1844, the righteous dead could not begin to be judged.

12) The faithful of Heb 11 have already been judged righteous (Heb.11:4,16). The Apostles were told by Yeshua that they would sit as judges of Israel in the Kingdom (Mt.19:28). Yeshua also said Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets would be in the kingdom (Lu.13:28). Based on these statements, why would these people have to undergo an investigative judgment? Paul also knew that he had a “crown of righteousness” awaiting him 2 Tim.4:7,8). He did not believe he still needed to be investigated.

13) 2 Tim.2:19 says, “Nevertheless the foundation of [Yahweh] standeth sure, having this seal, [Yahweh] knoweth them that are His.” Therefore, He does not need to investigate the books to know who will be saved. For whose sake, then, is the judgment? The Review and Herald, Oct 29, 1931 wrote, “because He is infinite; but men and angels do not know because they, both men and angels are finite. The reason for a judgment, then, is that finite beings may not only believe that God is just, but that they may know both the perfection of His justice and the depth of His mercy.” However, Mrs. White states that angels know as well as Yahweh. In Testimonies for the Church”, Vol 1, pg 544, she says, “Heavenly angels are acquainted with our words and actions, and even with the thoughts and intents of the heart.” Who is correct, the denominational literature or Mrs. White? If the latter is correct, for whose sake is the judgment?

14) John 5:24 says, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on Him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.” “Condemnation” is translated from the same Greek word that is commonly rendered “judgment.” Therefore, righteous believers shall not be judged. This does not conflict with 1 Pe.4:17 where it says, “judgment must begin at the house of [Yahweh].” That judgment pertains to believers who are backslidden into the state of those mentioned in verse 15.

15) In 1850 Mrs. White wrote; “I saw that the time for Jesus to be in the most holy place was nearly finished, and that time can last but very little longer” (Early Writings, pg 58). On the same page she writes: “The sealing time is very short and will soon be over.” On page 67 she writes: “But now time is almost finished, and what we have been years learning, they will have to learn in a few months.” A “few months” is mentioned because Messiah was expected to finish the judgment and return on Oct 22, 1851. The point is that she expected the Messiah to remain in the most holy place for only a few months more, yet, it has been about 143 years.

16) This doctrine puts the investigation first and the Atonement second. The Bible puts the Atonement first and the judgment second depending upon the attitude one assumes toward the Atonement (whether or not that person obeys the evangel).

17) In what way was the sanctuary cleansed by an investigative judgment? To say the sanctuary was cleansed once the judgment was completed makes more sense than to say it was cleansed before it even began.

18) In the pattern of the true, there was no investigation of the books prior to the atonement. All that was needed was repentance and their sins would be forgiven. Therefore, in the true fulfillment of the Day of Atonement, no investigation is necesssary. A sinner need only repent and accept the atonement provided for him.

19) Lev.16:16,17 reads, “And he shall make an atonement for the holy place, because of the uncleanness of the children of Israel, and because of their transgressions in all their sins: and so shall he do for the tabernacle of the congregation, that remaineth among them in the midst of their uncleanness. And there shall be no man in the tabernacle of the congregation when he goeth in to make an atonement in the holy place, until he come out, and have made an atonement for himself, and for his household, and for all the congregation of Israel.” These verses teach us that the High Priest would come out of the sanctuary once it was cleansed. He would then cleanse the brazen altar. In the antitype, Yeshua will return to earth once the heavenly sanctuary is cleansed. Since Dan.8:14 says the sanctuary would be cleansed at the completion of the 2300 evenings and mornings, Yeshua should have returned in 1851 if you add the seven “times” of verse 14, as Mrs. White and others expected. He didn’t return however, because once again, as in 1844, they misunderstood the fulfillment of the 2300 days.

20) Dan.7:9,10 is used by proponents of this doctrine to “signal the beginning of an investigative procedure” (Seventh-day Adventists Believe…A Biblical Exposition of 27 Fundamental Doctrines, pg 321). An examination of those verses will reveal a judgment resulting in the destruction of the beast and a removal from power of the other beasts. Nothing is said about the saints themselves being judged. In fact, verse 22 shows that it is the saints that are sitting as judges. The right to judge was given to them as 1 Cor.6:2 and Ps.149:5-9 teach. 1 Cor.4:5 gives us the time when the saints will begin judging. It is after Yeshua returns to resurrect his people at the seventh trumpet. Reading the book of Revelation in order, without mixing up the time sequence of the chapters, reveals the resurrection in chapter 12 followed by the reign of the beast in 13 and its destruction in 19.

The Tanna debe Eliyyahu [Academy of Elijah] teaches: The world is to exist six thousand years. In the first two thousand there was desolation;³⁷  two thousand years the Torah flourished;³⁸  and the next two thousand years is the Messianic era,³⁹ but through our many iniquities all these years have been lost.¹ [Brackets mine]

The footnotes read:

37. I.e., no Torah. It is a tradition that Abraham was fifty-two years old when he began to convert men to the worship of the true God; from Adam until then, two thousand years elapsed.

38. I.e., from Abraham’s fifty-second year until one hundred and seventy-two years after the destruction of the second Temple. This does not mean that the Torah should cease thereafter, but is mentioned merely to distinguish it from the next era.

39. I.e., Messiah will come within that period.

1. He should have come at the beginning of the last two thousand years; the delay is due to our sins.

This is very revealing. The Jews believed that world history would be divided roughly into three two thousand year periods. The first period was from Adam to Abraham. The second period was from Abraham to Messiah. The third (last) period would be the era or days of Messiah. In other words, the Messiah would come at the start of the fifth one thousand year period.

They also believed that a one thousand year period would follow the third (last) two thousand year period as we see below.

R. Kattina said: Six thousand years shall the world exist, and one [thousand, the seventh], it shall be desolate, as it is written, And the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day.³²  Abaye said: it will be desolate two [thousand], as it is said, After two days will he revive us: in the third day, he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight.³³

It has been taught in accordance with R. Kattina: Just as the seventh year is one year of release in seven, so is the world: one thousand years out of seven shall be fallow, as it is written, And the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day,’ and it is further said, A Psalm and song for the Sabbath day,³⁴  meaning the day that is altogether Sabbath 35 and it is also said, For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past.³⁶

33. Hosea VI, 2: the ‘two days’ meaning two thousand years. Cf. Ps. XC, 4. quoted below.

Just as our week is comprised of six work days and one rest day, so too, will man’s time on earth consist of six days of work (one day = 1,000 years) and one day of rest (the 1,000 year millennium or anti-typical Sabbath). One of the sources the Jews used to arrive at that belief was the Book of Hosea. It is believed Hosea wrote his book between 755–725 BCE. In it he prophesied about three “days” in Israel’s future which they understood as three one thousand year periods. Using the week as a type of the history of man on earth, that would mean four one thousand year days would precede the three one thousand year days of Hosea 6:2. That meant Hosea was writing in the middle of the fourth thousand year day. At the end of the fourth day, the era of Messiah would begin.

However, since the Jews were not delivered from the Romans by their expected King Messiah, they assumed he did not come when expected because of their sins (see the quote above from Tractate Sanhedrin 97a-97b).

Here is a visual to help you understand the timeline.

The Messiah did indeed come at the expected time, but because the Jews rejected him, they were blinded by Yahweh.

Stay yourselves, and wonder; cry you out, and cry: they are drunk, but not with wine; they stagger, but not with strong drink. For Yahweh has poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep, and has closed your eyes: the prophets and your rulers, the seers has He covered. And the vision of all is become unto you as the words of a book that is sealed, which men deliver to one that is learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he said, I cannot; for it is sealed: And the book is delivered to him that is not learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he said, I am not learned. Wherefore Adonai said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honor me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men: Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvelous work among this people, even a marvelous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid. (Isaiah 29:9-14)

And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear you indeed, but understand not; and see you indeed, but perceive not. Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed.  (Isaiah 6:9-10)

But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him: That the saying of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spoke, Adonai, who has believed our report? and to whom has the arm of Yahweh been revealed?Therefore they could not believe, because that Isaiah said again, He has blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them. (John 12:37-40)

What then? Israel has not obtained that which he seeks for; but the election has obtained it, and the rest were blinded(According as it is written, [Elohim] has given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day. And David said, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumbling block, and a recompense unto them: Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back always. (Romans 11:7-10)

The Apostle Paul wrote that their blindness would be temporary.

For I would not, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in. And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Zion the Deliverer, and shall turn away wickedness from Jacob: (Romans 11:25-26)

The Jews believed it was their sins (wickedness) that prevented the Messiah from coming when they expected him, but, in reality, he did come. He came to take their sins upon himself and bear their iniquity as Isaiah 53 states.

But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and Yahweh has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

Yet it pleased Yahweh to bruise him; He has put him to grief: when you shall make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of Yahweh shall prosper in his hand. He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors. (Isaiah 53:5-6; 10-12)

The generation of Jews alive at the time Messiah came were indeed a wicked and sinful generation as we read in several Brit Chadasha (New Testament) passages. Messiah himself gave the Jews of his day a scathing rebuke in Matthew 23:13-39 culminating in these words:

O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you that kill the prophets, and stone them which are sent unto you, how often would I have gathered your children together, even as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you would not! Behold, your house is left unto you desolate. (Mat 23:37-38)

Stephen rebuked the Jews of Messiah’s day for their evil deeds as well.

