” And the Jews’ Passover was nigh at hand: and many went out of the country up to Jerusalem before the Passover, to purify themselves.”

 The act of purifying themselves involved both a physical and spiritual cleansing. First, let’s look at some examples of physical cleansing or physically sanctifying oneself. In Num 9:6-14 we read,

 ”And there were certain men, who were defiled by the dead body of a man, that they could not keep the Passover on that day: and they came before Moses and before Aaron on that day: And those men said unto him, We are defiled by the dead body of a man: wherefore are we kept back, that we may not offer an offering of Yahweh in his appointed season among the children of Israel? And Moses said unto them, Stand still, and I will hear what Yahweh will command concerning you. And Yahweh spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If any man of you or of your posterity shall be unclean by reason of a dead body, or be in a journey afar off, yet he shall keep the Passover unto Yahweh. The fourteenth day of the second month at even they shall keep it, and eat it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. They shall leave none of it unto the morning, nor break any bone of it: according to all the ordinances of the Passover they shall keep it. But the man that is clean, and is not in a journey, and forbeareth to keep the Passover, even the same soul shall be cut off from among his people: because he brought not the offering of Yahweh in his appointed season, that man shall bear his sin. And if a stranger shall sojourn among you, and will keep the Passover unto Yahweh; according to the ordinance of the Passover, and according to the manner thereof, so shall he do: ye shall have one ordinance, both for the stranger, and for him that was born in the land.”

Here we see an example of being unclean physically and therefore being unable to keep Passover. The same principle applies to us today. If, for any reason, we become unclean, we are forbidden to observe Passover at that time and must wait until the fourteenth day of the second month to keep it. There are several ways to become unclean besides touching a dead body. Among those that the scriptures mention are childbirth, which renders the mother unclean for up to eighty days; menstruation; eating the flesh of unclean animals; leprosy; and physical discharges of the sex organs, including emission of semen during sexual intercourse.

 Another example is found in 2 Chr 30:1-3.

“And Hezekiah sent to all Israel and Judah, and wrote letters also to Ephraim and Manasseh, that they should come to the house of Yahweh at Jerusalem, to keep the Passover unto Yahweh Elohim of Israel. For the king had taken counsel, and his princes, and all the congregation in Jerusalem, to keep the Passover in the second month. For they could not keep it at that time, because the priests had not sanctified themselves sufficiently, neither had the people gathered themselves together to Jerusalem.”

Continuing in verses 15-20,

“Then they killed the Passover on the fourteenth day of the second month: and the priests and the Levites were ashamed, and sanctified themselves, and brought in the burnt offerings into the house of Yahweh. And they stood in their place after their manner, according to the law of Moses the man of Elohim: the priests sprinkled the blood, which they received of the hand of the Levites. For there were many in the congregation that were not sanctified: therefore the Levites had the charge of the killing of the passovers for every one that was not clean, to sanctify them unto Yahweh. For a multitude of the people, even many of Ephraim, and Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun, had not cleansed themselves, yet did they eat the Passover otherwise than it was written. But Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, The good Yahweh pardon every one that prepareth his heart to seek Elohim, Yahweh Elohim of his fathers, though he be not cleansed according to the purification of the sanctuary. And Yahweh hearkened to Hezekiah, and healed the people.”

In this example, the King interceded for those that were unclean and Yahweh personally purified them. Whether this can be done today for unclean saints only Yahweh knows. The most prudent thing to do is to be sure that you remain clean for Passover rather than relying on Yahweh to cleanse you miraculously. Let’s read Ezr 6:19-22;

 ”And the children of the captivity kept the Passover upon the fourteenth day of the first month. For the priests and the Levites were purified together, all of them were pure, and killed the Passover for all the children of the captivity, and for their brethren the priests, and for themselves. And the children of Israel, which were come again out of captivity, and all such as had separated themselves unto them from the filthiness of the heathen of the land, to seek Yahweh Elohim of Israel, did eat, And kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with joy: for Yahweh had made them joyful, and turned the heart of the king of Assyria unto them, to strengthen their hands in the work of the house of Elohim, the Elohim of Israel.”