You stiff necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, you do always resist the Holy Spirit: as your fathers did, so do you. Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? And they have slain them which showed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom you have been now the betrayers and murderers: Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it. (Acts 7:51-53)

The greatest sin the Jews of Messiah’s day committed was the sin of unbelief in Yeshua as Messiah. Had they believed that Yeshua was the Messiah, they would have been saved and received eternal life. However, they rejected him and his teachings. Yeshua said to them:

You are from beneath; I am from above: you are of this world; I am not of this world. I said therefore unto you, that you shall die in your sins: for if you believe not that I am he, you shall die in your sins. (John 8:23-24)

Prior to the Jews final rejection of Yeshua by crying out for his death, he said the following to his disciples concerning the temple:

See you not all these things? Truly I say unto you, there shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.  (Matthew 24:2)

The Talmud makes another revealing statement as to why the temple was destroyed.

“Why was the Second Sanctuary destroyed, seeing that in its time they occupied themselves with studying Torah, obeying mitzvot and practicing charity? Because in it prevailed hatred without a cause.” (Yoma 9b)

That statement was very true as the words of Yeshua forty years earlier show.

But now have they [the Jews] both seen and hated both me and my Father. But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause. (John 15:24b-25)

The Jews did not know Yeshua said that to his disciples in a private gathering. Therefore, their quote in the Talmud was most likely taken from the Psalms.

Let not them that are mine enemies wrongfully rejoice over me: neither let them wink with the eye that hate me without a cause.  (Psalm 35:19)

They that hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of mine head: they that would destroy me, being mine enemies wrongfully, are mighty: then I restored that which I took not away. (Psalm 69:4)

They compassed me about also with words of hatred; and fought against me without a cause. (Psalm 109:3)

The Prince of Peace had come to save the world, but a particular generation of Jews fought against him with a vehement hatred that stirred Yahweh’s wrath and brought destruction upon the temple and themselves. Their hatred and wickedness also caused a blindness to fall upon all Jews until the fullness of the Gentiles come to salvation through Yeshua. Once that predetermined number of Gentiles is saved, Israel’s blindness will be lifted and they will look upon him who they pierced and mourn for him (Zechariah 12:10). They will then receive him as Yahweh’s Messiah and their own Master and Savior. So shall all Israel be saved.

Micah prophesied about the coming of Messiah, Israel’s blindness, and Israel’s salvation. My comments are in brackets.

But you, Bethlehem Ephratah, though you be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he [Messiah] come forth unto me [Yahweh] that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth [family descent] have been from of old, from everlasting. Therefore will he [Messiah] give them up [Israel via blindness and then turning to the Gentiles], until the time that she which travails has brought forth [until Zion gives birth to the resurrected saints in Messiah (Revelation 12:5)]: then the remnant of his brethren [those that are alive and remain on earth after the resurrection (Revelation 12:17)] shall return unto the children of Israel. [The remnant will preach the good news to the Jews after Yahweh lifts their blindness. They will realize their terrible error in fighting against Yeshua for roughly two thousand years and repent and receive him as Yahweh’s Messiah]. And he [Messiah] shall stand and feed in the strength of Yahweh, in the majesty of the name of Yahweh his Elohim; and they [Israel] shall abide: for now shall he be great unto the ends of the earth. (Micah 5:2-4)

It is only a matter of time before the fullness of the Gentiles is complete and Messiah Yeshua returns to the children of Israel. Their blindness will be lifted and they will bow their knees to Yahweh’s appointed Messiah. May it be so.

Genesis 12:1-3  YHWH said to Abram: ‘Get you out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make thy name great; and be thou a blessing. And I will bless them that bless you, and him that curses you will I curse; and in you shall all the families of the earth be blessed.’

He repeated those promises to Abraham’s son Isaac who was not merely a child born of Abraham, but a child promised by the Almighty Himself.

Genesis 18:10 – And He said: ‘I will certainly return unto you when the season comes round; and, lo, Sarah thy wife shall have a son.’ And Sarah heard in the tent door, which was behind him. . . . 14.  Is any thing too hard for YHWH. At the set time I will return unto you, when the season comes round, and Sarah shall have a son.’

In other words, the blessings would come upon Abraham through the promised seed (Isaac), not through Abraham’s other son, Ishmael, born of Sarah’s Egyptian handmaid (Genesis 25:12).

The promises of Genesis 12:1-3 were fulfilled in that Abraham’s descendents through Isaac did indeed become a great nation during the reigns of King David and King Solomon. Abram was blessed to have such a nation come from his loins and his name became great throughout the earth.

However, the blessing upon Abram and his descendants was not to stop in King Solomon’s day. There would come a time when “all the families of the earth” would be blessed in Abram. This promise was repeated with more clarity after Abraham offered up his son Isaac.

Genesis 22:16-18  . . . and said: ‘By Myself have I sworn, says YHWH, because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son, that in blessing I will bless you, and in multiplying I will multiply your seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the seashore; and your seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; and in your seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because you have hearkened to My voice.’

Here we see that the blessings upon all nations will come through Abraham’s “seed”. What “seed” was this referring to? A great Torah observant Pharisee, trained at the feet of Gamaliel, wrote:

“Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his seed. It does not say, “And to seeds,” referring to many, but referring to one, “And to your seed,” who is Mashiach.”

The “seed” through which “all the families” and “all the nations” of the earth would be blessed is Abraham’s descendent, Mashiach. The other descendents of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob were indeed a blessing to people within a very limited scope, but the eternal blessings Maschiach would bring to the inhabitants of planet Earth would far eclipse the temporal blessings that came through men like Moses, David, Solomon, Hezekiah, Josiah, etc.

What are some of these eternal blessings that the Maschiach will bring?

1. He will sit upon the throne of David as he rules over the Kingdom of Elohim. (Isaiah 9:7; 11:4)
2. He will bring eternal peace. (Isaiah 9:7)
3. He will destroy the wicked. (Isaiah 11:4)
4. He will be a light of the nations, open blind eyes and free the prisoners. (Isaiah 42:6-7)
5. He will judge the Earth (Isaiah 42:4)
6. He will be the salvation of YHWH to all the Earth. (Isaiah 49:6)
7. He will bring Jacob back to YHWH. (Isaiah 49:5-6)
8. He will bear the grief, sorrows, transgressions, iniquities and sins of Israel. (Isaiah 53:4-12)

When will Maschiach come?

Here is Micah 5:1-3 from the Tanakh with my commentary in bold.

Micah 5:1 – Now muster your troops, O daughter of troops; siege is laid against us; with a rod they strike the judge of Israel on the cheek.

The “judge of Israel” is Maschiach as Aben Ezra agrees. They will treat him cruelly.

Micah 5:2 -  But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days.

This verse refers to Maschiach. He is YHWH’s appointed ruler over Israel whose origin traces back to David. Just as David was born in Bethlehem, so too will Maschiach, David’s descendant.

Micah 5:3 – Therefore he shall give them up until the time when she who is in labor has given birth; then the rest of his brothers shall return to the people of Israel.

Maschiach will give Israel up (not focus his attention on them) until a “woman” gives birth. What “woman” is this?

Isaiah 66:7-10  Before she travailed, she brought forth; before her pain came, she was delivered of a man-child. Who has heard such a thing? Who has seen such things? Is a land born in one day? Is a nation brought forth at once? For as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children. Shall I bring to the birth, and not cause to bring forth? says YHWH; Shall I that cause to bring forth shut the womb? says thy Elohim. Rejoice you with Jerusalem, and be glad with her, all you that love her; rejoice for joy with her, all you that mourn for her;

The “woman” is Zion/Jerusalem. In verse 7, she gave birth to a son BEFORE she had labor pains. That son was Mashiach! He was the first born son of Zion before she began to experience incredible tribulation as recorded by Josephus in his horrific historical account of the fall of Jerusalem in 70 C.E. (Antiquities of the Jews) and through the ordeal of the holocaust.

Notice verses 8-9; Zion was to give birth to more children AFTER her labor pains. The birth of Zion’s children is approaching in our day as her labor pains reach their peak as prophesied by Zechariah 14:1-2.

Behold, a day of YHWH comes, when your spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee. For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, but the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city.

At that time, Maschiach will return and stand upon the Mount of Olives as YHWH’s shaliach or emissary.

Getting back to Micah 5:3; “then the rest of his brothers shall return to the people of Israel.” Aren’t the children of Israel Maschiach’s brethren? Who, then, are the “rest of his brothers”? They are those who received him when he first came shortly before Zion/Jerusalem began to experience labor pains in 70 C.E. When Maschiach first came, most did not receive him as Maschiach. They thought he was an imposter and had him put to death. However, death could not hold him. His Elohim (YHWH) raised him from the dead and seated him on His right hand until his enemies be made his footstool (Psalm 110:1).

Psalm 110:1  A Psalm of David. HASHEM said unto my lord: ‘Sit you at My right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.’

Do not be misled by the Tanakh translation where it begins with, “Regarding David, A Psalm”. In all other Psalms where the Tanakh reads, “by David” such as Psalms 108 & 109, it is the same Hebrew word, “לדוד”.  Psalm 110:1 are the words of YHWH to His Maschiach, David’s Master. They are not the words of some unknown author writing about David.

Here is the Jewish Publication Society’s translation of Psalm 110:1;

A Psalm of David. The LORD saith unto my lord: ‘Sit thou at My right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.’

Who is this Maschiach?

It is none other than Yeshua of Nazareth who was born in Bethlehem, killed at the request of unbelieving Jews of Jerusalem, and resurrected from the dead by his Elohim, (YHWH). Do not be misled into rejecting Yeshua as Maschiach because Christians erroneously teach he is “GOD”.  Micah 5:3 shows us that YHWH is his “Elohim”. Yeshua cannot be his own Elohim, therefore, he is under subjection to YHWH who is the one true Elohim.