This purification involved the priests and Levites. Since believers today are called a “royal priesthood” then we too, should be sure that we are purified or cleansed before we keep the Passover. The Passover is eaten on the night of the first day of the Feast of Unleavened. By that time every believer should have removed all leaven or all fermented products from his house (Ex.12:15,18,19). Leaven throughout scripture is symbolic of sin, false doctrine and hypocrisy as we read in the following verses;

Mat 16:5-12 – “And when his disciples were come to the other side, they had forgotten to take bread. Then Yahshua said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees. And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have taken no bread. Which when Yahshua perceived, he said unto them, O ye of little faith, why reason ye among yourselves, because ye have brought no bread? Do ye not yet understand, neither remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets ye took up? Neither the seven loaves of the four thousand, and how many baskets ye took up? How is it that ye do not understand that I spake it not to you concerning bread, that ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees? Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.”

Luke 12:1 – “In the mean time, when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people, insomuch that they trode one upon another, he began to say unto his disciples first of all, Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.”

1 Cor 5:6-8 – “Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Messiah our Passover is sacrificed for us: Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.”

The “old leaven” spoken of in verse 8 consists of all the false doctrines we have believed until now. If we have any false doctrines remaining in our minds we are to search them out, as we would leaven in our houses, and discard them. The same is true of hypocrisy and sins that we have not repented of. If our false doctrines, hypocrisies and sins are not pointed out to us by our fellow brethren, or even unbelievers, then we are to examine ourselves, to search our own souls thoroughly, to be sure we are free of leaven. If we go before Yahweh in prayer and ask Him to reveal our hidden faults to us, He will. This was the attitude of David as we read in Psa 139:23,

 ”Search me, O Elohim, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”

This should be the attitude of any truly converted person. Jeremiah showed this attitude in Jer 10:23-24 when he said,

 ”O Yahweh, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps. O Yahweh, correct me, but with judgment; not in thine anger, lest thou bring me to nothing.”

If we do not allow Yahweh’s Holy Spirit to correct us or to show us our faults He may have to correct us in anger. As the writer of Hebrews said,

“It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living Elohim.”

Concerning the symbols of the bread and the cup that we take to remember the death of our Passover Lamb, Yahshua, the Apostle Paul wrote, in 1 Cor 11:28-32,

“But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Master’s body. For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Master, that we should not be condemned with the world.”

The Passover season is the best time of the year to take a long, hard look at ourselves, to judge ourselves to be certain we are walking in a pleasing way in Yahweh’s sight. It is also a time when we must be sure that we are physically clean in our flesh. The Apostle Paul made a statement in 2 Cor 7:1 that sums up what our obligation is, especially at this time of year.

“Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of [Yahweh].”

It makes no sense to keep the Feast of Unleavened, which symbolizes the purity of the believer, if we knowingly have sins, false doctrines and hypocrisies within us. That would be hypocritical. Yahweh is calling us to be pure in heart, mind, and body. This is the time of the year where He commands us to come before Him in an undefiled physical and spiritual condition to worship Him in spirit and in truth. The wise man will do just that.

“On another occasion, the Lord condemned the formalism of the Jews in regard to the sabbath by drawing attention to another law which took precedence over the sabbath and which they were commanded to obey even though it might require the breaking of the sabbath.

This greater law related to the rite of circumcision.

The Law of Moses required that on the eighth day a Jewish boy should be circumcised. But sometimes the eighth day of a boy’s life fell on a sabbath. The question then arose as to which law was the greater, and which law should be broken to fulfil the other. Should circumcision be waived and the sabbath observed? Or should the sabbath be waived and the rite of circumcision observed?

The Law taught that precedence should be given to the rite of circumcision because (and let the reader not this if he believes that the sabbath law was binding prior to the days of Moses) circumcision came from Abraham, and the sabbath from Moses. Christ explained:

“Moses gave you circumcision (not because it is of Moses, but of the fathers – i.e. Abraham); and ye on the sabbath day circumcise a man. If a man on the sabbath day receive circumcision, that the law of Moses should not be broken; are ye angry at me because I have made a man every whit whole on the sabbath day?” (John 7:22-23).

If the law of circumcision took precedence over the sabbath law, on what grounds can some teach that the sabbath law is binding on believers, but the law of circumcision is not? Only by closing their eyes to the Scriptural facts. 

Why should the law of circumcision take precedence over that of the sabbath? Because circumcision was the token of the Abrahamic covenant (Genesis 17:10-11) that was confirmed by the perfect sacrifice of Christ (Romans 15:8); whereas the sabbath was a token of the Mosaic covenant (Exodus 31:17), confirmed by inefficacious animal sacrifices (Hebrews 9:19). As the Abrahamic covenant superseded the Mosaic covenant (Hebrews 8:8), so the Law beautifully taught this principle by superceding the importance of one by the other.”