During the time of Maschiach’s giving up Israel, YHWH has blinded you to the truth that Yeshua is Maschiach.

Isaiah 29:10-19 -  For YHWH has poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep, and has closed your eyes; the prophets, and your heads, the seers, has He covered. And the vision of all this is become unto you as the words of a writing that is sealed, which men deliver to one that is learned, saying: ‘Read this, I pray thee’; and he says: ‘I cannot, for it is sealed’; and the writing is delivered to him that is not learned, saying: ‘Read this, I pray thee’; and he says: ‘I am not learned.’

And YHWH said: Forasmuch as this people draw near, and with their mouth and with their lips do honor Me, but have removed their heart far from Me, and their fear of Me is a commandment of men learned by rote; Therefore, behold, I will again do a marvelous work among this people, even a marvelous work and a wonder; and the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the prudence of their prudent men shall be hid. Woe unto them that seek deep to hide their counsel from YHWH, and their works are in the dark, and they say: ‘Who sees us? and who knows us?’

O your perversity! Shall the potter be esteemed as clay; that the thing made should say of him that made it: ‘He made me not’; or the thing framed say of him that framed it: ‘He has no understanding?’ Is it not yet a very little while, and Lebanon shall be turned into a fruitful field, and the fruitful field shall be esteemed as a forest? And in that day shall the deaf hear the words of a book, and the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity and out of darkness. The humble also shall increase their joy in YHWH, and the neediest among men shall exult in the Holy One of Israel.

The time is coming soon when YHWH will lift the blindness from the children of Israel and Maschiach’s brothers (his disciples) will come to tell you of him. Be ready to receive their words of truth.

Isaiah 59:20  And the Redeemer shall come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob, says YHWH.

Lift up your heads, Oh Israel, your Maschiach (Yeshua)  lives and will return for you!

HalleluYah!

But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with [Yahweh] as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

[Yahweh] is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

But the day of [Yahweh] will come as a thief in the night; in which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in all holy conversation and piety, looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of [Elohim], wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?

Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwells righteousness.  2 Peter 3:7-13 

This passage has traditionally been interpreted literally. Many believe Yahweh will destroy the heavens and the earth with literal fire and replace them with new heavens and a brand new planet earth. It is quite easy to interpret the passage in this manner, but is that what Yahweh intends to do or should this passage be understood in a figurative sense? We know that many prophecies throughout the Bible cannot be understood literally, especially those in Daniel and Revelation where they speak of assorted beasts rising up, strange locust-like creatures and even stranger horse-like creatures. The question is, is 2 Peter 3:7-13 one of those figurative prophecies?

Let’s begin our study by seeing what Scripture says about planet Earth and the various heavenly bodies.

Earth

And He built His sanctuary like high palaces, like the earth which He has established for ever. Psalm 78:69 

Yahweh reigns, He is clothed with majesty; Yahweh is clothed with strength, wherewith He has girded Himself: the world [the earth; by extension, the globe] also is established, that it cannot be moved. Psalm 93:1 

Say among the heathen that Yahweh reigns: the world also shall be established that it shall not be moved: He shall judge the people righteously.  Psalm 96:10 

 Who laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be removed for ever. Psalm 104:5 

 One generation passes away, and another generation comes: but the earth abides for ever.  Ecclesiastes 1:4 

These verses certainly teach about the everlasting existence of planet earth.

Heavens (including the sun, moon and stars)

Below are several passages that state directly or by implication the everlasting existence of the sun, moon and stars.

They shall fear you as long as the sun and moon endure, throughout all generations. He shall come down like rain upon the mown grass: as showers that water the earth.

In his days shall the righteous flourish; and abundance of peace so long as the moon endures.

His name shall endure for ever: His name shall be continued as long as the sun: and men shall be blessed in Him: all nations shall call Him blessed. Psalm 72:5-7, 17 

Once have I sworn by my holiness that I will not lie unto David.

His seed shall endure for ever, and his throne as the sun before me.

It shall be established for ever as the moon, and as a faithful witness in heaven. Psalm 89:35-37

Thus says Yahweh, which gives the sun for a light by day, and the ordinances of the moon and of the stars for a light by night, which divides the sea when the waves thereof roar; Yahweh of hosts is His name:

If those ordinances depart from before me, says Yahweh, then the seed of Israel also shall cease from being a nation before me for ever. Jeremiah 31:35 

How do the Scriptures stating the earth and the heavenly bodies will continue forever harmonize with Peter’s statement that, “the heavens shall pass away with a great noise”, “the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved”, and “the earth . . . shall be burned up”?

The heavens and the earth

The “heavens and the earth” certainly exist literally, having been created by Yahweh. However, the literal heavens and earth will continue forever. Is it possible there is another “heavens” and another “earth” that will pass away which has not been established forever and which can be moved and destroyed? I believe there is and will attempt to lay that out for you.

When will the heavens pass away? The following passage suggests it will occur at the opening of the sixth seal of Revelation.

And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood;

And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casts her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.

And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. Revelation 6:12-14 

However, in Rev 8:12 we see a third part of the sun, moon and stars smitten after the opening of the seventh seal.

And the fourth angel sounded, and the third part of the sun was smitten, and the third part of the moon, and the third part of the stars; so as the third part of them was darkened, and the day shone not for a third part of it, and the night likewise.

That tells us that either the sun, moon and stars are not included among the “heaven” that departed as a scroll or that the “heaven” that departed was not the literal heaven (sky, outer space, Yahweh’s dwelling place).

In the following verse, we see “the heavens” put for “the most High” Yahweh in that He rules over the men on it.

That they shall drive you from men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make you to eat grass as oxen, and they shall wet you with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over you, till you know that the most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomsoever He will.

And whereas they commanded to leave the stump of the tree roots; your kingdom shall be sure unto you, after that you shall have known that the heavens do rule. Daniel 4:25 

When Yahweh gives the rule over men to someone else, they figuratively become the “heavens” to the men that are ruled over. The men that are ruled over figuratively become “the earth”.

Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, saying, I will shake the heavens and the earth;

And I will overthrow the throne of kingdoms, and I will destroy the strength of the kingdoms of the heathen; and I will overthrow the chariots, and those that ride in them; and the horses and their riders shall come down, every one by the sword of his brother. Haggai 2:21-22 

In this passage, to “shake the heavens and the earth” is to “overthrow the thrones of kingdoms” (the rulers – heavens) and to “overthrow the chariots, and those that ride them” (those ruled over – the earth).

How has Adonai covered the daughter of Zion with a cloud in his anger, and cast down from heaven unto the earth the beauty of Israel, and remembered not his footstool in the day of his anger! Lamentations 2:1

Israel was the glory of all nations. They were in “heaven” while they were obeying Yahweh and walking according to His covenant. After breaking His covenant through idolatry and a myriad of other sins, Yahweh cast them down from heaven in His anger.

See that you refuse not him that speaks. For if they escaped not who refused him that spoke on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaks from heaven:

Whose voice then shook the earth: but now He hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven.

And this word, Yet once more, signifies the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.

Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve [Elohim] acceptably with reverence and pious fear:

For our [Elohim] is a consuming fire. Hebrews 12:25-29 

The purpose of the shaking is to remove those things that can be moved so the things that cannot be moved will remain. Anything that is built upon the foundation of Yeshua the Messiah will remain including his kingdom. Until the kingdoms of this world become the kingdoms of Yahweh and His Messiah at the sound of the seventh trumpet of Revelation 11:15, they will continue to be ruled over by Satan.

And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Sovereign, and of His Messiah; and He shall reign for ever and ever.  Revelation 11:15 

The seventh trumpet of Revelation is the “last trump” which signals the resurrection of the dead in Messiah. They constitute Messiah’s fellow rulers (Rev 2:26-27) or “the new heavens”.

That Satan and his fellow rulers (whether spirit beings or men) constitute the old heavens via their rule over the kingdoms of men can be seen in the following verses:

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Ephesians 6:12 

And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, showed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.

And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it. Luke 4:5-6 

Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out. John 12:31 

But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:

In whom the god of this world has blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Messiah, who is the image of [Elohim], should shine unto them. 2 Corinthians 4:3-4 

Notice that just after the seventh trumpet sounds signaling Yahweh and Yeshua’s rule over all the kingdoms of the earth Satan is cast out of heaven. His rule is coming to an end in a short time. Once he is thrown into the bottomless pit, his rule will cease. What happens right after Satan is bound removing his rule over the nations?

Blessed and holy is he that has part in the first resurrection: on such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of [Elohim] and of Messiah, and shall reign with him a thousand years. Revelation 20:6 

The saints in Messiah begin to rule with Messiah for a thousand years. It is after this new ruling government is put in place that John sees a “new heavens and a new earth” in Revelation 21:1. The ruling government of Messiah Yeshua is the “new heavens” and the people being ruled over constitute the “new earth”.

We do not see the tremendous fiery judgment spoken of by Peter being fulfilled in Revelation in a literal way. That is because Peter’s words speak of a figurative fiery judgment resulting in a change of rule over the kingdoms of this world and a total destruction of the way the world used to work and function. After Yeshua begins reigning things will be done according to Yahweh’s ways throughout the earth.

Now let’s look at how the people of the earth that are ruled over constitute the “old earth” and the “new earth”.

 And the word of Yahweh came unto me, saying,

Son of man, set thy face toward the mountains of Israel, and prophesy against them,

And say, You mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Sovereign Yahweh; Thus says the Sovereign Yahweh to the mountains, and to the hills, to the rivers, and to the valleys; Behold, I, even I, will bring a sword upon you, and I will destroy your high places.