The account in John 7 did NOT teach that circumcision takes precedence over the Sabbath.

 John 7:21  Yahshua answered and said unto them, I have done one work, and you all marvel.

He is referring to his healing of the man at the pool of Bethesda on the Sabbath in John 5.

John 7:22-23  Moses therefore gave unto you circumcision; (not because it is of Moses, but of the fathers;) and you on the sabbath day circumcise a man. If a man on the sabbath day receive circumcision, that the law of Moses should not be broken; are you angry at me, because I have made a man every whit whole on the sabbath day?

 The key here is that circumcision was done on the Sabbath so that the Law of Moses should not be broken. That can be applied two ways. 1) Circumcision was done so that the law of circumcision should not be broken or 2) so that the Sabbath should not be broken. Which is it? Or is it both?

The act of circumcising on the Sabbath would definitely prevent the commandment to circumcise on the eighth day from being broken and forbidding circumcision on the Sabbath would keep the Sabbath from being broken. However, the Jewish intent was so that the “Law of Moses” should not be broken; not just the circumcision commandment, but the Sabbath as well since that was a Law of Moses. How was the Sabbath not broken?

Obviously, circumcising on the Sabbath was not considered the kind of work that breaks the Sabbath. There are several kinds of work that were permissible on the Sabbath including the work of the priests in offering sacrifices and works of healing (saving life or health always takes precedence over any law). Yahshua’s healing of the man at the pool could not be a transgression of the Sabbath or else Yahshua would have sinned. Yet, he was sinless. Therefore, his healing work was permissible.

Yahshua uses the example of circumcising on the Sabbath in order to justify his healing a man on the Sabbath. For if circumcision can be performed on one part of the body on the Sabbath, then surely a healing can be performed on the entire body on the Sabbath.

In both cases, life and/or health took precedence. In healing the man, his health took precedence and in circumcising a male child, its life took precedence. How?

Gen 17:14  And the uncircumcised man child whose flesh of his foreskin is not circumcised, that soul shall be cut off from his people; he has broken my covenant.

Also, to not circumcise under the Sinai Covenant was sin and broke the covenant. The wages of sin is death. Therefore, under the Sinai Covenant, circumcision was a matter of life or death.

So, it was not circumcision taking precedence over the Sabbath, but health and life taking precedence over both. Conducting the circumcision as Yahweh commanded would prevent death and allow the child to keep the Sabbath all the days of his life. Both commandments remain unbroken.

John 7:24  Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.

This account  makes it appear as though circumcision is taking precedence over the Sabbath, but upon looking deeper into it, it was not.

Yahshua said, “I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.”

“Righteous judgment” cannot be rendered unless the will of Yahweh is done. If circumcision takes precedence over the Sabbath, then the Sabbath is broken. That is not Yahweh’s will. If health and/or life take precedence, that is Yahweh’s will and that is what is happening in this account.

The first passage used to promote this new teaching is Romans 9:23-26:

“And that He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He had afore prepared unto glory,

Even us, whom He has called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?

As He says also in Hosea, I will call them my people, which were not my people; and her beloved, which was not beloved.

And it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, You are not my people; there shall they be called the children of the living Elohim.”

 Verses 25-26 are quoting Hosea where Yahweh says through the prophet:

 ”Then said Elohim, Call his name Loammi: for you are not my people, and I will not be your Elohim.

Yet the number of the children of Israel will be like the sand on the seashore, which cannot be measured or counted. In the place where it was said to them, ‘You are not my people,’ they will be called ’sons of the living El.’” Hosea 1:9-10

 “And I will sow her unto me in the earth; and I will have mercy upon her that had not obtained mercy; and I will say to them which were not my people, Thou art my people; and they shall say, Thou art my Elohim.” Hosea 2:23 

 The subject of the Hosea passage is the “children of Israel”. However, the Apostle Paul is broadening its fulfillment to include the “Gentiles” (the non-Hebrew nations) in addition to the Jews. Paul uses the term “Jew”, in Romans 9:24, to represent both houses of Israel, the House of Judah (including Levi and Benjamin) and the House of Israel (the remaining tribes).

The term “Jew” originally referred to the people of Judah, but later included those of Benjamin and Levi and still later all Israelites.

We can see this in the following verses:

Acts 19:14 – “And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so.”  (This “Jew” was a Levite).