And your altars shall be desolate, and your images shall be broken: and I will cast down your slain men before your idols.

And I will lay the dead carcasses of the children of Israel before their idols; and I will scatter your bones round about your altars.

In all your dwelling places the cities shall be laid waste, and the high places shall be desolate; that your altars may be laid waste and made desolate, and your idols may be broken and cease, and your images may be cut down, and your works may be abolished.

And the slain shall fall in the midst of you, and you shall know that I am Yahweh.

Yet will I leave a remnant, that you may have some that shall escape the sword among the nations, when you shall be scattered through the countries.

And they that escape of you shall remember me among the nations wherever they shall be carried captives, because I am broken with their whorish heart, which has departed from me, and with their eyes, which go a whoring after their idols: and they shall loathe themselves for the evils which they have committed in all their abominations.

And they shall know that I am Yahweh, and that I have not said in vain that I would do this evil unto them.  Ezekiel 6:1-10 

In this passage, the mountains, hills, rivers and valleys are figurative representing the rulers of Israel (mountains), the lowest of the people (valleys), and all positions of leadership in between (hills, rivers). They all form “the earth”.

Moreover the word of Yahweh came unto me, saying,

Also, you son of man, thus says the Sovereign Yahweh unto the land of Israel; An end, the end is come upon the four corners of the land.

Now is the end come upon you, and I will send mine anger upon you, and will judge you according to your ways, and will recompense upon you all your abominations.

And my eye shall not spare you, neither will I have pity: but I will recompense your ways upon you, and your abominations shall be in the midst of you: and you shall know that I am Yahweh. Ezekiel 7:1-4 

In this passage, the “land” is figuratively used to represent all the people of Israel. They are the “earth” of Israel. The “earth” of the world would be figurative of all the people of this planet.

Let’s look at Peter’s prophecy in more detail.

Elements

Let’s look a little deeper into this prophecy beginning with the word “elements” (Greek – stoicheion – something orderly in arrangement, that is, (by implication) a serial (basal, fundamental, initial) constituent (literally), proposition (figuratively): – element, principle, rudiment.) This word was used five other times in the NT.

Galatians 4:3  Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world:

Galalatians 4:9  But now, after that ye have known [Elohim], or rather are known of [Elohim], how turn you again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto you desire again to be in bondage?

Colossians 2:8  Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Messiah.

Colossians 2:20  Wherefore if you be dead with Messiah from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are you subject to ordinances,

Hebrews 5:12  For when for the time you ought to be teachers, you have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of [Elohim]; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.

As you can see, this word never refers to “elements” such as gold, silver, etc., found in the Periodic Table of Elements. Instead, the word “stoicheion” refers to things that are not physical, in particular the basic principles that this world operates under and from which believers in Messiah Yeshua have been delivered. It can also refer to the basic principles found in Yahweh’s Word which babes in Messiah feed off of until they become mature in him. Understanding this word correctly should cause us to consider the possibility that other aspects of this prophecy are not to be understood literally either.

Melts/Dissolved

Let’s examine the word “melt” (Greek root is “luō” – A primary verb; to “loosen” (literally or figuratively): – break (up), destroy, dissolve, (un-) loose, melt, put off.) This word was used about 4o times in the NT. It was primarily translated loose, destroy and break. The only time it was translated “melt” or “dissolve” is in 2 Peter 3:10-12. Assuming “melt” or “dissolve” is a correct translation, let’s see how those words were used in the OT Scriptures.

The mountains quake at Him, and the hills melt, and the earth is burned at His presence, yea, the world, and all that dwell therein.

Who can stand before His indignation? and who can abide in the fierceness of His anger? His fury is poured out like fire, and the rocks are thrown down by Him.  Nahum 1:5-6 

For, behold, Yahweh comes forth out of his place, and will come down, and tread upon the high places of the earth.

And the mountains shall be molten under him, and the valleys shall be cleft, as wax before the fire, and as the waters that are poured down a steep place.  Micah 1:3-4 

Literal “mountains” and “hills” do not melt even if they are on fire. The “mountains” figuratively refer to rulers of a high degree and the “hills” or “valleys” figuratively refer to rulers or people of a lower degree. Their hearts melt with fear at the presence of Yahweh and His impending judgment upon them.

As they gather silver, and brass, and iron, and lead, and tin, into the midst of the furnace, to blow the fire upon it, to melt it; so will I gather you in mine anger and in my fury, and I will leave you there, and melt you.  Ezekiel 22:20 

Yahweh says He will “melt” people as metal is melted in a furnace. The people do not literally melt. They are tried in the fire of various situations that Yahweh puts them through.

The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: He uttered His voice, the earth melted. Psalm 46:6 

Peter said the “elements shall melt with fervent heat”.  In this verse, the heat is Yahweh’s voice. In Nahum 1:5, the heat is Yahweh’s presence. In both cases, the earth melting refers to the hearts of the people that will receive His judgments.

When Peter writes, “the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved”, “dissolved” in verse 12 is the same Greek word translated “melt” in verse 10 (luthēsontai). The word “dissolved” in verse 11 is a form of that same word (luomenōn).

Fire

Some would say the words “melt” and “dissolve” must be understood literally since Yahweh will use “fire” to judge the world. Let’s look at how “fire” was used figuratively in Scripture beginning with Peter.

Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: 1Pe 4:12 

In this case, Yahweh will use a figurative fire to try His children. It is a figurative refining fire with intense heat produced by the circumstances that Yahweh places us in. (See also 1 Peter 1:7)

Return, we beseech thee, O Elohim of hosts: look down from heaven, and behold, and visit this vine;

And the vineyard which your right hand has planted, and the branch that you made strong for yourself.

It is burned with fire, it is cut down: they perish at the rebuke of thy countenance.  Psalm 80:14-16 

The vine is Israel whom Yahweh brought out of Egypt (vs.8). He planted it (them) in the land of Canaan and nourished it (them). However, because His people (the vine) sinned greatly against Him, He sent them into captivity. The rebuke of His anger and judgment that He brought upon the people of Israel is spoken of as them being “burned with fire”.

Hide not your face from me in the day when I am in trouble; incline your ear unto me: in the day when I call answer me speedily.

For my days are consumed like smoke, and my bones are burned as an hearth.

Because of your indignation and your wrath: for you have lifted me up, and cast me down. Psalm 102:2-3, 10.

The Psalmist’s bones were not literally burned. Whenever Yahweh is angry resulting in His judgment or chastening upon people, it is spoken of figuratively as a burning.

Behold, Yahweh makes the earth empty, and makes it waste, and turns it upside down, and scatters abroad the inhabitants thereof.

And it shall be, as with the people, so with the priest; as with the servant, so with his master; as with the maid, so with her mistress; as with the buyer, so with the seller; as with the lender, so with the borrower; as with the taker of usury, so with the giver of usury to him.

The land shall be utterly emptied, and utterly spoiled: for Yahweh has spoken this word.

The earth mourns and fades away, the world languishes and fades away, the haughty people of the earth do languish.

The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant.

Therefore has the curse devoured the earth, and they that dwell therein are desolate: therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men left. Isaiah 24:1-6 

“Earth” in these verses is better translated “land” as in verse 3. It refers to the land of Israel that was left relatively uninhabited after Yahweh sent the people into captivity as a result of them breaking His covenant. Since the majority of people were taken into captivity (not burned) and the remnant that was left in the land were not literally burned, this burning should be understood figuratively. Yahweh’s burning wrath was poured out on them. His judgment left the people and the land dry and withering away. Isaiah writes about this again in Isaiah 42:24-25.

Who gave Jacob for a spoil, and Israel to the robbers? did not Yahweh, He against whom we have sinned? For they would not walk in His ways, neither were they obedient unto His law.

Therefore He has poured upon him the fury of His anger, and the strength of battle: and it has set him on fire round about, yet he knew not; and it burned him, yet he laid it not to heart.

At this point, the Jews were so hardened of heart by their sins that they did not realize they were being figuratively burned by Yahweh’s anger and rebuke.

Jeremiah says the same thing.

He has cut off in his fierce anger all the horn of Israel: He has drawn back His right hand from before the enemy, and He burned against Jacob like a flaming fire, which devours round about. Lamentations 2:3 

Let’s look at two passages in which fire is mentioned in the context of the Day of Yahweh’s future judgment as is the case in 2 Peter 3:10-12.

And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Master Yeshua shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,

In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not [Elohim], and that obey not the gospel of our Master Yeshua Messiah:

Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Master, and from the glory of his power; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9 

Notice this fire is only reserved for those that do not know Yahweh and who obey not the gospel. The fire does not burn the literal heavens and earth, but only those who are not Yahweh’s people. This is in keeping with 2 Peter 3:7 where the fire is reserved for wicked men.

For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, says Yahweh, so shall your seed and your name remain.

And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, says Yahweh.

And they shall go forth, and look upon the carcasses of the men that have transgressed against me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh. Isaiah 66:22-24 

This is undoubtedly an end time prophecy concerning events that will take place after the new heavens and new earth are in place. First, notice the moon and sun still exist (the Sabbath begins and ends at sundown). Second, when were transgressors put to death? Was it not prior to the new heavens and new earth? If so, and if the elements were subjected to such intense heat that they melted and dissolved, how is it that these carcasses survived that burning and continue to burn even after a new earth has come? Will Yahweh actually preserve and transport dead, unclean bodies onto His new undefiled, clean earth? I think not. More will be said about the new heavens and the new earth later.

Works … burned up

Let’s consider 2 Peter 3:10d:

“the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.”

Are the “works” that will be burned up things like skyscrapers, bridges, roads, etc., that man has worked to make or do the “works” refer to something less tangible?

According to the grace of [Elohim] which is given unto me, as a wise master builder, I have laid the foundation, and another builds thereon. But let every man take heed how he builds thereupon.

For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Yeshua Messiah.

Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;

Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.

If any man’s work abide which he has built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.

If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.  1 Corinthians 3:10-15 

This is how Yahweh will deal with the “works” of believers in Messiah Yeshua. This “fire” that He will use is obviously figurative fire. No literal flames will touch believers. The flames of Yahweh’s refining and purging fire will burn up works with no abiding foundation, but those works that were built upon the foundation of Messiah Yeshua will stand.

The Apostle Peter writes similarly:

Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:  1 Peter 4:12 

The “burning” question now is, how will Yahweh deal with unbelievers and their “works”?

2Pe 3:7  But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of wicked men.

2Pe 3:10  But the day of [Yahweh] will come as a thief in the night; in which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

The same figurative “fire” that will burn up the non-physical “elements” causing them to “melt” will also burn up the intangible works of the wicked. Just as the intangible works of believers will be burned in a figurative fire that will not literally burn believes, a figurative fire will burn up the intangible works of unbelievers. Just as a literal fire totally destroys what it is burning, the figurative fire of 2 Peter 3:10-12 will totally destroy unbelievers. Their destruction will come via disease, famine, earthquakes, sword, etc.

Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of Yahweh’s wrath; but the whole land shall be devoured by the fire of His jealousy: for He shall make even a speedy riddance of all them that dwell in the land. Zephaniah 1:18 

Throughout this study we have seen how Yahweh’s presence, judgment, indignation, rebuke, anger, wrath and jealousy are figuratively portrayed as a fire that burns before Him. This is not to say that Yahweh does not literally burn people with fire under certain circumstances as He did with Sodom and Gomorrah. However, I do not believe 2 Peter 3:10-12 prophesies about the wholesale destruction of the heavens, the earth, and all unbelievers via a literal fire.

Scriptures Pertaining to Yeshua’s Return

The following is a partial list of scriptures concerning the return of Yeshua the Messiah. It is compiled as an aid in understanding which verses refer to his coming to resurrect the firstfruits at the sound of the seventh trumpet and which verses refer to his return at Armageddon.

Return at Seventh Trumpet ………………..Return at Armageddon

Is.26:19-21………………………………………………. Zech.14:4

Mt.24:30,31 ………………………………………………Mal.3:1-3

Mt.24:36-39 ………………………………………………Mt.13:29,30

Mt.24:42 …………………………………………………..Mt.16:27

Mk.13:35-37 ……………………………………………..Mt.24:27

Lu.21:27 …………………………………………………..Mt.25:31

Lu.21:34-36 ………………………………………………1 Thes.3:13

Acts 1:11 …………………………………………………..2 Thes.1:7,8

1 Cor.15:52-54 …………………………………………..2 Thes.2:8

1 Thes.4:16 ……………………………………………….Jude 14

1 Thes.5:3 …………………………………………………Rev.16:15

Heb.9:28………………………………………………….. Rev.19:11-21

Rev.1:7

Rev.11:15-18

Rev.12:5

The prophecy continues in Rev.15:1 as the seven angels bearing the seven last plagues prepare to pour them out. The words “filled up” in verse 1 mean to complete, end, or perfect, in Greek. We know that the number seven in scripture is associated with completeness or perfection. So when these seven last plagues are finished, Yahweh’s wrath against the wicked will also be completed or perfected.

As mentioned earlier, verses 2-4 show the second group of 144,000 that were resurrected. They have been victorious over the beast that only came into existence about 3 1/2 years before. This proves that these saints are end-time saints who died less than 3 1/2 years ago. The early Apostles and disciples who died in the first century after Messiah certainly cannot be included in this group since the beast of Rev.13 did not exist at that time.

The seven angels now exit the temple in heaven to carry out Yahweh’s will, the destruction of the wicked. Rev.15:6 – 16:11 are relatively self-explanatory. Each of the events resulting from these vials being poured out are to be taken literally.

The sixth angel’s vial in verse 12 needs some clarification, for certain aspects of it are figurative. For example, the river Euphrates would not need drying up in order for modern day armies to cross it. This should be understood in the same sense as Is. 8:7,8 where “the waters of the river, strong and many” are symbolic of the King of Assyria and his armies. This does not mean that the waters of the Euphrates river are armies. The Euphrates here, is figurative of Babylon. The city of Babylon was situated directly in the path of the great river with its waters forming a deep moat encircling the city. A network of canals were also formed within the city’s walls. This great city was in control of most commerce on the Euphrates river.

At the time of the fall of Babylon, Cyrus diverted the river so that his army could enter the unsuspecting city through the dry waterbeds. Symbolically, the same thing is prophesied to happen as a prelude to the fall of spiritual Babylon. Rev.17:1 & 15 tell us that symbolic Babylon “sits upon many waters” meaning people from all nations. Since Babylon the Great is comprised of apostate churches (of which Rome is chief), the waters of the Euphrates would represent the people that feed her with wealth. This river will eventually dry up as a result of the sixth angel’s vial, preparing the way for the kings of the east. These kings are Yeshua and his saints, who are also kings and priests, that return to earth in Rev.19 to destroy the wicked. They are not the same kings spoken of in Rev.16:14, that are eventually gathered at Armageddon, for they are from all the earth.( Consider Mt.24:27 and Ezek.43:2).

The unclean spirits of verses 13 & 14 are literal and will accomplish their objective, that is, to deceive world leaders into believing that they can retain their power and leadership by being victorious at the battle of Armageddon.

Verse 15 is not part of the story line. It is a prophetic warning to all who read Revelation throughout the ages. It is placed there, in the midst of Yahweh’s wrath upon the wicked, in the hopes that some will heed it, repent, and thereby keep themselves from being recipients of such great calamity. It is not a warning for those living between the sixth and seventh vial for at that time the wickedness of all men will be so great that they will not repent (vs.11). Besides that, all have received the mark of the beast (Rev.13:6) and therefore must drink of the wine of the wrath of Yahweh (Rev.14:9-11).

After the seventh angel pours out his vial a voice proclaims, “It is done.” This does not mean the seventh last plague is finished for we see the results of this plague in verses 18-21. It means the culminating act of Yahweh’s wrath has begun and, once it is completed, peace will reign on earth.

The results of this plague should also be taken literally except verse 20 that has the meaning of earthly governments not being found anymore. Verse 19 states that the destruction of Babylon is part of the results of the seventh vial. After a description of Babylon is given in Rev.17, its destruction is described in Rev.18. The warning of Rev.18:4 does not literally occur during the destruction of Babylon. It is a prophetic warning, for all who read Revelation, to come out of Babylon from its very inception until it is too late to come out. It is too late when a person accepts the mark of the beast.

Neither Rev.17 nor Rev.18 are a part of the story flow. The flow ends in Rev.16:21 and begins again in Rev.19:11 with the return of the King of Kings and his army of resurrected saints (288,000 in all) to do battle against the kings of the earth and their armies. Since we already discussed Rev.19:1-16 in the section on saints going to heaven, let’s continue with the concluding verse in this chapter.

In verses 19-21 we see the outcome of the battle of Armageddon. The beast and the false prophet are both cast into the Lake of Fire which proves, incidentally, that the fire coming down from heaven in Rev.20:9, 1,000 years later, is not the same as the Lake of Fire. The kings of the earth and their armies are destroyed by the sword of King Yeshua which symbolically represents his spoken word.

The Millennial Kingdom

As a result of all the death and destruction that has occurred since the Day of Yahweh began seven years ago, including the final battle of Armageddon, the earth will be almost totally void of inhabitants. Some people teach that the earth will be totally void of people throughout millennium based on Jer.4:23-26. However, as Yahweh says in verse 27, “yet will I not make a full end” (see also Jer.5:10,18). Several scriptures make it clear that there will continue to be nations of people dwelling on earth throughout the millennium that the Messiah and the saints will rule over (Rev.20:3,6,8; 2:26,27; Ezek.39:17-23; Zech.14:16-19, etc.). The people that remain alive after Armageddon will enter the millennium and be subject to all the laws of the Kingdom of Yahweh.

Before peace can be established on earth, the dragon, or Satan, needs to be cast into the bottomless pit (Greek – abussos, as in Lu.8:31 & 2 Pe.2:4). The purpose of confining him in the abyss is so he will be unable to deceive the nations that dwell on earth during the millennium. If there were no human beings alive on earth throughout the next 1,000 years there would be no need to confine Satan. He certainly cannot deceive those in heaven because he no longer has access to it. Ever since the resurrection and ensuing battle in heaven in Rev.12, he has been cast out of heaven forever.

Rev.20:4c reads, “and they lived and reigned with Messiah a thousand years.” The correct translation is, “and they came to life and reigned . . .” Verse 5 should read, “But the rest of the dead did not come to life again until the thousand years were finished.” Verse 4 marks the resurrection of the main harvest of wheat (stage 5 of the first resurrection). So far, only the firstfruits of the wheat harvest were taken symbolized by the two wave loaves of Lev.23:17. Now is the fulfillment of the parable of the wheat and the tares (Mt.13:24-30,36-43). The tares, or the wicked, have all been gathered and burned leaving only the wheat to be harvested. The saints who are resurrected in verse 4 will also be given eternal life, as were the firstfruits, and will reign with Yeshua in the kingdom. They will not have a position as close to King Yeshua, as do the 288,000 firstfruits, but they will reign over those that entered the millennium in the flesh.