 Acts 21:39 – “But Paul said, I am a man which am a Jew of Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, a citizen of no mean city: and, I beseech thee, suffer me to speak unto the people.” (Paul was of Benjamin)

Acts 2:5, 36 – “And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. . . Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that [Elohim] has made that same Yahshua, whom you have crucified, both Master and Messiah.” (Who crucified Yahshua? Was it not the house of Judah in Jerusalem?)

Therefore, when Hosea says, “the children of Israel”, he is referring to both houses of Israel. How can we be sure that he means both houses as opposed to just the House of Israel? Because he refers to the promise that Israel will be like the sand on the seashore. That was a promise given to Abraham in Genesis 22:17.  

“That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies;”

Abraham’s “seed” refers to his descendents through Isaac and Jacob (both houses of Israel).

You may say, “How can Paul include the non-Hebrew Gentiles (nations) in Hosea’s prophecy? Paul is focusing on the words, “You are not my people”. He has in mind the words the Apostle James spoke to the council at Jerusalem.

“Simeon has declared how Elohim at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.”  Acts 15:14  

The Gentiles were not Yahweh’s people until He chose to take from among them those He was calling (those who received His Son as their Saviour).

The Apostle Paul also had in mind Deuteronomy 32:21 where Yahweh says the Gentiles are “not a people”.    

“They [Jeshurun – both houses of Israel] have moved Me to jealousy with that which is not Elohim; they [Jeshurun] have provoked Me to anger with their vanities: and I will move them [both houses of Israel] to jealousy with those which are not a people [fulfilled in Romans  10:19 & 11:11 by non-Hebrew Gentiles]; I will provoke them to anger with a foolish nation [the holy nation of  non-Hebrew Gentiles spoken of by  Paul in Romans 10:19 and Peter in 1 Peter 2:9].”

It was laid out in Torah that Yahweh would use the non-Hebrew Gentiles to provoke both houses of Israel to jealousy.  This is what Paul wrote of in Romans 10 & 11:

Romans 10:19 – “But I say, Did not Israel know? First Moses says, I will provoke you to jealousy by them that are no people, and by a foolish nation I will anger you. “   

Romans 11:11 – “I say then, Have they (both houses of Israel) stumbled that they should fall? Elohim forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.”

Paul goes on to say in Romans 10:20-21:

“But Isaiah is very bold, and says, I was found of them that sought me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me.

But to Israel he says, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people.”

Paul is quoting Isaiah 65:1-2:

“I am sought of them that asked not for me; I am found of them that sought me not: I said, Behold me, behold me, unto a nation that was not called by my name.  I have spread out my hands all the day unto a rebellious people [Israel – Romans 10:21], which walks in a way that was not good, after their own thoughts;” 

This cannot refer to the house of Israel since they were called by Yahweh’s name (2 Chronicles 7:14; Dan 9:19), but to the non-Hebrew Gentile nation of believers that were grafted into Israel in order to provoke them to jealousy. 

Along the same line is Isaiah 55:5: 

“Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.

Behold, I have given him for a witness to the people, a leader and commander to the people. Behold, you shall call a nation that you know not, and nations that knew not thee shall run unto thee because of Yahweh thy Elohim, and for the Holy One of Israel; for he has glorified thee.”

Those same non-Hebrew Gentiles that Yahweh used to provoke Israel to jealousy are grafted into Israel.

Romans 11:12-17 – “Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness? For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:  If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh (the Gentiles he is writing to are not his flesh), and might save some of them. For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead? For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches. And if some of the branches be broken off, and you  (Gentiles), being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree;  . . .”

Paul continues writing about the Gentiles in Romans 11:24:

“For if you were cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and were grafted contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree?”

The non-Hebrew Gentiles are wild by nature and are grafted contrary to nature into a good olive tree. This cannot refer to the House of Israel being grafted “contrary to nature” since they were of the original good olive tree. The Houses of Israel and Judah are the natural branches that were cut off in unbelief and who can be grafted back in again.

“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: For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.” Romans 11:25-27

“Israel”, including both houses, was blinded until the predetermined number of non-Hebrew Gentiles are grafted into the natural olive tree. This is a clear distinction between the two groups of people, Israel and Gentiles. “All Israel” is comprised of both houses of Israel AND non-Hebrew Gentiles who become Israel through grafting in.

Here are a few other passages that make a clear distinction between Israel and non-Hebrew Gentiles:

Isaiah 49:6 – “And he said, It is a light thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that you may be my salvation unto the end of the earth.”

Yahshua would not only restore the preserved of Israel, but also be a light to the Gentiles. 

Matthew 10:5-6 – “These twelve Yahshua sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter you not: But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” 

These “lost sheep of the House of Israel” were dwelling in the land of Israel which was separate from were the Gentiles were dwelling.

Acts 4:27 – “For of a truth against thy holy child Yahshua, whom you have anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together,” 

The Gentiles are separate and distinct from the people of Israel. 

Acts 9:15 – “But the Master said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:” 

Paul was to bear Yahshua’s name to three distinct groups; Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel.

Romans 9:30-31 – “What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith. But Israel [both houses], which followed after the law of righteousness, have not attained to the law of righteousness.” 

If you replace the word “Gentiles” with “house of Israel”, the verse makes no sense.

Another passage used to support this new teaching that the “Gentiles” of the New Testament are really the House of Israel is Ephesians 2:11-19. Here is the passage with my commentary within.

Ephesians 2:11 – “Wherefore remember, that you being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; [Israelites were circumcised]”

Ephesians 2:12 – “That at that time you were without Messiah, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without Elohim in the world: (the house of Israel had hope via Hosea’s prophecy as well as other prophecies dealing with the regathering of Israel and they were not strangers from the covenants (plural) of promise including the Abrahamic covenant. Paul says of Israel: “Who are Israelites; to whom pertain the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises;” Romans 9:4. Also, Israel was not without Elohim as Ezekiel 11:16 shows. The Gentiles had none of those things listed in this verse.)”

Ephesians 2:13 – “But now in Messiah Yahshua you who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Messiah.”

Ephesians 2:14 – “For he is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of partition between us;”

Ephesians 2:15 – “Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; (There was no enmity/hatred between Israel and Judah in Messiah’s day as Paul’s concern and love for them in Romans 9:2-3; 10:1-2 show. There was no hatred caused by man-made commandments except those man-made commands that caused a separation between Jews and n0n-Hebrews, in particular a literal wall that was built at the Temple to separate the Jews from Gentiles.)”

Ephesians 2:16 – “And that he might reconcile both unto Elohim in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:”

Ephesians 2:17 – “And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.”

Ephesians 2:18 – “For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.”

Ephesians 2:19 – “Now therefore you are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of Elohim;”

It is believed that the phrases “far off” and “afar off” used in verses 13 & 17 are keys to show the House of Israel is referred to. The following verses are used to show this. 

 “Son of man, thy brethren, even thy brethren, the men of thy kindred, and all the house of Israel wholly, are they unto whom the inhabitants of Jerusalem have said, Get you far from YHWH: unto us is this land given in possession.

Therefore say, Thus says Adonai YHWH; Although I have cast them far off among the heathen, and although I have scattered them among the countries, yet will I be to them as a little sanctuary in the countries where they shall come.

Therefore say, Thus says Adonai YHWH; I will even gather you from the people, and assemble you out of the countries where you have been scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel.” Ezekiel 11:15-17

 “Neither have we hearkened unto thy servants the prophets, which spoke in thy name to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, and to all the people of the land.

O YHWH, righteousness belongs unto thee, but unto us confusion of faces, as at this day; to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and unto all Israel, that are near, and that are far off, through all the countries whither thou hast driven them, because of their trespass that they have trespassed against thee.

 O YHWH, to us belong confusion of face, to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, because we have sinned against thee.” Daniel 9:6-8

The phrase “far off” in the Tanakh and the verses quoted refer to the literal physical distance the house of Israel was from the land of Israel. In Ephesians, “far off” refers to the spiritual separation between non-Hebrews and Yahweh. Also, Paul was not quoting the Tanakh. He was simply using a common phrase in a figurative sense.

It is also believed that Ephesians 2:11-19 is the fulfillment of Ezekiel 37:16-24. 

“The word of YHWH came again unto me, saying,

Moreover, you son of man, take thee one stick, and write upon it, For Judah, and for the children of Israel his companions: then take another stick, and write upon it, For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim, and for all the house of Israel his companions:

And join them one to another into one stick; and they shall become one in your hand.

And when the children of your people shall speak unto you, saying, Will you not show us what you meant by these?

Say unto them, Thus says Adonai YHWH; Behold, I will take the stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel his fellows, and will put them with him, even with the stick of Judah, and make them one stick, and they shall be one in mine hand.