When the main harvest of souls is completed, the millennium will begin. It is then that the shadow of the Feast of Tabernacles will begin to be fulfilled. That particular feast, spoken of in Lev.23:39, was a celebration of the completion of the literal agricultural harvest in Israel. The millennium begins the celebration of the completion of the spiritual harvest of souls.

After the thousand years are finished, Satan will be set free for a short time. He will attempt to deceive the servants of Yahweh’s kingdom, those that entered the millennium in the flesh. He will not attempt to deceive the saints that have been resurrected unto eternal life for that would be impossible. Satan will manage to deceive many people, all of whom will be burned by fire out of heaven. At that point Satan will be cast into the Lake of Fire from which there is no return.

The great white throne judgment of Rev.20:11-15 marks the resurrection of all human beings who were not in the first resurrection. They will be judged according to their works and thrown in the Lake of Fire if their names were not found in the book of life. New Jerusalem, spoken of in Rev.21, appears to come down from heaven after the great white throne judgment.

” Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keeps the sayings of the prophesy of this book.” Rev.22:7

” Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates of the city.” Rev.22:14

Continuing in Rev.13:1 we see a beast “rise up out of the sea.” Since the beast of Rev.11:7 ascended out of the bottomless pit and not out of the sea there is no reason to assume they are the same beast. The beast in Rev.13 has seven heads and ten horns as does the dragon of Rev.12:3, however the dragon has crowns on his heads whereas the beast has crowns on his horns. The horns represent the nations that will comprise the heart of the beast’s kingdom. Conjecturing about who or what the beast will be is a fruitless endeavor. The important thing to know is that this beast will not only war against the saints but will be victorious. He will overcome or kill every saint that was alive and remained at Messiah’s coming (vs.7; Rev.16:6). This will leave the earth totally void of the Holy Spirit since no true believers are alive. That is why the beast can cause “all” to receive his mark (vs.16). Those that will be spiritually wise enough to reject the worship of such a beast are killed (vs.15). The spiritually blind that remain lack wisdom and understanding and therefore will accept the mark of the beast and worship his image.

The Master Yeshua once asked the question, “Nevertheless when the Son of Man comes, shall he find the faith on earth?” It would be meaningless to ask such a question in the context of Luke 18:1-8 if the answer was yes. The truth is that the true faith will not exist on earth because Satan, acting through the beast, will kill every saint. It is impossible for the saints to receive the promise of a “better resurrection”, which is what all the faithful hope for, unless they die first. Such a death is appointed unto all men, without exception (Heb.9:27).

The beast will continue to exist throughout the remaining years until Messiah returns with all his saints at the battle of Armageddon in Rev.19:19-21. During those remaining years the seat of the beast will be the prime recipient of the fifth vial or the fifth of the seven last plagues (Rev.16:10,11). It’s kingdom, or all those that dwell on earth, will receive all seven plagues directly or indirectly.

144,000 Firstfruits

This brings us to Rev.14 which is a difficult chapter to understand as far as how it fits into the story line. Let’s begin with verses 1-5. The scene takes place in heaven as the 144,000 stand upon the heavenly Mount Zion spoken of in Heb.12:22. It cannot be taking place on earth because they are singing before the throne of Yahweh in heaven (vs.3). Yeshua will not stand upon a defiled earth until it is consecrated and anointed after seven complete years as we saw in our study of the Day of Atonement.

The 144,000 have the Father’s name (Yahweh) and the Son’s name (Yeshua) written in their foreheads. It is Yahweh’s mark as opposed to the mark of the beast. It is impossible to be a member of this elite group unless you call upon those two sacred names. However, calling upon those names does not necessarily make you a member of the 144,000.

Contrary to popular belief, the 144,000 saints pictured in Rev.14:1 are not the same saints pictured in Rev.7:4. To understand why this is so we must first understand why the 144,000 in Rev.14 are called “firstfruits unto [Yahweh] and to the Lamb” in verse 4. We must also understand the prophetic meaning of the Feast of Weeks, or the day of the firstfruits (Nu.28:26).

Yahweh has a specific timetable that He is following. That timetable is depicted by His feast days that are listed in Lev. 23. They are based on the literal agricultural harvest of Israel that is a type of the resurrection or harvest of souls (Mt. 13:24-30,36-43). The first stage of the harvest takes place with the offering of the first of the firstfruits of barley (Lev.23:10,11) . That was fulfilled by Messiah’s resurrection and ascension. The second stage takes place with the barley harvest itself. That harvest precedes the wheat harvest. It was fulfilled by the resurrection of many saints of old (Mt.27:52,53). The third stage is the offering of the firstfruits of the wheat harvest (Lev.23:17). That will be fulfilled by the resurrection at the sound of the seventh trumpet. At that time only the firstfruits of the harvest of souls in Messiah will be resurrected and offered up to Yahweh. Since two loaves of bread were waved in Lev.23:17, each loaf is a separate stage of the resurrection. Therefore, the second wave loaf will be called stage four of the harvest. It will be fulfilled before the end of the seventh trumpet whereas stage three is fulfilled at the beginning of the seventh trumpet. Stage five of the harvest takes place at the reaping of the wheat fields (Mt.13). That will be fulfilled after the destruction of the wicked at Armageddon.

The Five Stages of the First Resurrection

1) First of the firstfruits of the barley harvest

2) The barley harvest

3) First loaf representing the firstfruits of the wheat harvest.

4) Second loaf representing the firstfruits of the wheat harvest.

5) The wheat harvest.

The parable of the wheat and the tares of Mt.13 deals with the entire wheat harvest whereas the Feast of Weeks deals with only the firstfruits of the wheat harvest (Ex.34:22). If the wheat harvest pictures the resurrection of all believers, then who do the firstfruits represent? As we saw in Rev.14:4, the firstfruits are the 144,000. We can learn more about the firstfruits in Lev.23:15-21 where it deals specifically with the Feast of Weeks.

In verse 17 of Lev.23 we are told that two wave loaves of leavened bread represent “the firstfruits unto [Yahweh].” Leaven is symbolic of sin. Therefore, these wave loves represent people, not Messiah. If the 144,000 are also the firstfruits, then either one loaf equals 72,000 people or each loaf consists of 144,000 people totaling 288,000 believers. The latter is true; there are two groups of 144,000 believers representing the firstfruits.

The group in Rev.14:4 was not “defiled with women.” What are women symbolic of in scripture? Babylon the great is spoken of as a mother that has harlot daughters (Rev.17:5). These women (the mother and her daughters) represent false religious systems. Therefore the 144,000 in Rev.14 were not defiled by false religions. This could only speak of the early assembly before corruption set in. This corruption was just beginning in the Apostle Paul’s day since he spoke about wolves and false teachers within the assembly. This early group of 144,000 saints kept themselves pure and undefiled by that corruption.

They are called “virgins” in verse 4 which has an even deeper meaning than not being defiled by false religions. According to Lev.21:10,13,14, the high priest was only permitted to marry a virgin of his own people. Yeshua is now Yahweh’s High Priest. Therefore, his bride must be a virgin Israelite. Since this group of 144,000 are virgins and since they are from the early assembly that was comprised of only Israelites, they must be Yeshua’s bride.

Yeshua was speaking to part of his future bride (his disciples) in John 14:2-4. They will be among the 144,000 of Rev.14. What is even more interesting is how a literal Israelite wedding is symbolized in Yeshua’s prophesy. Reading from the “Aid to Bible Understanding,” Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, Pennsylvania, 1969, pages 114,115; “As to the wedding itself, the central and characteristic feature was the solemn bringing of the bride from her father’s home on the date agreed upon to her husband’s home, in which act the significance of marriage as representing admission of the bride into the family of her husband found expression. … The bridegroom took the bride to his house, or the tent or house of his parents.” Yeshua, the bridegroom, will return to his bride’s home, earth, and take her back to his father’s house, in heaven, where they will spend seven years celebrating. Seven days was the usual time for an Israelite wedding celebration.

Now let’s look at the 144,000 of Rev.7:1-4. As we saw previously, the winds that are being held back represent the wrath of Almighty Yahweh that begins the Day of Yahweh. Since that is a future end-time event, this group of 144,000 is sealed about 1800 years after the group in Rev.14. The group in Rev.7 are alive in the latter days and the group in Rev.14 were alive in the Apostolic days (the former days).

There is another instrumental factor involved in the development of a successful harvest; that is, the former and latter rains. Without these two rainy seasons, the harvest would not be fruitful. Let’s read a few verses concerning this.

Hos.6:3 – “Then shall we know, if we follow on to know Yahweh: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth.”

Ja.5:7 – “Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Master. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.”

When the Holy Spirit was poured out upon the believers in Acts 2, it was the fulfillment of the former rain; the Holy Spirit being “living waters” (Jn.7:38,39). The former rain was instrumental in the development of the 144,000 of Rev.14. The latter rain will be poured out in the latter days and will be instrumental in the development of the 144,000 of Rev.7. That latter rain, incidentally, will be poured out on the Feast of Weeks (Pentecost) at some point in the future.

There is one other scriptural reference to these 288,000 saints. It is found in 1 Chr.27:1-15. We know that Aaron, for example, was a “type” of Yeshua our High Priest; that the Israelite passage through the Red Sea was a type of baptism, etc. The 288,000 firstfruits are also the fulfillment of a type. They are the anti-type of that which is spoken of in 1 Chr.27. The captains and officers of verse 1 were to serve King David in any matter that arose throughout the year. This statement is fulfilled by that in Rev.14:4, “These are they which follow the Lamb wherever he goes.” King David is a type of King Yeshua, the anti-type. Just as these servants in 1 Chr.27:1 served King David in all matters of his kingdom, the 288,000 firstfruits serve King Yeshua in all matters of his kingdom.