And the sticks whereon you write shall be in your hand before their eyes.

And say unto them, Thus says Adonai YHWH; Behold, I will take the children of Israel from among the heathen, where they are gone, and will gather them on every side, and bring them into their own land:

And I will make them one nation in the land upon the mountains of Israel; and one king shall be king to them all: and they shall be no more two nations, neither shall they be divided into two kingdoms any more at all:

Neither shall they defile themselves any more with their idols, nor with their detestable things, nor with any of their transgressions: but I will save them out of all their dwelling places, wherein they have sinned, and will cleanse them: so shall they be my people, and I will be their Elohim.

And David my servant shall be king over them; and they all shall have one shepherd: they shall also walk in my judgments, and observe my statutes, and do them.”

The joining of the two sticks is a specific prophecy relating to the two houses and is accomplished through a miracle from Yahweh. Two sticks are joined to become one stick. This is different from the Gentiles being joined to both houses through grafting in and is accomplished through belief in Messiah Yahshua. A wild olive branch is grafted into a natural olive tree to become one. We cannot equate Ezekiel 37:16-24 with Ephesians 2:11-19 simply because they both speak of uniting two groups. One unites Judah and Israel, the other unites Israel and non-Hebrew Gentiles. Also, the uniting of the two sticks of Ezekiel takes place AFTER they are resurrected and returned to the land whereas the uniting of Israel and Gentiles takes place PRIOR to the resurrection and return to the land.

John 7:33-36 has also been misapplied to show Gentiles are the House of Israel.

 “Then said Yahshua unto them, Yet a little while am I with you, and then I go unto him that sent me. You shall seek me, and shall not find me: and where I am, there you 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?”

The “dispersed” refers to Israel that were living AMONG the Gentiles. This does NOT read, “the dispersed Gentiles”.

The last passages I will address are Romans 2:13-15 & 26-27:

“(For not the hearers of the law are just before Elohim, but the doers of the law shall be justified.

For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves:

Which show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)” Romans 2:13-15

From this passage it is deduced that the “Gentiles” must be the “House of Israel” because the law is written on their hearts. After all, how can a non-Hebrew pagan have the law written on his heart if he has no knowledge of Yahweh’s laws? That’s a good question and there is a logical answer to it.

The passage does not say the law, in its fullness, was written in their hearts, but that the “works” of the law were written there.  They “did by nature the things contained in the law.”  It is in the nature of man to have a certain degree of moral conscience. They had a sense of justice, love, mercy, etc. These are the “works” of the law or what the law was meant to accomplish. The moral nature taught obedience to parents, pity to those in need, maintaining peace, forbidding murder, stealing, lying, etc. Their conscience would be their guide and so they were a “law unto themselves.” “Their conscience also bearing witness.” They had that within them which approved their good works and which accused their bad works. 

“Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision?  And shall not uncircumcision which is by nature if it fulfill the law, judge you, who by the letter and circumcision transgresses the law? For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of Elohim.” Romans 2:26-27

It is believed that the word “uncircumcision” used here refers to the House of Israel and that, since the House of Israel is call the “uncircumcision” here, then the “uncircumcision” of Ephesians 2:11 must also be the House of Israel. Who are the “uncircumcision” in Romans 2:26-27?

This cannot refer to the House of Israel since they did not keep the “righteousness” of the law. They were disobedient and angered Yahweh continually, so much so that He was led to say “they are not my people”. Also, Gentiles are physically uncircumcised by nature. Israelites are physically circumcised contrary to nature. It is the House of Israel that had “the letter and circumcision” The Gentiles had neither.

I hope this study has helped you to understand the truth that Yahweh has indeed begun calling non-Hebrew Gentiles into the faith. He is allowing them to be grafted into Israel and to be partakers of the blessings and promises made to Israel. They become part of the Israel of Elohim. They were once not his people, but now are children of the living Elohim through Messiah Yahshua. HalleluYah!

I have a new study on the false ”MarYah” doctrine, but I can’t get the images to post correctly. Forgive my lack of computer savvy.

Here is a link to that study: http://www.intergate.com/~jcordaro/_MarYah.htm

Your feedback is welcome.