Verses 2-15 tell us there were 24,000 officers that served the king each month for 12 months (12 x 24,000 = 288,000). Two wave loaves with 144,000 representing each loaf = 288,000. King Yeshua has a government to run. His saints will rule with a rod of iron by his side (Rev.2:26,27; 12:5). The 288,000 firstfruits will be the highest ranking officers in that kingdom government. Everyone else resurrected in the main harvest will be reigning in a position of lesser importance in the kingdom (Rev.20:4).

In summation, Rev.14:1-5 is a vision of the first group of firstfruits to be resurrected. These saints were resurrected during the third stage of the first resurrection that is pictured in Rev.12:5. The fourth stage of the first resurrection will occur in Rev.14:14-16. Then the second group of firstfruits representing the second wave loaf of Lev.23:17 will be resurrected. This group includes the 144,000 that were sealed in Rev.7 and have since lost their lives at the hands of the beast.

Rev.14:1-5 does not necessarily follow Rev.13 in the story flow since it concerns heavenly events that may not coincide with the earthly events that are spoken of.

This brings us to the famous “three angels message” that many claim to be preaching at this time. These messages, however, will not be preached until after the resurrection of Rev.12. Rev.14:6-13 must precede the events they speak of since they are prophetic warnings. Therefore, for example, the third angel’s message must be given before the mark of the beast is given in Rev.13. This shows that Rev.14:9-11 is not in the story flow. Neither are verses 6-8 or 12,13. They all precede chapter 13 and begin after Rev.12:5. The saints that die in Rev.14:13 die at the hands of the beast. Once they are all dead, the fourth stage of the first resurrection will take place pictured by verses 14-16.

The reaper of verse 14 is not Messiah. The scriptures refer to the angels as reapers (Mt.13:30,39-41; 24:31) not Yeshua. The phrase “like unto the Son of Man” means similar in appearance to the Son of Man but not he himself. Just as “like the Son of Elohim” in Dan.3:25 does not refer to Yeshua but was proven to be an angel (vs.28), so too, in this case. Also, Messiah does not take orders from angels that are in subjection to him (vs.15).

The saints that are harvested in Rev.14:14-16 are then seen standing on the sea of glass in Rev.15:2. They have been resurrected and brought before the throne of Yahweh in heaven. Again, they are the 144,000 that were sealed in Rev.7, later persecuted by the beast of Rev.13 and killed because they would not worship it nor receive its mark.

Rev.14:17-20 does not deal with the same type of harvest as verses 14-16. The former concerns the harvest of grapes representing evil men whose great wickedness is symbolized by the term “ripe.” This harvest of grapes, the grapes of Yahweh’s wrath, are spoken of in Joel 3:13 and Is.63:1-6. The context of those chapters show that Israel is the recipient of Yahweh’s wrath. The reference to “the city” in Rev.14:20 refers to Jerusalem whose destruction and future captivity is written in Zech.14:1-4. Shortly before the return of Messiah upon the Mount of Olives, Jerusalem will be attacked and destroyed and her people taken captive.

The last point concerning why the temple in heaven was opened in Rev.11:19 concerns allowing the saints to enter the heavenly sanctuary. There are many people who would consider this a false doctrine. They do not believe that any saints will ever go to heaven because the Kingdom will be on earth. Therefore a wealth of proof will be offered to support my belief and the clear words of Scripture.

For hundreds of years Christians have believed that saints go to heaven immediately upon their death. When Seventh Day Adventism arose, the truth that saints sleep in the grave until the resurrection began to be taught. It was also believed that, upon their resurrection, they would spend the next one thousand years in heaven. Many years later the truth about the “Kingdom on Earth” was revealed. This doctrine taught that the millennial kingdom would reign on earth, not in heaven. As a result, many believers forsook the belief that saints go to heaven. “Since the kingdom will be on earth it would make no sense to go to heaven,” they reasoned. From that point on, Scriptures began to be misunderstood and deliberately twisted to support that belief. The following is the correct Scriptural teaching concerning this subject.

Perhaps one of the clearest references to support the belief that at least some saints will go to heaven is found in Jn.14:2-4.

“In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. And where I go ye know, and the way ye know.”

To understand these verses you must view them in context which includes Jn.13:33;

 ”Little children, yet a little while I am with you. Ye shall seek me: and as I said unto the Jews, Where I go, ye cannot come; so now I say to you.”

It is very important to know what Yeshua meant by this. He says he said the same thing to the Jews in the past. Let’s go back to that statement to the Jews.

Jn.7:32-36 – ” The Pharisees heard that the people murmured such things concerning him; and the Pharisees and the chief priests sent officers to take him. Then said Yeshua unto them, Yet a little while am I with you, and then I go unto him that sent me. Ye shall seek me, and shall not find me: and where I am, there ye cannot come. Then said the Jews among themselves, Where will he go, that we shall not find him? Will he go unto the dispersed among the Gentiles, and teach the Gentiles? What manner of saying is this that he said, Ye shall seek me, and shall not find me: and where I am, there ye cannot come?”

Yeshua told the Jews that he was going to the Father in heaven (vs.33) in a short time and that they could not go where he was going. He repeated similar words in Jn.8:21-27.

Yeshua made the same statement to the disciples in Jn. 13:33 which means he told them that they could not go to the Father in heaven. But let’s read on.

Jn.13:36-38 – “Simon Peter said unto him, Master, where goest thou? Yeshua answered him, Where I go, thou canst not follow me now; but thou shalt follow me afterwards . Peter said unto him, Master, why cannot I follow thee now? I will lay down my life for thy sake. Yeshua answered him, Wilt thou lay down thy life for my sake? Verily, verily, I say unto thee, The cock shall not crow, till thou hast denied me thrice.”

Peter didn’t know where Yeshua was going but it didn’t matter to him. No matter where he went Peter was willing to follow even if it meant losing his life. But notice Yeshua’s response to Peter’s question (vs.36). In other words Yeshua was saying, ” you cannot follow me to heaven now, but you will follow me to heaven later.”

The conversation continues in chapter 14. In verse 2 Yeshua says he is going to his Father’s house (in heaven) to prepare a place for his disciples. It doesn’t matter whether “house” means “kingdom” or “place” means “position.” What is important is that Yeshua was literally going somewhere. Based on the context of Jn.13 & 14 we can see that he was literally going to the Father in heaven. And so in verse 3 it says he will return (from heaven) and receive them so that they will be where Yeshua will be. Since he will be in heaven after the resurrection, that is where he will take the disciples.

Verses 4-6 confirm the fact that Yeshua was not speaking about the kingdom on earth. He was going to heaven and the disciples knew the way. In verse 6 Yeshua says, ” I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man comes unto the Father, but by me.” Yeshua was the first to go unto the Father in heaven. He paved the way and his disciples will follow him at their appointed time.

This truth is made evident in Heb.6:19-20.

 ”Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Yeshua, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.”

 ”Forerunner” in Greek is “prodromos” meaning, “one who comes to a place where the rest are to follow.” This is the only time it was used in the New Testament. It was also used in the Septuagint in Is.28:4 where it talks about the first fig that appears on a fig tree. Eventually many figs appear on the fig tree. So it is with Heb.6:20. Yeshua is the firstfruit that has entered the heavenly temple. We must follow him, after we are harvested or after we are resurrected, into the heavenly temple.

Eph.2:4-6 – “But [Yahweh], who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Messiah, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Messiah Yeshua:”

In Yahweh’s eyes we are already resurrected with Yeshua even though we haven’t literally been resurrected yet. So too, in Yahweh’s eyes we are already seated with Yeshua in heavenly places even though it literally hasn’t happened yet. But it will!

1 Cor.15:42-50 teach us about receiving a spiritual, heavenly body. There is absolutely no sense in receiving a heavenly body if we are going to be tied down to this earth. There must be a reason why we are going to be given heavenly bodies. One reason is so that we can appear before the throne of Yahweh in heaven. We must all become like Yeshua, incorruptible, heavenly, born again from above, to inherit the kingdom of heaven.

In 2 Cor.12:2-4, Paul mentions a man that was caught up to the third heaven. The first heaven is earth’s atmosphere; the second heaven is outer space; and the third heaven is where Yahweh dwells, also known as paradise. The question is, what does “in the body” or “out of the body” mean? It means Paul did not know if he went to the third heaven physically as Yeshua did or if he went in a vision as John did in Revelation. This shows that the Apostle Paul thought that it was possible to ascend to heaven even while yet mortal. How much more would it be possible to ascend into heaven after ones resurrection and transformation?

Some will quote Yeshua’s statement in John 3:13 as proof against going to heaven. It is true that, at the time Yeshua said this, no man had ascended to heaven. That does not preclude the possibility of saints going to heaven in the future. The same is true of Acts 2:34 concerning David.

Now let’s look at some prophetic scriptures that clearly show saints in heaven. One of the main reasons why there is confusion concerning this subject is because people do not understand that the book of Revelation must be read in consecutive order. You cannot place various chapters in any time order you want. Reading Revelation correctly will reveal the truth about future events.

Rev.7:9-17 – “After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our Elohim which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb. And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped [Yahweh], Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our Elohim for ever and ever. Amen. And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore are they before the throne of [Yahweh], and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and [Yahweh] shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.”