In Messiah Yahshua,

John

Scriptures Pertaining to Yahshua’s Return

The following is a partial list of scriptures concerning the return of Yahshua 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 Yahshua 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 Yahshua 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 Yahshua in the kingdom. They will not have a position as close to King Yahshua, 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 Yahshua 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). Yahshua 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 (Yahshua) 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. Yahshua 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 Yahshua’s bride.

Yahshua 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 Yahshua’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.” Yahshua, 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 Yahshua 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 Yahshua, 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 Yahshua 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 Yahshua 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 Yahshua. 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 Yahshua 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 Yahshua 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 Yahshua 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?”

Yahshua 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.

Yahshua 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? Yahshua 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. Yahshua 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 Yahshua 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 Yahshua’s response to Peter’s question (vs.36). In other words Yahshua 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 Yahshua 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 Yahshua 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 Yahshua 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 Yahshua was not speaking about the kingdom on earth. He was going to heaven and the disciples knew the way. In verse 6 Yahshua says, ” I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man comes unto the Father, but by me.” Yahshua 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 Yahshua, 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. Yahshua 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 Yahshua:”

In Yahweh’s eyes we are already resurrected with Yahshua even though we haven’t literally been resurrected yet. So too, in Yahweh’s eyes we are already seated with Yahshua 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 Yahshua, 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 Yahshua 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 Yahshua’s statement in John 3:13 as proof against going to heaven. It is true that, at the time Yahshua 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 Yahshua who is also seated on a throne (vss.9,17). This cannot be a vision of Yahshua 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 Yahshua 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 Yahshua. 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 Yahshua 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 Yahshua’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 Yahshua’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.” Yahshua 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.” Yahshua 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 Yahshua 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 Yahshua’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 Yahshua 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 Yahshua 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 Yahshua 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.

A major mistake was made by people who lived during Yahshua’s earthly ministry. When studying the prophetic scriptures concerning the coming of Messiah they erroneously grouped them all into only one coming. They did not understand that Messiah had to come first as a suffering servant and again as King. When Messiah finally appeared on the scene, working miracles in the eyes of the people, they intended to make him a king right then (John 6:14,15). He was eventually rejected because he did not fit the description of the Messiah they had envisioned. The same mistake is being made by those awaiting Messiah today. They are expecting him to return to resurrect the dead and, simultaneously, transform the living into spirit beings without having to die a physical death. They believe that he only returns once to accomplish this and establish the kingdom on earth. When Yahshua finally does return to resurrect the dead and then returns to heaven without the living, the faith of many may be destroyed. (See Appendix A).

One reference to Yahshua’s coming to set up the Kingdom is found in Rev.16:15-16, “Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame. And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon.” Messiah shall come suddenly, without warning, sometime after the start of the battle of Armageddon. These verses occur after the sixth vial or sixth of the seven last plagues is poured out. However, we know that Messiah also returns at the sound of the seventh trumpet that is blown before any of the seven vials are poured out. Therefore, we see two separate returns to earth.

The following scriptures all pertain to Yahshua’s coming to resurrect the dead in him:

Mt.24:29-31 – Verse 29 is fulfilled during the sixth seal of Rev. 6:13. The “powers of the heavens” (world governments) will be shaken as a result of the six trumpets of Revelation. Then the seventh trumpet will sound signaling the resurrection of the dead in verse 31. At that time, the tribes of the earth shall mourn and see the Son of Man coming. What does that mean and who are these tribes? The word “tribe” in Greek is “phule” and it is used only in reference to the tribes of Israel. All the tribes of Israel throughout the earth will see this event and mourn.

Zech.12:10-12 – The location of this sighting will especially takes place over Jerusalem, Israel. Note that it is the inhabitants of Jerusalem that pierced Yahshua. That will help us to understand the next scripture.

Rev.1:7 – “Every eye” does not mean every person in the world will see Yahshua’s coming but every eye that YHWH allows to see it. This event is not something that the world shall see. The Greek word that was translated “see” in this verse is “optomai.” “It denotes, not the action of seeing, but the state of him, and the affection of the mind of him to whose eye or mind the object is presented, to truly comprehend and know.” ‘A Critical Lexicon and Concordance to the English and Greek New Testament’ by Ethelbert W. Bullinger, Zondervan, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1975.

Yahweh will allow certain people, especially the tribes of Israel, to behold the return of Yahshua. Yahweh allowed the servant of Elisha to see the horses and chariots of fire surrounding the city in 2 Kgs.6:17. If Yahweh did not allow him to see the chariots, he would not have seen them. Yahweh will not allow the wicked to see the return of His Son. Yahshua was never seen by the world after his resurrection. He was only seen by his brethren.