First, we know that this scene takes place after the resurrection of the tribulation saints (vs.14). Secondly, they are standing before Yahweh’s throne (vss.9,15) and before Yeshua who is also seated on a throne (vss.9,17). This cannot be a vision of Yeshua on the throne of the kingdom on earth during the millennium because Yahweh is not on earth during that 1,000 years. He is still in heaven (Rev.21:2). It cannot be a vision of New Jerusalem after the millennium because there is no temple in New Jerusalem (Rev.21:22). Yet these saints are said to serve Yahweh day and night in his temple (Rev.7:15). Therefore, This seen must take place in heaven sometime between the resurrection and the end of the millennium.

Notice also, in Rev.7:9, that these saints are called a “great multitude.” The Greek word for “multitude” is “ochlos” which is also used in Rev.19:1 & 6.

Rev.19:1 – “And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Halleluyah; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto [Yahweh] our Elohim:”

Rev.19:6 – “And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude , and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Halleluyah: for [Yahweh] Elohim omnipotent reigneth.”

Many people say that “ochlos,” underlined in these verses, refers to angels. First, the word “ochlos” is never used throughout all Scripture in reference to angels. It was translated as; company, multitude, number, people, and press. If you check each verse where these words are used you will find that it always refers to people, not angels. When the Scriptures talk about angels it uses the Greek word “playthos” as in Lu.2:13, “And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising [Yahweh].”

Secondly, in verse 6, John heard this great multitude sounding like “the voice of many waters.” Rev.17:1,15 tell us that “waters,” in prophetic scripture, means people, not angels. Rev. 19:8 shows this multitude dressed in fine linen which represents the righteousness of the saints. Then, verse 14 shows these same saints dressed in fine, white linen coming out of heaven with Yeshua to fight at Armageddon. Verses 8 & 14 certainly do not represent the angels dressed in the righteousness of the saints.

Rev.4:2-6 – “And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne. And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald. And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold. And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of [Yahweh]. And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind.”

This is a description of the heavenly temple with an empty sea of glass. This sea of glass is the transparent floor in front of Yahweh’s throne in heaven. The scene takes place before the resurrection that occurs at the seventh and last trumpet of Rev.11:15.

Now let’s see that same sea of glass after the resurrection.

Rev.15:1-3 – “And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvellous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of [Yahweh]. And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of [Yahweh]. And they sing the song of Moses the servant of [Yahweh], and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvelous are thy works, [Yahweh] Elohim Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints.”

We now see the saints standing on the sea of glass before Yahweh’s throne in heaven. This scene will literally take place between the resurrection and the first of the seven last plagues of Rev.16.

Rev.14:1-3 – “And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Zion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his name and his Father’s name written in their foreheads. And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps: And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth.”

This scene also takes place after the resurrection of Rev.11:15. And what do we hear in verse 2? The voice of many waters that were shown to mean “people.” Verse 1 is a picture of the 144,000 standing on Mt. Zion with Yeshua. Is this the earthly Mt. Zion that the city of Jerusalem is built upon? Or is it the heavenly Mt. Zion spoken of in Heb.12:22 where the heavenly Jerusalem sits? It must be the heavenly Zion because the 144,000 are singing their song before Yahweh’s throne in heaven (vs.3).

The Scriptures clearly show certain saints in heaven. That does not mean all saints will go to heaven. However, we certainly cannot dismiss these clear visions, nor can we ignore the words of Yeshua and Paul on this subject.

“For the Master himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of [Yahweh]: and the dead in Messiah shall rise first:

Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Master in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Master.”

All believers understand these verses to mean that some saints will not see death. Instead, they will be taken up to the clouds alive and never die.

This view is in direct contradiction to many Scriptures that clearly indicate all men must die at least once. Based on the following study it seems clear that the common understanding of these verses needs to be reviewed and interpreted in another way.

Gen.3:16-19 , ” Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee. And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.” The curses that Yahweh put upon the serpent (vs.14), women, and men have not yet been lifted. The serpent still crawls on its belly; women still give birth in pain and sorrow and must be ruled over by their husbands; the ground does not yield as it did before sin; man must still work hard for his food; and, above all, man must return to dust. It is part of the curse that has fallen upon all, from Adam to today, and that will continue until death is thrown in the Lake of Fire.

Rom.5:12 , ” Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:” Death passed upon all men as a result of Adam’s sin. The gift of eternal life has not literally been given yet, so all continue to die and indeed must die.

Num.16:29 , ” If these men die the common death of all men, or if they be visited after the visitation of all men; then Yahweh hath not sent me.” Death is common to all men, no exceptions.

Job 30:23 , ” For I know that thou wilt bring me to death, and to the house appointed for all living.” The grave is appointed for all the living, no exceptions.

Ps.89:48 , ” What man is he that liveth, and shall not see death? shall he deliver his soul from the hand of the grave? Selah.” The answer to the first question is not, “Those that are alive and remain unto Yeshua’s coming.” There is no man that shall not see the first death.

Ecc.3:1,2 , ” To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;” Yahweh’s purpose for the death of men is punishment for sin. As we shall see later, it is an appointed time.

Ecc.3:19,20 , ” For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all is vanity. All go unto one place; all are of dust, and all turn to dust again.” Once again, there are no exceptions.

Ecc.9:5a , “For the living know that they shall die:” Those that are “alive and remain” unto Yeshua’s coming know this too.

Is.65:20 , ” There shall be no more thence an infant of days, nor an old man that hath not filled his days: for the child shall die an hundred years old; but the sinner being an hundred years old shall be accursed.” Death will continue to befall men during the millennium as well.

Jn.6:39,40 , ” And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.” Yeshua will resurrect all those that Yahweh has given him. Every believer, including those that are “alive and remain” will be resurrected. “The last day” in vss.39,40 is not the particular day of the week that Messiah returns but pertains to the Day of Yahweh that begins prior to the resurrection and is an extended “day.”

Jn.12:24 , ” Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.” Yeshua equated himself with a grain of wheat that must die to bear fruit. Believers are also symbolized as wheat and must die to bear the type of fruit Yeshua meant. (See I Cor.15:35-37).

Rom.6:5 , ” For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:” If our symbolic resurrection out of the water will become a literal resurrection one day, then our symbolic death and burial will also become a literal death and burial one day. Those that are “alive and remain” will also undergo baptism so this applies to them as well.

Ph.3:10,11 , “That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.” Paul’s desire was to be conformed to Yeshua’s death and resurrection by undergoing these things himself though he included himself among “we which are alive and remain.”

Heb.9:27 , ” And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:” All men are appointed to die the first death at least once. These appointments are as sure as Yahweh’s appointments of the sun, moon, feast days, etc.

1 Pe.1:24 , ” For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away:” Again, there are no exceptions.

The previous scriptures are irrefutable proof that all men must die because of sin. Why, then, do we have a misunderstanding of 1 Thess.4:16,17? There is only one other verse in all Scripture that seems to support such an erroneous belief, 1 Cor. 15:51,52. “Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.”

The context of this chapter is clear. Paul’s intention was to refute the belief that there is no resurrection of the dead (vss. 12,32). He states that all die as in Adam (vs.22) and since all must die, all must be made alive or resurrected. All must follow Yeshua in the resurrection since he led the way as firstfruits. Paul then states in vss. 36-38 that unless a person is sown in death he cannot be raised to life (see Jn.12:24). Unless he is raised from the dead he will not be given a heavenly body from Yahweh. Verse 42 says the dead are raised incorruptible; it does not say the living are made incorruptible.

This brings us to verse 51. “We shall not all sleep” does not mean “we shall not all die.” It means, “we shall not all remain sleeping in the grave.” A word study of “koimao,” number 2837 in Strong’s Concordance, will reveal that it refers to people that are already dead and sleeping in the grave. If Paul had meant living saints he would have said, “We shall not all fall asleep” which refers to the act of dying. There is no mention of any living saints being transformed in this verse.

Paul makes his statement, “we shall not all sleep” as a summation of his refutation to the false teaching of no resurrection. The false teachers said, “No one resurrects. Everyone sleeps.” But Paul opposes them and says, “we shall not all sleep” or “we shall not all remain dead.”

This leaves us with one verse unexplained, 1 Thess.4:17. Notice the first word, “then.” The Greek word is “epeita” also meaning afterward or next. The Greek word “tote” means; then, at that time. “Tote” would have been more appropriate if the living were caught up at the same time as the dead or even shortly after. But “epeita” was used instead. This same word was also used in Gal.1:18 meaning three years later; in Gal.2:1 meaning fourteen years later; and in Ja.4:14 meaning an indefinite number of years later.

The proper understanding of this verse, 1 Thess.4:17, is that Yeshua will come to resurrect the dead when the seventh trumpet is blown (Rev.11:15). This resurrection of the saints is pictured in Rev.12:5. Those that are “alive and remain” are pictured in Rev.12:17. They are eventually killed by the beast and resurrected at some point before Armageddon which takes place years later. It is then that Yeshua will come with all the saints to set up the Kingdom of Yahweh.

The current understanding of these verses is incorrect and must be changed to understand the truth of Revelation and end-time prophecy.

At this point we should review the important events that have occurred since the seventh trumpet sounded. First, the temple in heaven opens, then Messiah returns to resurrect the dead in him. As the saints ascend to heaven war breaks out between the forces of good and evil with good triumphing. Meanwhile, those that are “alive and remain” go into a place of safety for 3 1/2 years while the dragon pursues them. While safe, they are fed the true evangel. Once the 3 1/2 year period ends, the beast kingdom of Rev.13 will be fully active and seeking to make war with the saints that remained after the resurrection. There remains only 3 1/2 years, after Rev 12:17, before Messiah’s next return at Armageddon.