Jn.14:19,22,23 – Why won’t the world see Yahshua again? Because they do not love him, nor do they look for him to return.

Heb.9:28 – The word “appear” is “optomai” which we saw in Rev. 1:7. This verse means he will be seen only by those who look for him to appear. The world will not be looking for him and therefore, will not see him. In Rev.1:7 the phrase, “he comes with clouds”, is used. It means that Messiah’s return will be hidden from the world by clouds. This can be seen more clearly in the next reference.

Acts 1:9-12 – Yahshua’s return will be in like manner as his ascension. Since he ascended from the Mount of Olives he should return there as well. That is why every eye in Jerusalem will see him. Notice, in verse 9, that part of his ascension was obscured or hidden by clouds. Messiah’s return will also be hidden by clouds except to those who love him and look for his return. Though the Israelites didn’t accept him during his ministry on earth they are still looking for their Messiah to come and will therefore see him.

Acts 10:40,41 – The phrase, “showed him openly” is translated “permitted him to be manifest” in the Emphatic Diaglott. Yahweh chose certain people to see Yahshua after his resurrection. He would not allow just anyone to see him.

The evidence is overwhelming that Yahshua will return at the sounding of the seventh trumpet, unseen by the world, to resurrect the dead saints and that this event takes place prior to his return to establish the Kingdom of Yahweh on earth. This view is not to be equated with the secret rapture doctrine that includes living saints ascending into heaven without first dying a physical death.

Let us resume where we left off in Rev.12:6. During the resurrection, as the saints are being caught up to Yahweh’s throne in heaven, a great war takes place unseen by the world. Satan and his angels do all they can to prevent the resurrected saints from reaching their destination, but are confronted by Michael and his angels. Michael prevails and Satan is cast out of heaven (vs.9). He no longer has access to heaven as he did from the creation of man, through the time of Job, until the resurrection.

This casting out of Satan was spoken of by Yahshua in Lu. 10:18, “And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.” Here he speaks prophetically of a future time in which Satan falls as lightning from heaven. Again, in Jn.12:31, Yahshua speaks prophetically of Satan, the prince of the world, being cast out (of heaven). Until Rev.12:9, Satan had access to Yahweh’s throne to accuse the brethren. He is the prosecuting attorney in this great courtroom drama. Yahshua is the defending lawyer or our mediator and advocate. Yahweh is the judge. Once the saints are found or judged innocent through Yahshua’s blood and are given eternal life through the resurrection, there is no longer a need for the prosecuting attorney. The verdict is in; the Adversary has lost the case and must be forcefully thrown out of the courtroom (heaven).

After Satan is cast down, his anger is at its peak for he knows he only has a short time left (seven years). Notice in Rev. 12:12 the word “woe.” This refers to the third and final woe that began at the sounding of the seventh trumpet proving that Rev.12 is not fulfilled at Messiah’s birth or resurrection.

Upon being cast out Satan pursues the woman who brought forth the child. The woman is not persecuted at this time as the KJV states, only “pursued” according to the Greek. For 3 1/2 years she is nourished and protected from the dragon. This nourishment or feeding is a spiritual meal in which the saints that were alive and remained at the coming of Messiah are taught the true evangel in preparation to go out and preach the evangel to the whole world, paving the way for the end to come (Rev. 12:14; Mt.24:14).

Rev.12:17 mentions “the remnant of her seed.” The woman gave birth in verse 5. Those saints who were born (again – Jn.3:7), or resurrected, returned to heaven with the Master, Michael, and his angels. However, there is a remnant of her seed that were not resurrected. They are those who were “alive and remain” at Messiah’s coming (1 Thess.4:17). Yahshua has returned to heaven without them for now. At the appointed time, they will also die and be resurrected as their brothers were before them.

How can that be true based on the normal interpretation of 1 Cor.15:51,52 and 1 Thess.4:16,17? First, the two references mentioned are the only two passages in all of Scripture that even remotely suggest that there will be people who do not die a physical death. Since that is so and since all other Scriptural references to death prove it to be appointed to all who ever lived, we must question how those two verses can contradict all other scriptures on the subject. The false belief that some saints will not die, but will be transformed alive is a crucial obstacle to accepting the belief that Messiah returns twice, once to resurrect the dead and again to set up the Kingdom. Therefore, I will go into some depth to prove it false.